I am as the cloud, thou the earth, and Moses the plant. God is (as) the king on the chessboard, and we are checkmated, checkmated.885
من چو ابرم تو زمین موسی نبات ** حق شه شطرنج و ما ماتیم مات
Deem (both) checkmate and victory (to proceed) from the King, O spouse: do not deem them to be from us, do not jeer at us.
مات و برد از شاه میدان ای عروس ** آن مدان از ما مکن بر ما فسوس
That of which this Pharaoh is afraid came into being at the moment when I lay with thee.
آنچ این فرعون میترسد ازو ** هست شد این دم که گشتم جفت تو
How after having lain with her ‘Imrán charged his wife to pretend that she had not visited him.
وصیت کردن عمران جفت خود را بعد از مجامعت کی مرا ندیده باشی
Do not reveal aught of these things, do not breathe a word, lest there come upon me and thee a hundred sorrows.
وا مگردان هیچ ازینها دم مزن ** تا نیاید بر من و تو صد حزن
In the end the effects of this will be made manifest, forasmuch as the signs have (already) appeared, O beloved.”
عاقبت پیدا شود آثار این ** چون علامتها رسید ای نازنین
Forthwith from the direction of the maydán loud cries were (heard) coming from the people, and the air was filled (with noise).890
در زمان از سوی میدان نعرهها ** میرسید از خلق و پر میشد هوا
Thereupon the King, in terror, sprang forth bare-footed (from his chamber), saying, “Hark, what are these tumults?
شاه از آن هیبت برون جست آن زمان ** پابرهنه کین چه غلغلهاست هان
What is the noise and uproar from the direction of the maydán, in fear whereof genie and demon are fleeing in dismay?”
از سوی میدان چه بانگست و غریو ** کز نهیبش میرمد جنی و دیو
‘Imrán said, “May our King live (long)! The people of Israel are rejoicing on account of thee.
گفت عمران شاه ما را عمر باد ** قوم اسرائیلیانند از تو شاد
Because of the bounty of the King they are making merry and dancing and clapping their hands.”
از عطای شاه شادی میکنند ** رقص میآرند و کفها میزنند
He (Pharaoh) said, “Maybe it is this, but it makes me very suspicious and anxious.895
گفت باشد کین بود اما ولیک ** وهم و اندیشه مرا پر کرد نیک
How Pharaoh was frightened by the noise.
ترسیدن فرعون از آن بانگ
This sound hath marred my soul and aged me with bitter pain and grief.”
این صدا جان مرا تغییر کرد ** از غم و اندوه تلخم پیر کرد
The King was pacing to and fro, all night he was even as a woman in the hour of childbirth.
پیش میآمد سپس میرفت شه ** جمله شب او همچو حامل وقت زه
Every moment he would say, “O ‘Imrán, these clamours have upset me mightily.”
هر زمان میگفت ای عمران مرا ** سخت از جا برده است این نعرهها
Poor ‘Imrán had not the courage to relate his intercourse with his wife,
زهره نه عمران مسکین را که تا ** باز گوید اختلاط جفت را
How the wife of ‘Imrán had stolen to his side, so that the star of Moses appeared.900
که زن عمران به عمران در خزید ** تا که شد استارهی موسی پدید
Whenever any prophet enters into the womb, his star becomes conspicuous in the sky.
هر پیمبر که در آید در رحم ** نجم او بر چرخ گردد منتجم
The appearance of the star of Moses, on whom be peace, in the sky and the outcry of the astrologers in the maydán.
پیدا شدن استارهی موسی علیه السلام بر آسمان و غریو منجمان در میدان
His star appeared in the sky, to the confusion of Pharaoh and his plots and devices.
بر فلک پیدا شد آن استارهاش ** کوری فرعون و مکر و چارهاش
Day broke: he (Pharaoh) said to him (‘Imrán), “O ‘Imrán, go, inform thyself concerning that uproar and noise.”
روز شد گفتش که ای عمران برو ** واقف آن غلغل و آن بانگ شو
‘Imrán rode to the maydán and said, “What uproar was this? The King of kings has not slept.”
راند عمران جانب میدان و گفت ** این چه غلغل بود شاهنشه نخفت
Every astrologer, with head bare and garment rent, kissed the earth (before him), like mourners.905
هر منجم سر برهنه جامهپاک ** همچو اصحاب عزا بوسیده خاک
Their voices were choked with lamentation, like mourners, and their guise (dishevelled).
همچو اصحاب عزا آوازشان ** بد گرفته از فغان و سازشان
They had plucked out their beards and hair; their faces were torn; they had cast earth on their heads, and their eyes were filled with blood.
ریش و مو بر کنده رو بدریدگان ** خاک بر سر کرده خونپر دیدگان
He (‘Imrán) said, “Is it well (with you)? What is this perturbation and emotion? Does the unlucky year give an evil sign?”
