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
I can bear the loss of my women and gold and estates: this is not pretence nor is it an imposture.
از زن و زر و عقارم صبر هست ** این تکلف نیست نی تزویریست
If thou dost not believe me in this (matter), try me, try me in word and deed!”
اندرین گر می‌نداری باورم ** امتحان کن امتحان گفت و قدم
Weeping and wiping his eyes, the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk ran, with agitated mien, into the presence of the Sultan.
آن عمادالملک گریان چشم‌مال ** پیش سلطان در دوید آشفته‌حال
He closed his lips and stood before the Sultan, communing with God the Lord of (all) His slaves.
لب ببست و پیش سلطان ایستاد ** راز گویان با خدا رب العباد
He stood and listened to the Sultan's intimate talk, while inwardly his thought was weaving this (prayer)—3385
ایستاده راز سلطان می‌شنید ** واندرون اندیشه‌اش این می‌تنید
“O God, if that young man (the Amír) has gone the wrong way, for ’tis not fitting to make any one except Thee a refuge,
کای خداگر آن جوان کژ رفت راه ** که نشاید ساختن جز تو پناه
(Yet) do Thou act in Thine own (generous) fashion and be not offended with him although he beseech any (poor) prisoner (like me) to deliver him,
تو از آن خود بکن از وی مگیر ** گرچه او خواهد خلاص از هر اسیر
Because all these creatures (of Thine) are in need (of Thee): take (it that) all (are alike in this respect) from a beggar to the Sultan (himself).”
زانک محتاجند این خلقان همه ** از گدایی گیر تا سلطان همه
To seek guidance from candle and wick when the perfect Sun is present,
با حضور آفتاب با کمال ** رهنمایی جستن از شمع و ذبال
To seek light from candle and lamp when the smoothly-rolling Sun is present,3390
با حضور آفتاب خوش‌مساغ ** روشنایی جستن از شمع و چراغ
Doubtless ’tis irreverence on our part, ’tis ingratitude and an act of self-will,
بی‌گمان ترک ادب باشد ز ما ** کفر نعمت باشد و فعل هوا
But most minds in (their) thinking are lovers of darkness, like the bat.
لیک اغلب هوش‌ها در افتکار ** هم‌چو خفاشند ظلمت دوستدار
If the bat eats a worm during the night, (yet it is) the Sun (that) fosters the life of the worm.
در شب ار خفاش کرمی می‌خورد ** کرم را خورشید جان می‌پرورد
If the bat is intoxicated with (the pleasure of eating) a worm during the night, (yet it is) by the Sun (that) the worm has been caused to move.
در شب ار خفاش از کرمیست مست ** کرم از خورشید جنبنده شدست
The Sun whence radiance gushes forth is giving food to his enemy.3395
آفتابی که ضیا زو می‌زهد ** دشمن خود را نواله می‌دهد
But (in the case of) the royal falcon which is not a bat and whose falcon-eye is seeing truly and is clear,
لیک شهبازی که او خفاش نیست ** چشم بازش راست‌بین و روشنیست
If it, like the bat, seek increase (of sustenance) during the night, the Sun will rub its ear (chastise it) in correction,
گر به شب جوید چو خفاش او نمو ** در ادب خورشید مالد گوش او
And will say to it, “I grant that the perverse bat has an infirmity, (but) anyhow what is the matter with you?
گویدش گیرم که آن خفاش لد ** علتی دارد ترا باری چه شد