The soul is like a falcon, and the body is its fetter: (’tis) a foot-bound broken-winged creature;2280
جان چو باز و تن مرورا کنده‌ای ** پای بسته پر شکسته بنده‌ای
(But) when its self-consciousness is gone and its foot untied, that falcon flies towards the King.
چونک هوشش رفت و پایش بر گشاد ** می‌پرد آن باز سوی کیقباد
When the seas of Mercy begin to surge, even stones drink the Water of Life.
چونک دریاهای رحمت جوش کرد ** سنگها هم آب حیوان نوش کرد
The frail mote becomes stout and strong; the carpet of earth becomes (like) satin and cloth of gold.
ذره‌ی لاغر شگرف و زفت شد ** فرش خاکی اطلس و زربفت شد
He that has been dead a hundred years comes forth from the grave; the accursed devil becomes an object of envy to the houris on account of his beauty.
مرده‌ی صدساله بیرون شد ز گور ** دیو ملعون شد به خوبی رشک حور
The whole face of this earth becomes verdant; the dry wood buds and becomes flourishing.2285
این همه روی زمین سرسبز شد ** چوب خشک اشکوفه کرد و نغز شد
The wolf becomes the cup-companion of the lamb; the despairing become courageous and valiant.
گرگ با بره حریف می شده ** ناامیدان خوش‌رگ و خوش پی شده
The finding of the jewel, and how the ladies-in-waiting and handmaids of the princess begged Nasúh to exonerate them.
یافته شدن گوهر و حلالی خواستن حاجبکان و کنیزکان شاه‌زاده از نصوح
After that soul-destroying fear, came the good news—“Here is the lost (jewel)!”
بعد از آن خوفی هلاک جان بده ** مژده‌ها آمد که اینک گم شده
Suddenly rose a shout—“The danger is past: the single pearl that was missing has been found.
بانگ آمد ناگهان که رفت بیم ** یافت شد گم گشته آن در یتیم
It is found, and we are penetrated with joy: give us the reward, for we have found the pearl.”
یافت شد واندر فرح در بافتیم ** مژدگانی ده که گوهر یافتیم
The bath-house was filled with clamour and screams and clapping of hands (because) sorrow had disappeared.2290
از غریو و نعره و دستک زدن ** پر شده حمام قد زال الحزن
Nasúh who had gone (out of himself) came to himself again: his eye saw in front (of him) the splendour of a hundred (shining) days.
آن نصوح رفته باز آمد به خویش ** دید چشمش تابش صد روز بیش
Every one was begging him to exonerate them and giving his hand many a kiss.
می حلالی خواست از وی هر کسی ** بوسه می‌دادند بر دستش بسی
(They said), “We had evil thoughts (of thee), and (we pray thee to) exonerate us. We were backbiting thee in our talk”;
بد گمان بردیم و کن ما را حلال ** گوشت تو خوردیم اندر قیل و قال
For the suspicion of all (the women) against him had been increased by the fact that he was in higher favour (with the princess) than all (the rest of them).
زانک ظن جمله بر وی بیش بود ** زانک در قربت ز جمله پیش بود
Nasúh was her private shampooer and confidant; nay (they were) as two bodies with one soul.2295
خاص دلاکش بد و محرم نصوح ** بلک هم‌چون دو تنی یک گشته روح
(Hence the women had said), “If (any one) has taken the pearl, only he can have taken it: none is more closely attached to the Lady than he.
گوهر ار بردست او بردست و بس ** زو ملازم‌تر به خاتون نیست کس
At first she wished to search him forcibly, (but) from respect for his reputation she delayed,
اول او را خواست جستن در نبرد ** بهر حرمت داشتش تاخیر کرد
In the hope that he might drop it (the pearl) somewhere and (thus) save himself during the respite.”
تا بود کان را بیندازد به جا ** اندرین مهلت رهاند خویش را
They were begging him to grant these absolutions and were rising up to excuse themselves.
این حلالیها ازو می‌خواستند ** وز برای عذر برمی‌خاستند
He replied, “’Twas the grace of God, who deals justice; else I am worse than what has been said (of me).2300
گفت بد فضل خدای دادگر ** ورنه زآنچم گفته شد هستم بتر
Why should absolution be begged of me? for I am the most sinful of (all) the people in the world.
چه حلالی خواست می‌باید ز من ** که منم مجرم‌تر اهل زمن
The evil they spoke of me is (but) a hundredth part (of that which I have committed): this is clearly known to me, if any one has a doubt (concerning it).
آنچ گفتندم ز بد از صد یکیست ** بر من این کشفست ار کس را شکیست
What does any one know of me but a little—(what but) one of my thousand sins and evil deeds?
کس چه می‌داند ز من جز اندکی ** از هزاران جرم و بد فعلم یکی
I know, and He who draws a veil (of concealment) over me (knows) my sins and the wickedness of my conduct.