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
Get thee far off, for God's sake, O old man, lest thou (too) be burnt by the fire of Fore-ordainment.
دور شو بهر خدا ای پیر تو ** تا نسوزی ز آتش تقدیر تو
What squeezing of the dragon's tail is this? Dost thou know at all what the announcement (of Mohammed's advent) is (in its effects)?
این چه دم اژدها افشردنست ** هیچ دانی چه خبر آوردنست
At this news the heart of sea and mine will surge; at this news the seven heavens will tremble.”
زین خبر جوشد دل دریا و کان ** زین خبر لرزان شود هفت آسمان
When the old man heard these words from the stones (idols), the ancient old man let his staff drop (from his hand);
چون شنید از سنگها پیر این سخن ** پس عصا انداخت آن پیر کهن
Then, from tremor and fear and dread caused by that proclamation (of the idols), the old man was striking his teeth together.965
پس ز لرزه و خوف و بیم آن ندا ** پیر دندانها به هم بر می‌زدی
Even as a naked man in winter, he was shuddering and saying, “O destruction!”
آنچنان که اندر زمستان مرد عور ** او همی لرزید و می‌گفت ای ثبور
When she (Halíma) saw the old man in such a state (of terror), in consequence of that marvel the woman lost (the power of) deliberation.
چون در آن حالت بدید او پیر را ** زان عجب گم کرد زن تدبیر را
She said, “O old man, though I am in affliction (on account of the loss of Mohammed), I am in manifold bewilderment (not knowing whether I should grieve or rejoice).
گفت پیر اگر چه من در محنتم ** حیرت اندر حیرت اندر حیرتم