If (aught) other (than God) appear (to you), ’tis (the effect of) His illusion; and if (all) other (than God) vanish from sight, ’tis (the effect of) His awakening (you to the reality).
گر نماید غیر هم تمویه اوست ** ور رود غیر از نظر تنبیه اوست
Then it became certain to him (the king) that the attraction was from Yonder: the action of God is producing marvels at every moment.
پس یقین گشتش که جذبه زان سریست ** کار حق هر لحظه نادر آوریست
Because of the (Divine) probation a stone horse (or) a stone cow becomes, through God's deception, an object of worship.
اسپ سنگین گاو سنگین ز ابتلا ** می‌شود مسجود از مکر خدا
In the eyes of the infidel (idolater) the idol has no second (is without parallel), (though) the idol has neither glory nor spirituality.
پیش کافر نیست بت را ثانیی ** نیست بت را فر و نه روحانیی
What is the attracting power, hidden in the hidden most, that shines forth in this world from (its source in) the other world?3360
چست آن جاذب نهان اندر نهان ** در جهان تابیده از دیگر جهان
The intellect is barred, and the spirit also, from (access to) this ambush; I cannot see it: see it (if) you can!
عقل محجوبست و جان هم زین کمین ** من نمی‌بینم تو می‌توانی ببین
When the Khwárizmsháh returned from his ride, he conferred with the nobles of his kingdom.
چونک خوارمشه ز سیران باز گشت ** با خواص ملک خود هم‌راز گشت
Then he immediately ordered the officers to fetch the horse from that (Amír's) household.
پس به سرهنگان بفرمود آن زمان ** تا بیارند اسپ را زان خاندان
(Quick) as fire, the party (of officers) arrived (there): the Amír who was like a mountain (in pride and stubbornness) became (soft and weak) as a piece of wool
هم‌چو آتش در رسیدند آن گروه ** هم‌چو پشمی گشت امیر هم‌چو کوه
He almost expired from the anguish and defraudment: he saw no (means of) protection except the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk;3365
جانش از درد و غبین تا لب رسید ** جز عمادالملک زنهاری ندید
For the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk was the foot of the banner to which every victim of injustice and every one stricken by distress would flock for refuge.
که عمادالملک بد پای علم ** بهر هر مظلوم و هر مقتول غم
In sooth there was no chief more revered than he: in the eyes of the Sultan he was like a prophet.
محترم‌تر خود نبد زو سروری ** پیش سلطان بود چون پیغامبری
He was unambitious, strong-minded, devout, ascetic, one who kept vigils and was (like) Hátim in generosity;
بی‌طمع بود او اصیل و پارسا ** رایض و شب‌خیز و حاتم در سخا
Very felicitous in judgement, endowed with foresight, and sage: his judgement had been proved in everything that he sought to attain.
بس همایون‌رای و با تدبیر و راد ** آزموده رای او در هر مراد
(He was) generous both in self-sacrifice and in sacrificing wealth: (he was) always seeking the Sun of the invisible world, like the new-moon.3370
هم به بذل جان سخی و هم به مال ** طالب خورشید غیب او چون هلال
In his (worldly) princedom he felt strange and embarrassed: he was clad (inwardly) in the attributes of (spiritual) poverty and love (of God).
در امیری او غریب و محتبس ** در صفات فقر وخلت ملتبس
He was like a father to every one in need: before the Sultan he was an intercessor and the means of averting harm.
بوده هر محتاج را هم‌چون پدر ** پیش سلطان شافع و دفع ضرر
To the wicked he was a covering (to palliate their offences), like the clemency of God: his nature was opposite to (that of other) created beings and apart (from theirs).
مر بدان را ستر چون حلم خدا ** خلق او بر عکس خلقان و جدا
Many a time he would have gone alone to the mountains (in order to seclude himself), (but) the Sultan prevented (dissuaded) him by (making) a hundred humble entreaties.
بارها می‌شد به سوی کوه فرد ** شاه با صد لابه او را دفع کرد
If at every moment he had interceded for a hundred sins, the Sultan's eye would have been abashed before him.3375
هر دم ار صد جرم را شافع شدی ** چشم سلطان را ازو شرم آمدی
He (the Amír) went to the noble ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk: he bared his head and fell on the ground,
رفت او پیش عماد الملک راد ** سر برهنه کرد و بر خاک اوفتاد
Saying, “Let him (the king) take my harem together with all that I possess! Let any raider seize my (entire) revenue!
که حرم با هر چه دارم گو بگیر ** تا بگیرد حاصلم را هر مغیر
(But) there is this one horse—my soul is devoted to it: if he take it, I will surely die, O lover of good.
این یکی اسپست جانم رهن اوست ** گر برد مردم یقین ای خیردوست
If he take this horse out of my hands, I know for certain that I shall not live (long).
گر برد این اسپ را از دست من ** من یقین دانم نخواهم زیستن
Since God has bestowed (on thee) a (spiritual) connexion (with Himself), stroke my head at once with thy hand, O Messiah!3380
چون خدا پیوستگیی داده است ** بر سرم مال ای مسیحا زود دست