And if your object is riches and gold and jewels, this is even more easy than to take possession of the city.”
ور مرادت مال و زر و گوهرست ** این ز ملک شهر خود آسان‌ترست
How the lord of Mawsil surrendered the girl to the Caliph in order that there might be no more shedding of Moslem blood.
ایثار کردن صاحب موصل آن کنیزک را بدین خلیفه تا خون‌ریز مسلمانان بیشتر نشود
When the envoy came to the captain, he (the captain) gave him the paper on which the features (of the girl) were depicted,
چون رسول آمد به پیش پهلوان ** داد کاغذ اندرو نقش و نشان
(Saying), “Look on the paper: this (is what) I require. Hark, give (her up), or else (I will take her by force, for) I am the conqueror.”
بنگر اندر کاغذ این را طالبم ** هین بده ورنه کنون من غالبم
On the return of the envoy, that manly King said, “Take no account of a (mere) form, lead her away at once.3850
چون رسول آمد بگفت آن شاه نر ** صورتی کم گیر زود این را ببر
I am not an idolater in the epoch of the true Faith: ’tis more fit that the idol should be in the hands of the idolater.”
من نیم در عهد ایمان بت‌پرست ** بت بر آن بت‌پرست اولیترست
When the envoy brought her (to him), the captain straightway fell in love with her beauty.
چونک آوردش رسول آن پهلوان ** گشت عاشق بر جمالش آن زمان
Love is an (infinite) ocean, on which the heavens are (but) a flake of foam: (they are distraught) like Zalíkhá in desire for a Joseph.
عشق بحری آسمان بر وی کفی ** چون زلیخا در هوای یوسفی
Know that the wheeling heavens are turned by waves of Love: were it not for Love, the world would be frozen (inanimate).
دور گردونها ز موج عشق دان ** گر نبودی عشق بفسردی جهان
How would an inorganic thing disappear (by change) into a plant? How would vegetive things sacrifice themselves to become (endowed with) spirit?3855
کی جمادی محو گشتی در نبات ** کی فدای روح گشتی نامیات
How would the spirit sacrifice itself for the sake of that Breath by the waft whereof a Mary was made pregnant?
روح کی گشتی فدای آن دمی ** کز نسیمش حامله شد مریمی
Each one (of them) would be (as) stiff and immovable as ice: how should they be flying and seeking like locusts?
هر یکی بر جا ترنجیدی چو یخ ** کی بدی پران و جویان چون ملخ
Every mote is in love with that Perfection and hastening upward like a sapling.
ذره ذره عاشقان آن کمال ** می‌شتابد در علو هم‌چون نهال
Their haste is (saying implicitly) “Glory to God!” They are purifying the body for the sake of the spirit.
سبح لله هست اشتابشان ** تنقیه‌ی تن می‌کنند از بهر جان
The captain deemed (what was really) a pit to be like a (safe) road: to him the sterile soil appeared goodly, (so) he sowed seed (in it).3860
پهلوان چه را چو ره پنداشته ** شوره‌اش خوش آمده حب کاشته
Dormiens cum (aliquis) simulacrum (amatae) in somnio videret, cum eo coivit et aqua (seminis) effusa est. [When the sleeper saw an image (of her) in a dream, he coupled with it and (seminal) fluid flowed from him.]
چون خیالی دید آن خفته به خواب ** جفت شد با آن و از وی رفت آب
Postquam somnium abscessit et ipse extemplo experrectus est, sensit illam pupam sibi jam vigilanti coram non adesse. [When the dream departed and he woke up at once, he saw that that doll was not (present) in wakefulness.]
چون برفت آن خواب و شد بیدار زود ** دید که آن لعبت به بیداری نبود
Dixit: “Eheu, aquam meam nihilo ingessi; eheu, dolosi illius (simulacri) dolum expertus sum.” [He said: “Alas! I have borne my fluid (sperm) for nothing. Alas! I have swallowed the coquetry of that artful schemer (image).]
گفت بر هیچ آب خود بردم دریغ ** عشوه‌ی آن عشوه‌ده خوردم دریغ
Fuit ille dux (nonnisi) corporis imperator, revera vir non fuit: virilatis semen in ejusmodi arena sevit. [That one was a captain of the body (only), he lacked (true) manliness: he sowed the seed of manliness in such (a place of) sand.]
پهلوان تن بد آن مردی نداشت ** تخم مردی در چنان ریگی بکاشت
The steed of his love tore up a hundred bridles: he (the captain) was shouting, “I care naught for death.3865
مرکب عشقش دریده صد لگام ** نعره می‌زد لا ابالی بالحمام
What should I care about the Caliph? (Since I am) in love, my life and death are the same to me.”