The (Prophetic) Moon was running behind the Sun of inspiration, while the Companions followed behind him, like the stars.
در پی خورشید وحی آن مه دوان ** وآن صحابه در پیش چون اختران
The Moon is saying, “My Companions are stars—a model for (those who follow them in) the night-journey, and missiles hurled at the disobedient.”
ماه می‌گوید که اصحابی نجوم ** للسری قدوه و للطاغی رجوم
(When) the Amír was told of the arrival of that (spiritual) Sultan, he sprang up, beside himself with joy;
میر را گفتند که آن سلطان رسید ** او ز شادی بی‌دل و جان برجهید
He clapped his hands joyously, thinking that the (spiritual) Emperor had come on his account.
برگمان آن ز شادی زد دو دست ** کان شهنشه بهر او میر آمدست
When the Amír came down from the upper chamber, he was ready to lavish his soul on the messenger as a reward (for the news he had brought).1160
چون فرو آمد ز غرفه آن امیر ** جان همی‌افشاند پامزد بشیر
Then he kissed the earth (before the Prophet) and gave the salaam (with great ceremony): in his delight he made his countenance like a rose.
پس زمین‌بوس و سلام آورد او ** کرد رخ را از طرب چون ورد او
“In God's name,” he said, “bestow honour on the house (by entering it), so that this assembly-place may become a Paradise,
گفت بسم‌الله مشرف کن وطن ** تا که فردوسی شود این انجمن
And that my palace may surpass heaven (in glory), saying, ‘I have seen the Pole on which Time revolves.’”
تا فزاید قصر من بر آسمان ** که بدیدم قطب دوران زمان
The venerable (Prophet) said to him by way of rebuke, “I have not come to visit you.”
گفتش از بهر عتاب آن محترم ** من برای دیدن تو نامدم
He replied, “My spirit belongs to thee—what, indeed, is my spirit (before thee)? Oh, say on whose account is this solicitude?—1165
گفت روحم آن تو خود روح چیست ** هین بفرما کین تجشم بهر کیست
That I may become dust for the feet of the person who is planted in the orchard of thy favour.”
تا شوم من خاک پای آن کسی ** که به باغ لطف تستش مغرسی
Then he (the Prophet) said to him, “Where is that New-moon (Hilál) of the highest heaven? Where is he that in his humility is spread as moonbeams (like a carpet on the ground)?—
پس بگفتش کان هلال عرش کو ** هم‌چو مهتاب از تواضع فرش کو
That king who is disguised as a slave and has come (down) to this world for the purpose of spying?
آن شهی در بندگی پنهان شده ** بهر جاسوسی به دنیا آمده
Do not say, ‘He is my slave and stableman’: know this, that he is a treasure (buried) in ruins.
تو مگو کو بنده و آخرجی ماست ** این بدان که گنج در ویرانه‌هاست
Oh, I wonder to what state he has been reduced by sickness— that New-moon by which thousands of full-moons are trodden underfoot.”1170
ای عجب چونست از سقم آن هلال ** که هزاران بدر هستش پای‌مال
He (the Amír) said, “I have no knowledge of his illness, but he has not been at the palace-gate for several days.
گفت از رنجش مرا آگاه نیست ** لیک روزی چند بر درگاه نیست
He keeps company with the horses and mules: he is a groom, and this stable is his dwelling-place.”
صحبت او با ستور و استرست ** سایس است و منزلش این آخرست
How Mustafá, on whom be peace, came into the Amír's stable to see the sick Hilál, and how he caressed Hilál, may God be pleased with him!
در آمدن مصطفی علیه‌السلام از بهر عیادت هلال در ستورگاه آن امیر و نواختن مصطفی هلال را رضی الله عنه
The Prophet went eagerly into the stable (to look) for him and began to search.
رفت پیغامبر به رغبت بهر او ** اندر آخر وآمد اندر جست و جو
The stable was dark, foul, and dirty, (but) all this vanished (from Hilál's mind) when friendship arrived.
بود آخر مظلم و زشت و پلید ** وین همه برخاست چون الفت رسید
That fierce (spiritual) lion scented the Prophet just as the scent of Joseph was perceived by his father (Jacob).1175
بوی پیغامبر ببرد آن شیر نر ** هم‌چنانک بوی یوسف را پدر
Miracles are not the cause of religious faith; ’tis the scent of homogeneity that attracts (to itself) qualities (of the same kind).
موجب ایمان نباشد معجزات ** بوی جنسیت کند جذب صفات
Miracles are (wrought) for the purpose of subjugating the foe: the scent of homogeneity is (only) for the winning of hearts.
معجزات از بهر قهر دشمنست ** بوی جنسیت پی دل بردنست
A foe is subjugated, but not a friend: how should a friend have his neck bound?
قهر گردد دشمن اما دوست نی ** دوست کی گردد ببسته گردنی
He (Hilál) was awakened from sleep by his (the Prophet's) scent: he said (to himself), “A stable full of dung, and this kind of scent within it!”
اندر آمد او ز خواب از بوی او ** گفت سرگین‌دان درون زین گونه بو
(Then) through the legs of the riding-beasts he saw the holy skirt of the peerless Prophet,1180