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
I will chastise you severely with affliction, in order that you may not again turn your head away from the Sun.”
مالشت بدهم به زجر از اکتیاب ** تا نتابی سر دگر از آفتاب
How Joseph the Siddíq (truthful witness)—the blessings of God be upon him!—was punished with imprisonment “for several years” because of his seeking help from another than God and saying (to him), “Mention me in thy lord's presence,” together with the exposition thereof.
ماخذهی یوسف صدیق صلواتالله علیه به حبس بضع سنین به سبب یاری خواستن از غیر حق و گفتن اذکرنی عند ربک مع تقریره
That is like Joseph's (asking help) of a (fellow-) prisoner, a needy abject groundling.3400
آنچنان که یوسف از زندانیی ** با نیازی خاضعی سعدانیی
He besought him for help and said, “When you come out (of prison), your affairs will prosper with the king.
خواست یاری گفت چون بیرون روی ** پیش شه گردد امورت مستوی
Make mention of me before the throne of that mighty prince, that he may redeem (release) me also from this prison.”
یاد من کن پیش تخت آن عزیز ** تا مرا هم وا خرد زین حبس نیز
(But) how should a prisoner in captivity give release to another imprisoned man?
کی دهد زندانیی در اقتناص ** مرد زندانی دیگر را خلاص
All the people of this world are prisoners (waiting) in expectation of death in the abode that is passing away;
اهل دنیا جملگان زندانیند ** انتظار مرگ دار فانیند
Except, to be sure, in the rare case of one who is single (fardání), one whose body is in the prison (of this world) and his spirit like Saturn (in the seventh heaven).3405
جز مگر نادر یکی فردانیی ** تن بزندان جان او کیوانیی
Therefore, in retribution for having regarded him (the fellow-prisoner) as a helper, Joseph was left in prison for several years.
پس جزای آنک دید او را معین ** ماند یوسف حبس در بضع سنین