No one had the courage to utter a word nor any intercessor to venture on intercession,2935
هیچ کس را زهره نه تا دم زند ** یا شفیعی بر شفاعت بر تند
Except one amongst the courtiers named ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk, (who was) privileged in respect of intercession, like Mustafá (Mohammed).
جز عمادالملک نامی در خواص ** در شفاعت مصطفی‌وارانه خاص
He sprang up and at once prostrated himself: the king immediately put away from his hand the sword of vengeance,
بر جهید و زود در سجده فتاد ** در زمان شه تیغ قهر از کف نهاد
And said, “If he is the (very) Devil, I forgive him; and if he has done a satanic deed, I cover it up.
گفت اگر دیوست من بخشیدمش ** ور بلیسی کرد من پوشیدمش
Since thou hast intervened, I am satisfied, (even) if the culprit has committed a hundred acts of harm.
چونک آمد پای تو اندر میان ** راضیم گر کرد مجرم صد زیان
I can break (annul) a hundred thousand angers, seeing that thou hast such excellence and such worth;2940
صد هزاران خشم را توانم شکست ** که ترا آن فضل و آن مقدار هست
(But) nowise can I break (annul) thy supplication, because thy supplication is assuredly my supplication.
لابه‌ات را هیچ نتوانم شکست ** زآنک لابه‌ی تو یقین لابه‌ی منست
(Even) if he had thrown earth and heaven into confusion, this man would not have escaped from (my) vengeance;
گر زمین و آسمان بر هم زدی ** ز انتقام این مرد بیرون نامدی
And if (the whole world) atom by atom had become a suppliant (for his release), he would not have saved his head from the sword at this moment.
ور شدی ذره به ذره لابه‌گر ** او نبردی این زمان از تیغ سر
We confer no obligation on thee (by this), O noble one; but (on the contrary) ’tis (only) to explain thy honour (the honour in which I hold thee), O boon-companion.
بر تو می‌ننهیم منت ای کریم ** لیک شرح عزت تست ای ندیم
Thou didst not make this (intercession), for assuredly I made it, O thou whose qualities are buried in my qualities.2945
این نکردی تو که من کردم یقین ** ایی صفاتت در صفات ما دفین
In this (matter) thou art the one employed to do the work, not the (prime) doer (of it), inasmuch as thou art borne by me and art not (thyself) the bearer.
تو درین مستعملی نی عاملی ** زانک محمول منی نی حاملی
Thou hast become (the instrument of my action, according to the text) Thou didst not throw when thou threwest: like the foam, thou hast abandoned thyself in the wave.
ما رمیت اذ رمیت گشته‌ای ** خویشتن در موج چون کف هشته‌ای
Thou hast become ‘not’; (now) take up thy abode beside ‘except.’ This is wonderful, that thou art both a prisoner and a prince.
لا شدی پهلوی الا خانه‌گیر ** این عجب که هم اسیری هم امیر
Thou didst not give what thou gavest: the king gave it. He alone is. God best knoweth the right course.”
آنچ دادی تو ندای شاه داد ** اوست بس الله اعلم بالرشاد
And the boon-companion who had been delivered from the stroke of calamity was offended with this intercessor and drew back from (his former) fealty.2950
وآن ندیم رسته از زخم و بلا ** زین شفیع آزرد و برگشت از ولا
He cut off all (relations of) friendship with that sincere man, and turned his face to the wall in order that he might not give (him) the salaam.
دوستی ببرید زان مخلص تمام ** رو به حایط کرد تا نارد سلام
He became estranged from his intercessor; in astonishment at this the people began to talk,
زین شفیع خویشتن بیگانه شد ** زین تعجب خلق در افسانه شد
Saying, “(If) he is not mad, how did he cut off friendly relations with the person who redeemed his life?
که نه مجنونست یاری چون برید ** از کسی که جان او را وا خرید
He (the intercessor) redeemed (saved) him from beheading at that moment: he (the culprit) ought to have become the dust of his (the intercessor's) shoe.
وا خریدش آن دم از گردن زدن ** خاک نعل پاش بایستی شدن
He has gone the reverse way and has taken (the course of) renouncing (his friend): he has taken to cherishing enmity against a beloved like this.”2955
بازگونه رفت و بیزاری گرفت ** با چنین دلدار کین‌داری گرفت
Then a certain mentor reproached him, saying, “Why are you acting so unjustly towards a loyal friend?
پس ملامت کرد او را مصلحی ** کیین جفا چون می‌کنی با ناصحی
That elect beloved redeemed your life and saved you from beheading at that moment.
جان تو بخرید آن دلدار خاص ** آن دم از گردن زدن کردت خلاص
If he had done evil (towards you), you ought not to have turned away (from him; but) that praiseworthy friend was especially your benefactor.”
گر بدی کردی نبایستی رمید ** خاصه نیکی کرد آن یار حمید
He replied, “Life is freely given for the king's sake: why should he come as an intercessor between (us)?
گفت بهر شاه مبذولست جان ** او چرا آید شفیع اندر میان