He (the king) said, “Begone! Whosoever prefers to care for religion, God cuts off from him all remaining cares.”
گفت رو هر که غم دین برگزید ** باقی غمها خدا از وی برید
The king prevailed and gave (in marriage) to him (his son) a maiden of goodly nature, belonging to the family of a righteous man.
غالب آمد شاه و دادش دختری ** از نژاد صالحی خوش جوهری
Verily, she had none to rival her in loveliness: her face was brighter than the sun at morn.
در ملاحت خود نظیر خود نداشت ** چهره‌اش تابان‌تر از خورشید چاشت
Such was the maiden's beauty; and her qualities were such that, on account of their excellence, they are not (to be) contained in (any) description.3140
حسن دختر این خصالش آنچنان ** کز نکویی می‌نگنجد در بیان
Make religion thy prey, that in consequence (as a corollary) there may come (to thee) beauty and riches and power and advantageous fortune.
صید دین کن تا رسد اندر تبع ** حسن و مال و جاه و بخت منتفع
Know that the next world, in respect of ownership, is (like) files of camels: the present world is its corollary, like the (camels') hair and dung.
آخرت قطار اشتر دان به ملک ** در تبع دنیاش هم‌چون پشم و پشک
(If) thou choose the hair, the camel will not be thine, and if the camel be thine, what value has the hair?
پشم بگزینی شتر نبود ترا ** ور بود اشتر چه قیمت پشم را
When the marriage (matrimonial alliance) with the family of the uncontentious righteous folk was achieved (successfully arranged) by the king,
چون بر آمد این نکاح آن شاه را ** با نژاد صالحان بی مرا
By (Divine) destiny a decrepit old witch, who was in love with the handsome and generous prince—3145
از قضا کمپیرکی جادو که بود ** عاشق شه‌زاده‌ی با حسن و جود
An old woman of Kábul—bewitched him with a sorcery of which the magic of Babylon (itself) would be envious.
The prince fell in love with the ugly hag, so that he abandoned his bride and the wedding.
شه بچه شد عاشق کمپیر زشت ** تا عروس و آن عروسی را بهشت
A black devil and woman of Kábul suddenly waylaid (seduced) the prince.
یک سیه دیوی و کابولی زنی ** گشت به شه‌زاده ناگه ره‌زنی
That stinking ninety years old hag left to the prince neither wisdom nor understanding. [That ninety years old hag whose vulva is stinking left to the prince neither wisdom nor understanding.]
آن نودساله عجوزی گنده کس ** نه خرد هشت آن ملک را و نه نس
For a (whole) year the prince was captivated: the sole of the hag's shoe was the place where he bestowed his kisses.3150
تا به سالی بود شه‌زاده اسیر ** بوسه‌جایش نعل کفش گنده پیر
Association with the hag was mowing (consuming) him, till through wasting away (only) half a spirit remained (in him).
صحبت کمپیر او را می‌درود ** تا ز کاهش نیم‌جانی مانده بود
Others had the headache (were sorely grieved) on account of his weakness, (while) he, from the intoxicating effect of the sorcery, was unconscious of himself.
دیگران از ضعف وی با درد سر ** او ز سکر سحر از خود بی‌خبر
This world had become (as) a prison to the king, while this son (of his) was laughing at their tears.
این جهان بر شاه چون زندان شده ** وین پسر بر گریه‌شان خندان شده
The king became exceedingly desperate in the struggle (to save his son): day and night he was offering sacrifice and giving alms (but without avail),
شاه بس بیچاره شد در برد و مات ** روز و شب می‌کرد قربان و زکات
For whatever remedy the father might apply, (the son's) love for the old hag would always increase.3155
زانک هر چاره که می‌کرد آن پدر ** عشق کمپیرک همی‌شد بیشتر
Then it became clear to him that that (infatuation) was absolutely a (Divine) mystery, and that thenceforth his (only) remedy was supplication.
پس یقین گشتش که مطلق آن سریست ** چاره او را بعد از این لابه گریست
He was prostrating himself in prayer, saying, “It beseems Thee to command: to whom but God belongeth the command over God's kingdom?
سجده می‌کرد او که هم فرمان تراست ** غیر حق بر ملک حق فرمان کراست
But this poor wretch is burning like aloes-wood: take his hand (help him), O Merciful and Loving One!”
لیک این مسکین همی‌سوزد چو عود ** دست گیرش ای رحیم و ای ودود
(So did he pray) until, because of the “O Lord! O Lord!” and lamentation of the king, a master-magician came from the road into his presence.
تا ز یا رب یا رب و افغان شاه ** ساحری استاد پیش آمد ز راه
How the king's prayer for the deliverance of his son from the witch of Kábul was granted.
مستجاب شدن دعای پادشاه در خلاص پسرش از جادوی کابلی
He had heard from afar the news that that boy had been captivated by an old woman,3160
او شنیده بود از دور این خبر ** که اسیر پیرزن گشت آن پسر
A crone who in witchery was unrivalled and secure from likeness and duality.
