When Solomon uttered a single whistling note to the birds of Sabá he ensnared them all,
چون سلیمان سوی مرغان سبا ** یک صفیری کرد بست آن جمله را
Except, maybe, the bird that was without spirit or wings, or was dumb and deaf, like a fish, from the beginning.860
جز مگر مرغی که بد بی‌جان و پر ** یا چو ماهی گنگ بود از اصل کر
Nay, I have spoken wrongly, for if the deaf one lay his head before the inspiration of the Divine Majesty, it will give to him (the power of) hearing.
نی غلط گفتم که کر گر سر نهد ** پیش وحی کبریا سمعش دهد
When Bilqís set out (from Sabá) with heart and soul, she felt remorse too for the bygone time,
چونک بلقیس از دل و جان عزم کرد ** بر زمان رفته هم افسوس خورد
She took leave of her kingdom and riches in the same way as those lovers (of God) take leave of honour and disgrace (reputation).
ترک مال و ملک کرد او آن چنان ** که بترک نام و ننگ آن عاشقان
Those charming pages and handmaidens (of hers seemed) to her eye (loathly) as a rotten onion.
آن غلامان و کنیزان بناز ** پیش چشمش هم‌چو پوسیده پیاز
For love’s sake, orchards and palaces and river-water seemed to her eye (contemptible as) a dunghill.865
باغها و قصرها و آب رود ** پیش چشم از عشق گلحن می‌نمود
Love, in the hour of domination and anger, makes the pleasing ones to become hideous to the eye.
عشق در هنگام استیلا و خشم ** زشت گرداند لطیفان را به چشم
Love’s jealousy causes every emerald to appear as a leek: this is the (inner) meaning of Lá.
هر زمرد را نماید گندنا ** غیرت عشق این بود معنی لا
O (thou who givest) protection , (the meaning of) “There is no god but He” is that the moon should seem to thee a black kettle.
لااله الا هو اینست ای پناه ** که نماید مه ترا دیگ سیاه
No wealth, no treasury, and no goods or gear were being grudged by her (Bilqis) except her throne.
هیچ مال و هیچ مخزن هیچ رخت ** می دریغش نامد الا جز که تخت
Then Solomon became aware of (this feeling in) her heart, for the way was open from his heart to hers.870
پس سلیمان از دلش آگاه شد ** کز دل او تا دل او راه شد
He that hears the voice of ants will also hear the cry from the inmost soul of them that are afar.
آن کسی که بانگ موران بشنود ** هم فغان سر دوران بشنود
He that declares the mystery of “an ant said” will also know the mystery of this ancient dome.
آنک گوید راز قالت نملة ** هم بداند راز این طاق کهن
From afar he (Solomon) discerned that to her (Bilqís) who was following the path of resignation ‘twas bitter to part with her throne.
دید از دورش که آن تسلیم کیش ** تلخش آمد فرقت آن تخت خویش
If I explain the reason why she had that love and complaisance to her throne, it (the discourse) will become (too) long.
گر بگویم آن سبب گردد دراز ** که چرا بودش به تخت آن عشق و ساز
Although this reed-pen is in fact an insensible thing and is not homogeneous with the writer, (yet) it is a familiar friend to him.875
گرچه این کلک قلم خود بی‌حسیست ** نیست جنس کاتب او را مونسیست
Likewise, every tool of a craftsman is, (though) lifeless, the familiar friend of the spirit of Man.
هم‌چنین هر آلت پیشه‌وری ** هست بی‌جان مونس جانوری
This reason I would have explained precisely, if there were not some moisture (dimness) in the eye of your understanding.
این سبب را من معین گفتمی ** گر نبودی چشم فهمت را نمی
There was no possibility of transporting the throne (from Sabá) because of its hugeness which exceeded (all) bounds.
از بزرگی تخت کز حد می‌فزود ** نقل کردن تخت را امکان نبود
It was filigree work, and there was danger in taking it to pieces, (since its parts were joined) like the limbs of the body with one another.
خرده کاری بود و تفریقش خطر ** هم‌چو اوصال بدن با همدگر
Therefore Solomon said, “Although in the end the diadem and throne will become chilling (repulsive) to her”—880
پس سلیمان گفت گر چه فی‌الاخیر ** سرد خواهد شد برو تاج و سریر
(For) when the spirit puts forth its head (manifests itself) from the Unity (to which it has attained), in comparison with its splendour the body hath no splendour (at all);
چون ز وحدت جان برون آرد سری ** جسم را با فر او نبود فری
When the pearl comes up from the depths of the seas, you will look with contempt on the foam and sticks and straws.
چون برآید گوهر از قعر بحار ** بنگری اندر کف و خاشاک خوار
(When) the flaming sun lifts up its head, who will make Scorpio’s tail his resting—place’?—
سر بر آرد آفتاب با شرر ** دم عقرب را کی سازد مستقر