He said (to himself), “(Only) the mirror that has made its face hard can tell a man to his face that he is ugly.3505
گفت در رو گفتن زشتی مرد ** آینه تاند که رو را سخت کرد
It needs a steel face, like a mirror, to say to thee, ‘Behold thy ugly face.’”
روی باید آینه‌وار آهنین ** تات گوید روی زشت خود ببین
Story of Dalqak's checkmating the Sayyid, the Sháh of Tirmid.
حکایت مات کردن دلقک سید شاه ترمد را
The Sháh was playing chess with Dalqak: he (Dalqak) checkmated him: immediately the Sháh's anger burst out.
شاه با دلقک همی شطرنج باخت ** مات کردش زود خشم شه بتاخت
He (Dalqak) cried, “Checkmate, checkmate!” and the haughty monarch threw the chessmen, one by one, at his head,
گفت شه شه و آن شه کبرآورش ** یک یک از شطرنج می‌زد بر سرش
Saying, “Take (it)! Here is ‘checkmate’ for you, O scoundrel.” Dalqak restrained himself and (only) said, “Mercy!”
که بگیر اینک شهت ای قلتبان ** صبر کرد آن دلقک و گفت الامان
The Prince commanded him to play a second game: he (Dalqak) was trembling like a naked man in bitter cold.3510
دست دیگر باختن فرمود میر ** او چنان لرزان که عور از زمهریر
He played the second game, and the Sháh was defeated: (when) the time and moment for saying “checkmate, checkmate” arrived,
باخت دست دیگر و شه مات شد ** وقت شه شه گفتن و میقات شد
Dalqak jumped up and ran into a corner and in his fear hastily flung six rugs over himself.
بر جهید آن دلقک و در کنج رفت ** شش نمد بر خود فکند از بیم تفت
(There) he lay hidden beneath (several) cushions and six rugs, that he might escape from the Sháh's blows.
زیر بالشها و زیر شش نمد ** خفت پنهان تا ز زخم شه رهد
The Sháh exclaimed, “Hi, hi! what have you done? What is this?” He replied, “Checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, O excellent Sháh!
گفت شه هی هی چه کردی چیست این ** گفت شه شه شه شه ای شاه گزین
How can one tell the truth to thee except under cover, O wrathful man who art wrapped in fire,3515
کی توان حق گفت جز زیر لحاف ** با تو ای خشم‌آور آتش‌سجاف
O thou who art defeated (by me), while I, defeated by thy Majesty's blows, am crying ‘checkmate, checkmate’ under thy house-furnishings?”
ای تو مات و من ز زخم شاه مات ** می‌زنم شه شه به زیر رختهات
When the (whole) quarter became filled with the furious shouts of the Amír and his kicking the (ascetic's) door and holding and seizing,
چون محله پر شد از هیهای میر ** وز لگد بر در زدن وز دار و گیر
The people quickly rushed out from left and right, crying, “O Prince, ’tis the hour for pardon and grace.
خلق بیرون جست زود از چپ و راست ** کای مقدم وقت عفوست و رضاست
His brain is dry, and at this time his intelligence is inferior to the intelligence and understanding of children.
مغز او خشکست و عقلش این زمان ** کمترست از عقل و فهم کودکان
Asceticism and old age have come on the top of each other, and no (spiritual) revelation has been given to him in his asceticism.3520
زهد و پیری ضعف بر ضعف آمده ** واندر آن زهدش گشادی ناشده
He has suffered the pain but never seen the gain (that comes) from the Beloved: he has done (many) works (of devotion) but never seen the wages for his work.
رنج دیده گنج نادیده ز یار ** کارها کرده ندیده مزد کار
Either the essential thing was not in his work at all, or by (Divine) decree the hour for the reward has not yet arrived.
یا نبود آن کار او را خود گهر ** یا نیامد وقت پاداش از قدر
Either his labour has been like the labour of the Jews, or the recompense has been connected with (deferred till) the appointed season.
یا که بود آن سعی چون سعی جهود ** یا جزا وابسته‌ی میقات بود
For him ’tis sorrow and misfortune enough that he is without any one (to succour him) in this vale full of blood.
مر ورا درد و مصیبت این بس است ** که درین وادی پر خون بی‌کس است
His eyes are painful, and he sits in a corner, sour-faced and chop-fallen.3525
چشم پر درد و نشسته او به کنج ** رو ترش کرده فرو افکنده لنج
There is no oculist to sympathise with him, nor has he any intelligence that he should find the way to a collyrium.
نه یکی کحال کو را غم خورد ** نیش عقلی که به کحلی پی برد
He is making a (great) effort with (the help of) conjecture and opinion: the matter rests in ‘maybe’ till it turn out well.
اجتهادی می‌کند با حزر و ظن ** کار در بوکست تا نیکو شدن
Far is the road he must travel ere he sees the Beloved, because he does not seek the head; his desire is headship.
زان رهش دورست تا دیدار دوست ** کو نجوید سر رئیسیش آرزوست
At one time he is (engaged) in reproach, saying (to God), ‘The portion allotted to me from this calculation (of mine) is (nothing but) pain.’
ساعتی او با خدا اندر عتاب ** که نصیبم رنج آمد زین حساب