On account of the babes (who live in it) God hath called the earth a cradle (mahd), and He hath bestowed milk on the babes in their cradle.
بهر طفلان حق زمین را مهد خواند ** شیر در گهواره بر طفلان فشاند
The house is crowded with these cradles: let the babes grow up quickly, O King!
خانه تنگ آمد ازین گهواره‌ها ** طفلکان را زود بالغ کن شها
O cradle, do not incommode the house (but let there be room), so that the grown-up man can move freely.
ای گواره خانه را ضیق مدار ** تا تواند کرد بالغ انتشار
(Concerning) the vicious distempered thoughts that arose in the prince in consequence of the (spiritual) self-sufficiency and illumination with which his heart had been endowed by the King: how he proceeded to show ingratitude and rebelliousness, and how the King, being made aware of it in an inspired and mysterious manner, was pained at heart and, though outwardly unconscious (of it), dealt his (the prince's) spirit a (mortal) wound, etc.
وسوسه‌ای کی پادشاه‌زاده را پیدا شد از سبب استغنایی و کشفی کی از شاه دل او را حاصل شده بود و قصد ناشکری و سرکشی می‌کرد شاه را از راه الهام و سر شاه را خبر شد دلش درد کرد روح او را زخمی زد چنانک صورت شاه را خبر نبود الی آخره
When from the inward nature of the King the (spiritual) allowance was paid over, without sale or purchase, into his (the prince's) soul,
چون مسلم گشت بی‌بیع و شری ** از درون شاه در جانش جری
His moon-like soul was feeding on the light of the King's soul as the moon (feeds) on (the light of) the sun,4760
قوت می‌خوردی ز نور جان شاه ** ماه جانش هم‌چو از خورشید ماه
And the spiritual ration from the peerless King was arriving in his intoxicated soul at every moment.
راتبه‌ی جانی ز شاه بی‌ندید ** دم به دم در جان مستش می‌رسید
’Twas not that (material food) which polytheists and Christians eat, (but) part of the (spiritual) food which the angels eat.
آن نه که ترسا و مشرک می‌خورند ** زان غذایی که ملایک می‌خورند
He felt self-sufficiency within himself, and from self-sufficiency emerged a feeling of insolent pride.
“Am not I,” said he, “both a king and a king's son? How have I let this King take control of me?
که نه من هم شاه و هم شه‌زاده‌ام ** چون عنان خود بدین شه داده‌ام
Now that a resplendent moon has risen for me, why should I be following a (cloud of) dust?4765
چون مرا ماهی بر آمد با لمع ** من چرا باشم غباری را تبع
The water is (running) in my river-bed, and ’tis time to show disdain: wherefore should I who want nothing endure disdain from another?
آب در جوی منست و وقت ناز ** ناز غیر از چه کشم من بی‌نیاز
Why should I bandage my head when my headache is gone? The time for pale face and tearful eye is past.
سر چرا بندم چو درد سر نماند ** وقت روی زرد و چشم تر نماند
Since my lips have become (sweet) as sugar and my cheeks (bright) as the moon, I must open another (independent) shop.”
چون شکرلب گشته‌ام عارض قمر ** باز باید کرد دکان دگر
When his carnal soul began to spawn from this egoism, he began to chew a hundred thousand thistles (cherish absurd fancies).
زین منی چون نفس زاییدن گرفت ** صد هزاران ژاژ خاییدن گرفت
Even the evil eye can traverse a hundred deserts to reach the object of its greed and envy:4770
صد بیابان زان سوی حرص و حسد ** تا بدان‌جا چشم بد هم می‌رسد
How, (then), should the sea of the King, to which every water returns, be ignorant of what is (contained) in torrent and river?
بحر شه که مرجع هر آب اوست ** چون نداند آنچ اندر سیل و جوست
The King's heart was pained by his (the prince's) thoughts and the ingratitude (shown) for his virgin (ever new) munificence.
شاه را دل درد کرد از فکر او ** ناسپاسی عطای بکر او
He said (to himself), “Prithee, O base ill-mannered fellow, was this what my bounty deserved? Marvellous!
گفت آخر ای خس واهی‌ادب ** این سزای داد من بود ای عجب
(Look) how I have dealt with thee in (lavishing) this precious treasure! (Look) how thou hast dealt with me in thy mean-spiritedness!
من چه کردم با تو زین گنج نفیس ** تو چه کردی با من از خوی خسیس
I have put in thy bosom a moon that will never set till the Day of Reckoning,4775
من ترا ماهی نهادم در کنار ** که غروبش نیست تا روز شمار
And in requital for that gift of pure light thou hast thrown thorns and earth in mine eye.
در جزای آن عطای نور پاک ** تو زدی در دیده‌ی من خار و خاک
I have become for thee a ladder to Heaven, and thou hast become a bow and arrow in combat with me.”
من ترا بر چرخ گشته نردبان ** تو شده در حرب من تیر و کمان
Pangs of jealousy arose in (the heart of) the King: the reflexion of the King's pangs entered into him (the prince).
درد غیرت آمد اندر شه پدید ** عکس درد شاه اندر وی رسید
The bird of his felicity fluttered violently in reproaching him and tore the veil (exposed the disgrace) of him who had sought seclusion (made himself independent of the King).
مرغ دولت در عتابش بر طپید ** پرده‌ی آن گوشه گشته بر درید
When the comely youth felt within himself the dust and (disturbing) effects of his wicked behaviour,4780
چون درون خود بدید آن خوش‌پسر ** از سیه‌کاری خود گرد و اثر