While King Mahmúd was roaming about alone at night he encountered a band of thieves.
شب چو شه محمود برمی‌گشت فرد ** با گروهی قوم دزدان باز خورد
Thereupon they said to him, “Who art thou, O honest man?” “I am one of you,” replied the King.
پس بگفتندش کیی ای بوالوفا ** گفت شه من هم یکی‌ام از شما
One (of the thieves) said, “O company practised in cunning, let each of us declare his (special) talent;
آن یکی گفت ای گروه مکر کیش ** تا بگوید هر یکی فرهنگ خویش
Let him tell his comrades in the night-talk what (eminent) skill he possesses in his nature.”
تا بگوید با حریفان در سمر ** کو چه دارد در جبلت از هنر
One said, “O ye fellows who are exhibiting (your) cleverness, my specialty lies in my two ears.2820
آن یکی گفت ای گروه فن‌فروش ** هست خاصیت مرا اندر دو گوش
(It is this), that I know what a dog is saying when it barks.” The (rest of the) party replied, “Two dángs of a dínár.”
که بدانم سگ چه می‌گوید به بانگ ** قوم گفتندش ز دیناری دو دانگ
Another (thief) said, “O company of gold-worshippers, my specialty lies wholly in my eyes.
آن دگر گفت ای گروه زرپرست ** جمله خاصیت مرا چشم اندرست
If I see any one in the world by night, I know him by day without (having any) doubt (as to his identity).”
هر که را شب بینم اندر قیروان ** روز بشناسم من او را بی‌گمان
Another said, “My specialty lies in my arm: I make tunnels (through walls) by strength of hand.”
گفت یک خاصیتم در بازو است ** که زنم من نقبها با زور دست
Another said, “My specialty lies in my nose: my business is to detect the (characteristic) smell in (different) earths (soils).2825
گفت یک خاصیتم در بینی است ** کار من در خاکها بوبینی است
The secret of ‘men are mines’ has yielded itself (to me), so that (I know the reason) why the Prophet has said it.
سرالناس معادن داد دست ** که رسول آن را پی چه گفته است
From (smelling) the earth of the body I know how much good ore is (hidden) therein and what (sort of) mine it holds.
من ز خاک تن بدانم کاندر آن ** چند نقدست و چه دارد او ز کان
In one mine is contained gold immeasurable, while (in the case of) another the revenue (derived) from it is less than the expenditure (cost of working it).
در یکی کان زر بی‌اندازه درج ** وان دگر دخلش بود کمتر ز خرج
Like Majnún, I smell the soil and detect the soil (abode) of Laylá without mistake.
هم‌چو مجنون بو کنم من خاک را ** خاک لیلی را بیابم بی‌خطا
I smell and know from (the scent of) every shirt whether ’tis (belongs to) a Joseph or an Ahriman (devil).2830
بو کنم دانم ز هر پیراهنی ** گر بود یوسف و گر آهرمنی
Like Ahmad (Mohammed), who catches scent from Yemen, this nose of mine has gained (been endowed with) some portion of that (spiritual faculty),
هم‌چو احمد که برد بو از یمن ** زان نصیبی یافت این بینی من
(So that I can smell) which soil is a neighbour of gold, or which soil is empty and poor.”
که کدامین خاک همسایه‌ی زرست ** یا کدامین خاک صفر و ابترست
Another said, “Look here, my specialty lies in my fist: I can throw a lasso to the height of a mountain,
گفت یک نک خاصیت در پنجه‌ام ** که کمندی افکنم طول علم
Like Ahmad (Mohammed), whose spirit threw a lasso so (high) that his lasso bore him to Heaven,
هم‌چو احمد که کمند انداخت جانش ** تا کمندش برد سوی آسمانش
And God said to him, ‘O thrower of the lasso (of thy aspiration) at the (celestial) House, deem that (act of throwing) to be from Me: thou didst not throw when thou threwest.’”2835
گفت حقش ای کمندانداز بیت ** آن ز من دان ما رمیت اذ رمیت
Then they (the thieves) asked the King, saying, “O man of authority, in what may thy special talent consist?”
پس بپرسیدند زان شه کای سند ** مر ترا خاصیت اندر چه بود
He replied, “My specialty lies in my beard: I can save criminals from punishment.
گفت در ریشم بود خاصیتم ** که رهانم مجرمان را از نقم
When criminals are handed over to the executioners, as soon as my beard moves they are saved.
مجرمان را چون به جلادان دهند ** چون بجنبد ریش من زیشان رهند
When I move my beard in mercy, they (the executioners) put an end to the killing and (all) the trouble.”
چون بجنبانم به رحمت ریش را ** طی کنند آن قتل و آن تشویش را
The company said to him, “Thou art our qutb (supreme chief), for thou wilt be the (means of our) deliverance on the day of tribulation.”2840
قوم گفتندش که قطب ما توی ** که خلاص روز محنتمان شوی