- 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
- For an infant child of hers is lost: the name of that child is Mohammed.”
- که ازو فرزند طفلی گم شدست ** نام آن کودک محمد آمدست
- When he said “Mohammed,” all those idols immediately fell headlong and prostrate, 955
- چون محمد گفت آن جمله بتان ** سرنگون گشت و ساجد آن زمان
- Saying, “Begone, O old man! What is this search after that Mohammed by whom we are deposed?
- که برو ای پیر این چه جست و جوست ** آن محمد را که عزل ما ازوست
- By him we are overthrown and reduced to a collection of (broken) stones; by him we are made unsaleable and valueless.
- ما نگون و سنگسار آییم ازو ** ما کساد و بی‌عیار آییم ازو
- Those phantoms which the followers of vain opinion used to see from us at times during the Fatra
- آن خیالاتی که دیدندی ز ما ** وقت فترت گاه گاه اهل هوا
- Will disappear now that his royal court has arrived: the water is come and has torn up (annulled) the ablution with sand.
- گم شود چون بارگاه او رسید ** آب آمد مر تیمم را درید
- Get thee far off, O old man! Do not kindle mischief! Hark, do not burn us with (the fire of) Ahmad's (Mohammed's) jealousy! 960
- دور شو ای پیر فتنه کم فروز ** هین ز رشک احمدی ما را مسوز