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
Afterwards they all set out together and went towards the palace of the fortunate king.
بعد از آن جمله به هم بیرون شدند ** سوی قصرآن شه میمون شدند
When a dog barked on the right, (one of them) said, “It says ‘The Sultan is with you.’”
چون سگی بانگی بزد از سوی راست ** گفت میگوید که سلطان با شماست
Another smelt the ground from (the top of) a hill and said, “This belongs to the house of a widow.”
خاک بو کرد آن دگر از ربوهای ** گفت این هست از وثاق بیوهای
Then the skilful master of the lasso threw his lasso, so that (by means of it) they got over the lofty wall.
پس کمند انداخت استاد کمند ** تا شدند آن سوی دیوار بلند
When he (the thief who had previously smelt from the hill) smelt the earth in this other place, he said, “’Tis the earth (site) of the treasury of a peerless king.”2845
جای دیگر خاک را چون بوی کرد ** گفت خاک مخزن شاهیست فرد
The tunneller made a tunnel and reached the treasury: every one carried off some goods from the treasury.
نقبزن زد نقب در مخزن رسید ** هر یکی از مخزن اسبابی کشید
The band took away much gold and gold-embroidered cloth and big pearls and quickly concealed them.
بس زر و زربفت و گوهرهای زفت ** قوم بردند و نهان کردند تفت
The King saw distinctly their lodging-place and (noticed) their personal appearance and names and (where they took) refuge and (what) way (they went).
شه معین دید منزلگاهشان ** حلیه و نام و پناه و راهشان
He stole away from them and returned (to the palace), and (next) day related his adventure (to the ministers) in council.
خویش را دزدید ازیشان بازگشت ** روز در دیوان بگفت آن سرگذشت
Thereupon furious officers rushed away to arrest and pinion the thieves.2850
پس روان گشتند سرهنگان مست ** تا که دزدان را گرفتند و ببست
They (the thieves) came handcuffed into the council-chamber, and they were trembling in fear for their lives.
دستبسته سوی دیوان آمدند ** وز نهیب جان خود لرزان شدند
When they stood before the King's throne, that moon-like King was their (last) night's companion.
چونک استادند پیش تخت شاه ** یار شبشان بود آن شاه چو ماه
He (the thief) who could without hesitation recognise by day any one on whom he had cast his eye by night
آنک چشمش شب بهرکه انداختی ** روز دیدی بی شکش بشناختی
Saw the King on the throne and said, “This man was going about with us last night and was our comrade.
شاه را بر تخت دید و گفت این ** بود با ما دوش شبگرد و قرین