گفت خیرست این چه آشوبست و حال ** بد نشانی میدهد منحوس سال
They offered excuses and said, “O Amír, the hand of His predestination hath made us captive.
عذر آوردند و گفتند ای امیر ** کرد ما را دست تقدیرش اسیر
We have done all this, and (now) Fortune is darkened: the King's enemy has come into being and has prevailed.910
این همه کردیم و دولت تیره شد ** دشمن شه هست گشت و چیره شد
During the night the star of that boy became clearly visible, to our confusion, on the front of heaven.
شب ستارهی آن پسر آمد عیان ** کوری ما بر جبین آسمان
The star of that prophet shot up in the sky: we, from weeping, began to shed stars (glistening tears).”
زد ستارهی آن پیمبر بر سما ** ما ستارهبار گشتیم از بکا
‘Imrán, with a right glad heart and from hypocrisy, was beating his hands on his head and crying, “Alas, all is lost.”
با دل خوش شاد عمران وز نفاق ** دست بر سر میبزد کاه الفراق
‘Imrán feigned to be wrathful and grim, he went (amongst them) senseless and witless, like madmen.
کرد عمران خویش پر خشم و ترش ** رفت چون دیوانگان بی عقل و هش
He feigned to be ignorant and pushed forward and addressed to the company (of astrologers) words exceeding rough.915
خویشتن را اعجمی کرد و براند ** گفتههای بس خشن بر جمع خواند
He made himself out to be bitterly annoyed and grieved, he played (with) reversed dice.
خویشتن را ترش و غمگین ساخت او ** نردهای بازگونه باخت او
He said to them, “Ye have deceived my King, ye have not refrained from treachery and covetousness.
گفتشان شاه مرا بفریفتید ** از خیانت وز طمع نشکیفتید
Ye roused the King (to go) towards the maydán, ye let our King's honour go to waste.
سوی میدان شاه را انگیختید ** آب روی شاه ما را ریختید
Ye put your hands on your breasts in warrant, saying, ‘We will set the King free from cares.’”
دست بر سینه زدیت اندر ضمان ** شاه را ما فارغ آریم از غمان
The King too heard (how the astrologers excused themselves) and said, “O traitors, I will hang you up without quarter.920
شاه هم بشنید و گفت ای خاینان ** من بر آویزم شما را بی امان
I exposed myself to derision, I squandered riches on my enemies,
خویش را در مضحکه انداختم ** مالها با دشمنان در باختم
To the end that to-night all the Israelites might remain far away from meeting with their wives.
تا که امشب جمله اسرائیلیان ** دور ماندند از ملاقات زنان
Wealth and honour are gone, and all is done in vain: is this (true) friendship and (are these) the deeds of the noble?
مال رفت و آب رو و کار خام ** این بود یاری و افعال کرام
For years ye have been taking stipends and robes of honour and devouring kingdoms as ye pleased.
سالها ادرار و خلعت میبرید ** مملکتها را مسلم میخورید
Was this (the only result of) your judgement and wisdom and astrology? Ye are lickspittles and deceivers and ill-omened.925
رایتان این بود و فرهنگ و نجوم ** طبلخوارانید و مکارید و شوم
I will rend you to pieces and set you ablaze, I will tear off your noses and ears and lips.
من شما را بر درم و آتش زنم ** بینی و گوش و لبانتان بر کنم
I will make you fuel for the fire, I will make your past pleasure unsweet to you.”
من شما را هیزم آتش کنم ** عیش رفته بر شما ناخوش کنم
They prostrated themselves and said, “O Khedive, if (this) one time the Devil has prevailed against us,
سجده کردند و بگفتند ای خدیو ** گر یکی کرت ز ما چربید دیو
(Yet) for years we have warded off afflictions: the imagination is dumbfounded by that which we have done.
سالها دفع بلاها کردهایم ** وهم حیران زانچ ماها کردهایم
(Now) it (the prevention of this calamity) has eluded us, and his conception has occurred: semen ejus exsiliit et in uterum irrepsit; [(Now) it (the prevention of this calamity) has eluded us, and his conception has occurred: his semen spurted forth and crept into the womb;]930
فوت شد از ما و حملش شد پدید ** نطفهاش جست و رحم اندر خزید
But (we crave) pardon for this, (and) we shall watch the day of birth, O King and Sovereign.
لیک استغفار این روز ولاد ** ما نگه داریم ای شاه و قباد
We shall observe (by the stars) the day of his nativity, that this event may not escape and evade us.
روز میلادش رصد بندیم ما ** تا نگردد فوت و نجهد این قضا
If we do not keep watch for this, kill us, O thou to whose judgement (our) thoughts and intelligence are slaves.”
گر نداریم این نگه ما را بکش ** ای غلام رای تو افکار و هش
For nine months he was counting day after day, lest the arrow of the Decree that transfixes its enemy should fly (from the bow).
تا بنه مه میشمرد او روز روز ** تا نپرد تیر حکم خصمدوز