کان عجوزه بود اندر جادوی ** بی‌نظیر و آمن از مثل و دوی
Hand is above hand, O youth, in skill and in strength up to the Essence of God.
دست بر بالای دستست ای فتی ** در فن و در زور تا ذات خدا
The ultimate end of (all) hands is the Hand of God: the ultimate end of (all) torrents is undoubtedly the sea.
منتهای دستها دست خداست ** بحر بی‌شک منتهای سیلهاست
From it the clouds take their origin, and in it too the torrent hath an end.
هم ازو گیرند مایه ابرها ** هم بدو باشد نهایت سیل را
The king said to him, “This boy has passed out of control (has lost his wits).” He (the magician) said, “Look you, I am come as a potent remedy.3165
گفت شاهش کین پسر از دست رفت ** گفت اینک آمدم درمان زفت
None of these sorcerers is equal to the old woman except me, the sagacious one, who have arrived from yonder shore.
نیست همتا زال را زین ساحران ** جز من داهی رسیده زان کران
Lo, by command of the Creator, I, like the hand of Moses, will utterly destroy her sorcery;
چون کف موسی به امر کردگار ** نک برآرم من ز سحر او دمار
For to me this knowledge hath come from yonder region, not from having been schooled in the sorcery which is held cheap (by the wise).
که مرا این علم آمد زان طرف ** نه ز شاگردی سحر مستخف
I am come to undo her sorcery, so that the prince may not remain pale-faced.
آمدم تا بر گشایم سحر او ** تا نماند شاه‌زاده زردرو
Go to the graveyard at the hour of the meal taken before dawn: beside the wall is a whitened tomb.3170
سوی گورستان برو وقت سحور ** پهلوی دیوار هست اسپید گور
Dig up that place in the direction of the qibla, that thou mayst behold the power and the working of God.”
سوی قبله باز کاو آنجای را ** تا ببینی قدرت و صنع خدا
This story is very long, and you (O reader) are weary: I will relate the cream (of it), I dismiss what is superfluous.
بس درازست این حکایت تو ملول ** زبده را گویم رها کردم فضول
He (the magician) untied those heavy knots: then he gave to the king's son a way (of escape) from the affliction.
آن گره‌های گران را بر گشاد ** پس ز محنت پور شه را راه داد
The boy came to himself and with a hundred tribulations went running towards the throne of the king.
آن پسر با خویش آمد شد دوان ** سوی تخت شاه با صد امتحان
He made prostration and was beating his chin on the earth: the boy held in his arms a sword and winding-sheet.3175
سجده کرد و بر زمین می‌زد ذقن ** در بغل کرده پسر تیغ و کفن
The king ordered the city to be decorated, and the citizens and the despairing disappointed bride rejoiced.
شاه آیین بست و اهل شهر شاد ** وآن عروس ناامید بی‌مراد
The (whole) world revived once more and was filled with radiance: (the people said), “Oh, what a wondrous difference between that day (of sorrow) and to-day!”
عالم از سر زنده گشت و پر فروز ** ای عجب آن روز روز امروز روز
The king made such a (lavish) wedding-feast for him that sugared julep was (placed) before the dogs.
یک عروسی کرد شاه او را چنان ** که جلاب قند بد پیش سگان
The old witch died of vexation and gave up her hideous face and (foul) nature to Málik.
جادوی کمپیر از غصه بمرد ** روی و خوی زشت فا مالک سپرد
The prince was left in amazement: (he said to himself), “How did she rob me of understanding and insight?”3180
شاه‌زاده در تعجب مانده بود ** کز من او عقل و نظر چون در ربود
He beheld a newly wedded bride like the beauteous moon, who was (as a brigand) infesting the road of beauty (and occupying it) against (all) the (other) fair ones.
نو عروسی دید هم‌چون ماه حسن ** که همی زد بر ملیحان راه حسن
He became senseless and fell on his face: for three days the heart (consciousness) vanished from his body.
گشت بیهوش و برو اندر فتاد ** تا سه روز از جسم وی گم شد فاد
Three days and nights he became unconscious of himself, so that the people were (sorely) perturbed by his swoon.
سه شبان روز او ز خود بیهوش گشت ** تا که خلق از غشی او پر جوش گشت
By means of rose-water and (other) remedies he came to himself (again): little by little, good and evil were apprehended by him (once more).
از گلاب و از علاج آمد به خود ** اندک اندک فهم گشتش نیک و بد
After a year the king said to him jokingly in conversation, “O son, bethink thee of that old friend (of thine),3185
بعد سالی گفت شاهش در سخن ** کای پسر یاد آر از آن یار کهن
Bethink thee of that bedfellow and that bed: do not be so faithless and harsh!”
یاد آور زان ضجیع و زان فراش ** تا بدین حد بی‌وفا و مر مباش