If thou canst not discern that sin by means of consideration, at once make humble entreaty and seek pardon (from God).
گر ندانی آن گنه را ز اعتبار ** زود زاری کن طلب کن اغتفار
Prostrate thyself a hundred times and keep saying, “O God, this pain is nothing but my due and desert.3990
سجده کن صد بار می‌گوی ای خدا ** نیست این غم غیر درخورد و سزا
O Thou who art transcendent in holiness and free from (all) injustice and oppression, how shouldst Thou inflict grief and pain upon the soul when it has not sinned?
ای تو سبحان پاک از ظلم و ستم ** کی دهی بی‌جرم جان را درد و غم
I do not know my sin definitely, but (I know that) there must be a sin (to account) for the anguish.
من معین می‌ندانم جرم را ** لیک هم جرمی بباید گرم را
Since Thou hast concealed the cause from my consideration, do Thou always keep my sin concealed (from others);
چون بپوشیدی سبب را ز اعتبار ** دایما آن جرم را پوشیده دار
For it would be retribution to disclose my sin, so that my thievery (rascality) should be made manifest by punishment.”
که جزا اظهار جرم من بود ** کز سیاست دزدیم ظاهر شود
How the monarch, on being acquainted with that act of treachery, resolved to conceal and pardon it and give her (the slave-girl) to him (the captain), and recognised that the tribulation was a punishment inflicted on him and was (the result of) his attempt (to obtain the slave-girl) and the wrong which he had done to the lord of Mawsil; for “and whoso doeth evil, it is against himself” and “lo, thy Lord is on the watch”; and how he feared that, if he should avenge himself, the vengeance would recoil on his own head, as this injustice and greed (of his) had (already) recoiled upon him.
عزم کردن شاه چون واقف شد بر آن خیانت کی بپوشاند و عفو کند و او را به او دهد و دانست کی آن فتنه جزای او بود و قصد او بود و ظلم او بر صاحب موصل کی و من اساء فعلیها و ان ربک لبالمرصاد و ترسیدن کی اگر انتقام کشد آن انتقام هم بر سر او آید چنانک این ظلم و طمع بر سرش آمد
The monarch came to himself. He asked pardon (of God) and confessed his sin and lapse and persistence (in wrong-doing).3995
شاه با خود آمد استغفار کرد ** یاد جرم و زلت و اصرار کرد
He said to himself, “The retribution for what I did to certain persons has reached (overtaken) my soul.
گفت با خود آنچ کردم با کسان ** شد جزای آن به جان من رسان
From (pride of) power I made an attempt on the concubine of another: that (injustice) recoiled upon me and I fell into the pit (which I had dug).
قصد جفت دیگران کردم ز جاه ** بر من آمد آن و افتادم به چاه
I knocked at the door of another person's house: consequently he knocked at the door of my house.”
من در خانه‌ی کسی دیگر زدم ** او در خانه‌ی مرا زد لاجرم
Whoever seeks to commit adultery with (other) people's wives, know that he is a pimp to his own wife;
هر که با اهل کسان شد فسق‌جو ** اهل خود را دان که قوادست او
For that (adultery) is requited by the like, since the retribution for an evil act is an act like unto it.4000
زانک مثل آن جزای آن شود ** چون جزای سیه مثلش بود
Inasmuch as you have made a cord and pulled one like it towards yourself, you are a wittol and worse.
چون سبب کردی کشیدی سوی خویش ** مثل آن را پس تو دیوثی و بیش
“I took the king of Mawsil's concubine from him by force, (so) she was soon taken by force from me too.
غصب کردم از شه موصل کنیز ** غصب کردند از من او را زود نیز
My treacherous deeds made a traitor of him who was my trusted friend and servant.
او کامین من بد و لالای من ** خاینش کرد آن خیانتهای من
’Tis no time to inflict punishment (for the injury) and avenge myself: I prepared the disaster with my own hand.
نیست وقت کین‌گزاری و انتقام ** من به دست خویش کردم کار خام
If I wreak vengeance on the Amír and the woman, that trespass also will come (recoil) on my head,4005
گر کشم کینه بر آن میر و حرم ** آن تعدی هم بیاید بر سرم
Just as this (other) one has (already) come (upon me) in retribution: I have tried Him (God), I will not try Him again.
هم‌چنانک این یک بیامد در جزا ** آزمودم باز نزمایم ورا
The grief of the lord of Mawsil has broken my neck: I dare not wound this other man as well.
درد صاحب موصلم گردن شکست ** من نیارم این دگر را نیز خست
God hath given us information concerning retribution: He hath said, ‘If ye repeat it (the offence), We shall repeat it (the punishment).’
داد حق‌مان از مکافات آگهی ** گفت ان عدتم به عدنا به
Since in this case it is useless to commit excess (to transgress further), nothing but patience and mercy is praiseworthy.
چون فزونی کردن اینجا سود نیست ** غیر صبر و مرحمت محمود نیست
O our Lord, verily we have done wrong, a fault has occurred: perform an act of mercy, O Thou whose mercifulnesses are mighty!4010