Its colour (splendid appearance) dazzled every eye: (all would exclaim), “Hail to the (steed) born of the lightning and the moon!”
می‌ربودی رنگ او هر دیده را ** مرحب آن از برق و مه زاییده را
It moved as swiftly as the moon and Mercury: you might say that its fodder was the sarsar wind, not barley.
هم‌چو مه هم‌چون عطارد تیزرو ** گوییی صرصر علف بودش نه جو
The moon traverses the expanse of heaven in one night during a single journey and course.
ماه عرصه‌ی آسمان را در شبی ** می‌برد اندر مسیر و مذهبی
Since the moon traversed the signs of the zodiac in one night, wherefore wilt thou disbelieve the Ascension (of the Prophet)?
چون به یک شب مه برید ابراج را ** از چه منکر می‌شوی معراج را
That wondrous orphan Pearl is as a hundred moons, for at a nod from him the moon became (split in) two halves.3445
صد چو ماهست آن عجب در یتیم ** که به یک ایماء او شد مه دو نیم
(Even) the marvel which he displayed in splitting the moon was only according to the measure of the weakness of the perception possessed by the (common) people.
آن عجب کو در شکاف مه نمود ** هم به قدر ضعف حس خلق بود
The work and business of the prophets and (Divine) messengers is beyond the skies and the stars.
کار و بار انبیا و مرسلون ** هست از افلاک و اخترها برون
Do thou also go beyond (transcend) the skies and the revolving (orb), and then contemplate that work and business.
تو برون رو هم ز افلاک و دوار ** وانگهان نظاره کن آن کار و بار
(Whilst) thou art inside the egg, like chicks, thou canst not hear the glorification of God by the birds of the (supermundane) air.
در میان بیضه‌ای چون فرخ‌ها ** نشنوی تسبیح مرغان هوا
The miracles (of the Prophet) will not be set forth here: tell of the horse and the Khwárizmsháh and what happened.3450
معجزات این‌جا نخواهد شرح گشت ** ز اسپ و خوارمشاه گو و سرگذشت
Whatsoever the sun of God's grace shines upon, whether it be dog or horse, gains (is endowed with) the glory of the Cave;
آفتاب لطف حق بر هر چه تافت ** از سگ و از اسپ فر کهف یافت
Yet deem not the radiance of His grace to be uniform: it has given a sign (distinctive character) to the pebble and the ruby.
تاب لطفش را تو یکسان هم مدان ** سنگ را و لعل را داد او نشان
From that (radiance) the ruby has a borrowed treasure, (while) the pebble has only heat and brightness.
لعل را زان هست گنج مقتبس ** سنگ را گرمی و تابانی و بس
(The radiance of) the sun falling on a wall is not the same as (when it is reflected) from water and quivering movement.
آنک بر دیوار افتد آفتاب ** آن‌چنان نبود کز آب و اضطراب
After the peerless king had been astounded by (gazing at) it (the horse) for a moment, he turned his face to the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk,3455
چون دمی حیران شد از وی شاه فرد ** روی خود سوی عماد الملک کرد
Saying, “O vizier, is not this an exceedingly beautiful horse? Surely it belongs to Paradise, not to the earth.”
کای اچی بس خوب اسپی نیست این ** از بهشتست این مگر نه از زمین
Thereupon the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk said to him, “O emperor, a demon is made angelic by thy (fond) inclination.
پس عماد الملک گفتش ای خدیو ** چون فرشته گردد از میل تو دیو
That on which thou lookest (fondly) becomes (appears good (to thee). This steed is very handsome and graceful, and yet
در نظر آنچ آوری گردید نیک ** بس گش و رعناست این مرکب ولیک
The head is a blemish in its (elegant) form: you might say that its head is like the head of an ox.”
هست ناقص آن سر اندر پیکرش ** چون سر گاوست گویی آن سرش
These words worked on the heart of the Khwárizmsháh and caused the horse to be cheap in the king's sight.3460
در دل خوارمشه این دم کار کرد ** اسپ را در منظر شه خوار کرد
When prejudice becomes a go-between and describer (of beauty), you may get (buy) a Joseph for three ells of linen.
چون غرض دلاله گشت و واصفی ** از سه گز کرباس یابی یوسفی
When the hour arrives for the spirit's parting (from the body), the Devil becomes a broker (depreciator) of the pearl of Faith,
چونک هنگام فراق جان شود ** دیو دلال در ایمان شود
And then in that (moment of) sore distress the fool hastily sells his faith for a jug of water;
پس فروشد ابله ایمان را شتاب ** اندر آن تنگی به یک ابریق آب
But ’tis a (mere) phantom and not (really) a jug: the aim of the broker (the Devil) is naught but trickery.
وان خیالی باشد و ابریق نی ** قصد آن دلال جز تخریق نی
At this (present) time, when you are healthy and fat, you are giving up the Truth for a phantom.3465
این زمان که تو صحیح و فربهی ** صدق را بهر خیالی می‌دهی