How often does a merchant go (from home) in hope of gain: he thinks it will be a feast ('íd), but he is consumed like aloeswood ('úd).
چند بازرگان رود بر بوی سود ** عید پندارد بسوزد همچو عود
How often in the world does it happen contrariwise to this: (for example) one fancies (something to be bitter as) poison when it is (really sweet as) honey.
چند در عالم بود برعکس این ** زهر پندارد بود آن انگبین
Often, (when) soldiers have made up their minds to die, the splendours (of triumph) and victory appear.
بس سپه بنهاده دل بر مرگ خویش ** روشنیها و ظفر آید به پیش
Abraha came with the elephant to dishonour the House (of Allah), that he might throw down the living (and leave them lying) as though dead,4375
ابرهه با پیل بهر ذل بیت ** آمده تا افکند حی را چو میت
And destroy the holy Ka‘ba and cause all (the inhabitants) to wander forth from that place,
تا حریم کعبه را ویران کند ** جمله را زان جای سرگردان کند
In order that all the pilgrims might gather round him and might all turn in worship to his Ka‘ba,
تا همه زوار گرد او تنند ** کعبه‌ی او را همه قبله کنند
And that he might take vengeance on the Arabs for the injury (inflicted by them), for “why,” said he, “should they set my Ka‘ba on fire?”
وز عرب کینه کشد اندر گزند ** که چرا در کعبه‌ام آتش زنند
His efforts only turned to glory for the Ka‘ba: they caused the (holy) House to be glorified.
عین سعیش عزت کعبه شده ** موجب اعزاز آن بیت آمده
(Formerly) the glory of the Meccans had been one: (now) it became a hundred: their glory was now extending to the Resurrection.4380
مکیان را عز یکی بد صد شده ** تا قیامت عزشان ممتد شده
He (Abraha) and his Ka‘ba were eclipsed more (and more). Whence is this? From the favours of the (Divine) Decree.
او و کعبه‌ی او شده مخسوف‌تر ** از چیست این از عنایات قدر
Those poor Arabs were enriched by the equipment and baggage of (the host of) Abraha, (who was) like a wild beast.
از جهاز ابرهه هم‌چون دده ** آن فقیران عرب توانگر شده
He thought that he was bringing an army (against the Ka‘ba): (in fact) he was bringing gold for the defenders of the House.
او گمان برده که لشکر می‌کشید ** بهر اهل بیت او زر می‌کشید
He (the treasure-seeker) was (occupied), every step of the way, in contemplating this (wondrous) annulment of fixed purposes and ambitions.
اندرین فسخ عزایم وین همم ** در تماشا بود در ره هر قدم
(When) he came home, he discovered the treasure: by Divine grace his fortune was restored.4385
خانه آمد گنج را او باز یافت ** کارش از لطف خدایی ساز یافت
How the (two) brothers repeated their advice to the eldest, and how he was unable to endure it and ran away from them and went off, frenzied and beside himself, and rushed into the King's audience-chamber without asking permission; but (this was) from excess of passionate love, not from disrespect and recklessness, etc.
مکرر کردن برادران پند دادن بزرگین را و تاب ناآوردن او آن پند را و در رمیدن او ازیشان شیدا و بی‌خود رفتن و خود را در بارگاه پادشاه انداختن بی‌دستوری خواستن لیک از فرط عشق و محبت نه از گستاخی و لاابالی الی آخره
The two (brothers) said to him, “In our souls are answers (to thy arguments), like stars in the sky.
آن دو گفتندش که اندر جان ما ** هست پاسخ‌ها چو نجم اندر سما
Unless we (answer and) speak, the game will not come out right; and if we speak, thy heart will be grieved.
گر نگوییم آن نیاید راست نرد ** ور بگوییم آن دلت آید به درد
We are like frogs in the water: ’tis painful to speak, while the result of silence is suffocation and illness.
همچو چغزیم اندر آب از گفت الم ** وز خموشی اختناقست و سقم
If we speak not, (our) friendship (with thee) has no light (of truth); and if we speak, ’tis without leave (from thee).”
گر نگوییم آتشی را نور نیست ** ور بگوییم آن سخن دستور نیست
Straightway he sprang up, crying, “Farewell, O kinsmen: verily this world and all therein is but a passing enjoyment,”4390
در زمان برجست کای خویشان وداع ** انما الدنیا و ما فیها متاع
And darted away like an arrow from the bow, so that there was no opportunity (for them) to speak at that time.
پس برون جست او چو تیری از کمان ** که مجال گفت کم بود آن زمان
He came intoxicated (with love) into the presence of the King of China and at once kissed the earth frenziedly (at his feet).
اندر آمد مست پیش شاه چین ** زود مستانه ببوسید او زمین
To the King their (his lovers') feelings, their passion and agitation, were (an) open (book) in every detail from first to last.
شاه را مکشوف یک یک حالشان ** اول و آخر غم و زلزالشان
The sheep are busy in their pasture, but the shepherd knows all about the sheep.
میش مشغولست در مرعای خویش ** لیک چوپان واقفست از حال میش
(Any one of those of whom the Prophet said), “Each of you is a shepherd,” knows which of the flock is feeding and which is (engaged) in combat.4395
کلکم راع بداند از رمه ** کی علف‌خوارست و کی در ملحمه
Although apparently he was far from those ranks, yet he was (in their midst) like the tambourine at a wedding-feast.
گرچه در صورت از آن صف دور بود ** لیک چون دف در میان سور بود