Rumi's Masnavi - When she did not see (any one), she became distraught and despairing: her body began to tremble like the willow-bough.

When she did not see (any one), she became distraught and despairing: her body began to tremble like the willow-bough.

چون ندید او خیره و نومید شد ** جسم لرزان هم‌چو شاخ بید شد

She came back towards that righteous child: she did not see Mustafá in his (former) place. 930

باز آمد سوی آن طفل رشید ** مصطفی را بر مکان خود ندید

Bewilderment on bewilderment fell upon her heart: from grief her abode became very dark.

حیرت اندر حیرت آمد بر دلش ** گشت بس تاریک از غم منزلش

She ran to the dwellings (hard by) and raised an outcry, saying, “Who has carried off my single pearl?”

سوی منزلها دوید و بانگ داشت ** که کی بر دردانه‌ام غارت گماشت

The Meccans said, “We have no knowledge: we knew not that a child was there.”

مکیان گفتند ما را علم نیست ** ما ندانستیم که آنجا کودکیست

She shed so many tears and made (so) much lamentation that those others began to weep because of her (grief).

ریخت چندان اشک و کرد او بس فغان ** که ازو گریان شدند آن دیگران

Beating her breast, she wept so well (mightily) that the stars were made to weep by her weeping. 935

سینه کوبان آن چنان بگریست خوش ** که اختران گریان شدند از گریه‌اش

Story of the old Arab who directed Halíma to seek help from the idols.

حکایت آن پیر عرب کی دلالت کرد حلیمه را به استعانت به بتان

An old man with a staff approached her, saying, “Why, what hath befallen thee, O Halíma,

پیرمردی پیشش آمد با عصا ** کای حلیمه چه فتاد آخر ترا

That thou didst let such a fire (of grief) blaze (forth) from thy heart and consume these bowels (of the bystanders) with mourning?”

که چنین آتش ز دل افروختی ** این جگرها را ز ماتم سوختی

She replied, “I am Ahmad's (Mohammed's) trusted foster-mother, so I brought him (back) to hand him over to his grandsire.

گفت احمد را رضیعم معتمد ** پس بیاوردم که بسپارم به جد

When I arrived in the Hatím, voices were coming (down) and I was hearing (them) from the air.

چون رسیدم در حطیم آوازها ** می‌رسید و می‌شنیدم از هوا

When I heard from the air those melodious strains, because of that sound I laid down the infant there, 940

من چو آن الحان شنیدم از هوا ** طفل را بنهادم آنجا زان صدا

To see whose voice is (the origin of) this cry, for it is a very beautiful cry and very delightful.

تا ببینم این ندا آواز کیست ** که ندایی بس لطیف و بس شهیست

I saw no sign of any one around me: the cry was not ceasing for one moment.

نه از کسی دیدم بگرد خود نشان ** نه ندا می منقطع شد یک زمان

When I returned (to my senses) from the bewilderments of my heart, I did not see the child there (where I had left him): alas for my heart!”

چونک واگشتم ز حیرتهای دل ** طفل را آنجا ندیدم وای دل

He (the old man) said, “O daughter, do not grieve, for I will show unto thee a queen,

گفتش ای فرزند تو انده مدار ** که نمایم مر ترا یک شهریار

Who, if she wish, will tell what has happened to the child: she knows the dwelling-place of the child and his setting-out (on the way).” 945

که بگوید گر بخواهد حال طفل ** او بداند منزل و ترحال طفل

Then Halíma said, “Oh, my soul be a ransom for thee, O goodly and fair-spoken Shaykh!

پس حلیمه گفت ای جانم فدا ** مر ترا ای شیخ خوب خوش‌ندا

Come, show me that queen of clairvoyance who hath knowledge of what has happened to my child.”

هین مرا بنمای آن شاه نظر ** کش بود از حال طفل من خبر

He brought her to ‘Uzzá, saying, “This idol is greatly prized for information concerning the Unseen.

برد او را پیش عزی کین صنم ** هست در اخبار غیبی مغتنم

Through her we have found thousands that were lost, when we hastened towards her in devotion.”

ما هزاران گم شده زو یافتیم ** چون به خدمت سوی او بشتافتیم

The old man prostrated himself before her (‘Uzzá) and said at once, “O Sovereign of the Arabs, O sea of munificence!” 950

پیر کرد او را سجود و گفت زود ** ای خداوند عرب ای بحر جود

(Then) he said, “O ‘Uzzá, thou hast done many favours (to us), so that we have been delivered from snares.

گفت ای عزی تو بس اکرامها ** کرده‌ای تا رسته‌ایم از دامها

On account of thy favour the duty (of worshipping thee) has become obligatory to the Arabs, so that the Arabs have submitted to thee.

بر عرب حقست از اکرام تو ** فرض گشته تا عرب شد رام تو

In hope of thee this Halíma of (the tribe) Sa‘d has come into the shadow of thy willow-bough,

این حلیمه‌ی سعدی از اومید تو ** آمد اندر ظل شاخ بید تو