That poor stranger was familiar with his door and had paid innumerable debts from his bounty.
با درش بود آن غریب آموخته ** وام بی‌حد از عطایش توخته
In reliance upon that generous (patron) he ran into debt, for the (poor) man was confident of (receiving) his donations.
هم به پشت آن کریم او وام کرد ** که ببخششهاش واثق بود مرد
He had been made reckless by him (the Inspector) and eager to incur debts in hope of (being enriched by) that munificent sea.
لا ابالی گشته زو و وام‌جو ** بر امید قلزم اکرام‌خو
His creditors looked sour, while he was laughing happily, like the rose, on account of that garden (abode) of generous souls.
وام‌داران روترش او شادکام ** هم‌چو گل خندان از آن روض الکرام
(When) his (the Moslem's) back is warmed by the Sun of the Arabs, what does he care for the moustache (vain bluster) of Bú Lahab?3025
گرم شد پشتش ز خورشید عرب ** چه غمستش از سبال بولهب
When he has a covenant and alliance with the rain-cloud, how should he grudge water to the water-carriers?
چونک دارد عهد و پیوند سحاب ** کی دریغ آید ز سقایانش آب
How should the magicians who were acquainted with God's Hand (Power) bestow (the name of) hands and feet upon these hands and feet?
ساحران واقف از دست خدا ** کی نهند این دست و پا را دست و پا
The fox that is backed by those lions will break the skulls of the leopards with his fist.
روبهی که هست زان شیرانش پشت ** بشکند کله‌ی پلنگان را به مشت
How Ja‘far, may God be well-pleased with him, advanced alone to capture a fortress, and how the king of the fortress consulted (his vizier) as to the means of repelling him, and how the vizier said to the king, “Beware! Surrender (it) and do not be so foolhardy as to hurl thyself upon him; for this man is (Divinely) aided and possesses in his soul a great collectedness (derived) from God,” etc.
آمدن جعفر رضی الله عنه به گرفتن قلعه به تنهایی و مشورت کردن ملک آن قلعه در دفع او و گفتن آن وزیر ملک را کی زنهار تسلیم کن و از جهل تهور مکن کی این مرد میدست و از حق جمعیت عظیم دارد در جان خویش الی آخره
When Ja‘far advanced against a certain fortress, the fortress (seemed) to his dry palate (to be no more than) a single gulp.
چونک جعفر رفت سوی قلعه‌ای ** قلعه پیش کام خشکش جرعه‌ای
Riding alone, he charged up to the fortress, so that they (the garrison) locked the fortress-gate in dread.3030
یک سواره تاخت تا قلعه بکر ** تا در قلعه ببستند از حذر
No one dared to meet him in battle: what stomach have the ship's crew (to contend) with a leviathan?
زهره نه کس را که پیش آید به جنگ ** اهل کشتی را چه زهره با نهنگ
The king turned to his vizier, saying, “What is to be done in this crisis, Counsellor?”
روی آورد آن ملک سوی وزیر ** که چه چاره‌ست اندرین وقت ای مشیر
He replied, “(The only remedy is) that you should bid farewell to pride and cunning, and come to him with sword and shroud.”
گفت آنک ترک گویی کبر و فن ** پیش او آیی به شمشیر و کفن
“Why,” said the king, “is not he a single man (and) alone?” He (the vizier) replied, “Do not look with contempt on the man's loneliness.
گفت آخر نه یکی مردیست فرد ** گفت منگر خوار در فردی مرد
Open your eye: look well at the fortress: it is trembling before him like quicksilver.3035
چشم بگشا قلعه را بنگر نکو ** هم‌چو سیمابست لرزان پیش او
He sits (alone) on the saddle, (but) his nerve is just as unshaken as if an (army of the) East and West were accompanying him.
شسته در زین آن‌چنان محکم‌پیست ** گوییا شرقی و غربی با ویست
Several men rushed forward, like Fidá’ís (desperate assassins), and flung themselves into combat with him.
چند کس هم‌چون فدایی تاختند ** خویشتن را پیش او انداختند
He felled each of them with a blow of his mace (so that they were hurled) headlong at the feet of his steed.
هر یکی را او بگرزی می‌فکند ** سر نگوسار اندر اقدام سمند
God's (creative) action had bestowed on him such a collectedness that he was attacking a (whole) people single-handed.
داده بودش صنع حق جمعیتی ** که همی‌زد یک تنه بر امتی
When mine eye beheld the face of that (spiritual) emperor, (all) plurality vanished from my sight.”3040
چشم من چون دید روی آن قباد ** کثرت اعداد از چشمم فتاد
The stars are many; though the sun is one, (yet) on his appearance their foundation is demolished.
اختران بسیار و خورشید ار یکیست ** پیش او بنیاد ایشان مندکیست
If a thousand mice put forth their heads, the cat feels no fear or apprehension of danger.
گر هزاران موش پیش آرند سر ** گربه را نه ترس باشد نه حذر
How should mice advance (to the attack), O such-and-such? They have no collectedness in their souls.
کی به پیش آیند موشان ای فلان ** نیست جمعیت درون جانشان
The collectedness (that consists) in outward forms is a vain thing: hark, beg from the Creator collectedness of spirit.
هست جمعیت به صورتها فشار ** جمع معنی خواه هین از کردگار
Collectedness is not the result of bodily multitude: know that body, like name, is built on (empty) air.3045
نیست جمعیت ز بسیاری جسم ** جسم را بر باد قایم دان چو اسم