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
He who has such a great talent in his beard—our arrest is the result of his enquiry.”2855
آنک چندین خاصیت در ریش اوست ** این گرفت ما هم از تفتیش اوست
His (the thief's) eye was a knower of the King: consequently he opened his lips (to speak) of (mystic) knowledge to his followers.
عارف شه بود چشمش لاجرم ** بر گشاد از معرفت لب با حشم
He said, “This King was (the subject of) and He is with you: he was seeing our actions and hearing our secret.
گفت و هو معکم این شاه بود ** فعل ما می‌دید و سرمان می‌شنود
My eye made its way (to him), recognised the King by night, and all night long played the game of love with his moon-like face.
چشم من ره برد شب شه را شناخت ** جمله شب با روی ماهش عشق باخت
I will beg (forgiveness for) my people from him, for he never averts his face from the knower.
امت خود را بخواهم من ازو ** کو نگرداند ز عارف هیچ رو
Deem the eye of the knower to be the salvation of the two worlds, whereby every Bahrám (sovereign) obtained help.2860
چشم عارف دان امان هر دو کون ** که بدو یابید هر بهرام عون
Mohammed was the intercessor for every brand (of disgrace) because his eye did not swerve for aught except God.
زان محمد شافع هر داغ بود ** که ز جز شه چشم او مازاغ بود