I am not an idolater in the epoch of the true Faith: ’tis more fit that the idol should be in the hands of the idolater.”
من نیم در عهد ایمان بت‌پرست ** بت بر آن بت‌پرست اولیترست
When the envoy brought her (to him), the captain straightway fell in love with her beauty.
چونک آوردش رسول آن پهلوان ** گشت عاشق بر جمالش آن زمان
Love is an (infinite) ocean, on which the heavens are (but) a flake of foam: (they are distraught) like Zalíkhá in desire for a Joseph.
عشق بحری آسمان بر وی کفی ** چون زلیخا در هوای یوسفی
Know that the wheeling heavens are turned by waves of Love: were it not for Love, the world would be frozen (inanimate).
دور گردونها ز موج عشق دان ** گر نبودی عشق بفسردی جهان
How would an inorganic thing disappear (by change) into a plant? How would vegetive things sacrifice themselves to become (endowed with) spirit?3855
کی جمادی محو گشتی در نبات ** کی فدای روح گشتی نامیات
How would the spirit sacrifice itself for the sake of that Breath by the waft whereof a Mary was made pregnant?
روح کی گشتی فدای آن دمی ** کز نسیمش حامله شد مریمی
Each one (of them) would be (as) stiff and immovable as ice: how should they be flying and seeking like locusts?
هر یکی بر جا ترنجیدی چو یخ ** کی بدی پران و جویان چون ملخ
Every mote is in love with that Perfection and hastening upward like a sapling.
ذره ذره عاشقان آن کمال ** می‌شتابد در علو هم‌چون نهال
Their haste is (saying implicitly) “Glory to God!” They are purifying the body for the sake of the spirit.
سبح لله هست اشتابشان ** تنقیه‌ی تن می‌کنند از بهر جان
The captain deemed (what was really) a pit to be like a (safe) road: to him the sterile soil appeared goodly, (so) he sowed seed (in it).3860
پهلوان چه را چو ره پنداشته ** شوره‌اش خوش آمده حب کاشته
Dormiens cum (aliquis) simulacrum (amatae) in somnio videret, cum eo coivit et aqua (seminis) effusa est. [When the sleeper saw an image (of her) in a dream, he coupled with it and (seminal) fluid flowed from him.]
چون خیالی دید آن خفته به خواب ** جفت شد با آن و از وی رفت آب
Postquam somnium abscessit et ipse extemplo experrectus est, sensit illam pupam sibi jam vigilanti coram non adesse. [When the dream departed and he woke up at once, he saw that that doll was not (present) in wakefulness.]
چون برفت آن خواب و شد بیدار زود ** دید که آن لعبت به بیداری نبود
Dixit: “Eheu, aquam meam nihilo ingessi; eheu, dolosi illius (simulacri) dolum expertus sum.” [He said: “Alas! I have borne my fluid (sperm) for nothing. Alas! I have swallowed the coquetry of that artful schemer (image).]
گفت بر هیچ آب خود بردم دریغ ** عشوه‌ی آن عشوه‌ده خوردم دریغ
Fuit ille dux (nonnisi) corporis imperator, revera vir non fuit: virilatis semen in ejusmodi arena sevit. [That one was a captain of the body (only), he lacked (true) manliness: he sowed the seed of manliness in such (a place of) sand.]
پهلوان تن بد آن مردی نداشت ** تخم مردی در چنان ریگی بکاشت
The steed of his love tore up a hundred bridles: he (the captain) was shouting, “I care naught for death.3865
مرکب عشقش دریده صد لگام ** نعره می‌زد لا ابالی بالحمام
What should I care about the Caliph? (Since I am) in love, my life and death are the same to me.”
Prithee, do not sow with such ardour and heat: take counsel with a (spiritual) master.
این چنین سوزان و گرم آخر مکار ** مشورت کن با یکی خاوندگار
(But) where is counsel, where is reason, (when) the torrent of cupidity has extended its talons to destroy (them)?
مشورت کو عقل کو سیلاب آز ** در خرابی کرد ناخنها دراز
A barrier in front and a barrier behind; (but) he that is fascinated by a (lovely) cheek does not see (what is) before or behind.
بین ایدی سد و سوی خلف سد ** پیش و پس کم بیند آن مفتون خد
The black torrent comes to take his life, so that a fox may hurl a lion into the well (of destruction).3870
آمده در قصدجان سیل سیاه ** تا که روبه افکند شیری به چاه
Something (materially) non-existent causes a phantom to appear in a well, in order that it (the phantom) may cast into it lions (strong) as mountains.
از چهی بنموده معدومی خیال ** تا در اندازد اسودا کالجبال
Do not have any one intimate with thy womenfolk, for these two (the man and the woman) may be compared to cotton and sparks of fire.
هیچ‌کس را با زنان محرم مدار ** که مثال این دو پنبه‌ست و شرار
It needs a fire quenched by God's water, one that like Joseph holds fast (to God) in (the hour of) evil temptation,
آتشی باید بشسته ز آب حق ** هم‌چو یوسف معتصم اندر زهق
To withdraw itself (bravely) as lions from a charming Zalíkhá tall and slender as a cypress.
کز زلیخای لطیف سروقد ** هم‌چو شیران خویشتن را واکشد
He (the captain) turned back from Mawsil and went on his way till he encamped in a wooded meadowland.3875
بازگشت از موصل و می‌شد به راه ** تا فرود آمد به بیشه و مرج‌گاه
The fire of his love was blazing in such wise that he could not distinguish earth from heaven.
آتش عشقش فروزان آن چنان ** که نداند او زمین از آسمان
He sought to embrace that moon (beauty) in her tent: where (at that time) was his reason and his dread of the Caliph?
قصد آن مه کرد اندر خیمه او ** عقل کو و از خلیفه خوف کو
When lust beats the drum (of victory) in this vale, what is thy reason? A (worthless) radish and the son of a radish.
چون زند شهوت درین وادی دهل ** چیست عقل تو فجل ابن الفجل
To his fiery eye a hundred Caliphs seemed at that moment less than a gnat.
صد خلیفه گشته کمتر از مگس ** پیش چشم آتشینش آن نفس
Postquam ille feminarum cultor bracas exuit et inter crura mulieris recubavit, [When that adorer of women threw off (his) trousers and sat between the woman’s legs,]3880
چون برون انداخت شلوار و نشست ** در میان پای زن آن زن‌پرست
Quo tempore penis ejus ad sedem suam recte ibat, tumultus ingens et clamor militum exortus est. [When (his) penis went straight toward (her) seat (buttocks), a commotion and outcry arose from the army.]
چون ذکر سوی مقر می‌رفت راست ** رستخیز و غلغل از لشکر بخاست
Exsiliit et nudo podice in aciem (currebat), grasping a (flashing) scimitar in his hand. [He jumped up (and ran) naked of buttocks to the (army) ranks, grasping a fiery (flashing) scimitar in his hand.]
برجهید و کون‌برهنه سوی صف ** ذوالفقاری هم‌چو آتش او به کف
He saw that a fierce black lion from the jungle had suddenly rushed upon the centre of the army;
دید شیر نر سیه از نیستان ** بر زده بر قلب لشکر ناگهان
(That) the Arab horses were demoniacally excited, (that) every stable and tent was in confusion;
تازیان چون دیو در جوش آمده ** هر طویله و خیمه اندر هم زده
(And that) the fierce lion from the covert was bounding twenty ells into the air, like billows of the sea.3885
شیر نر گنبذ همی‌کرد از لغز ** در هوا چون موج دریا بیست گز
The captain was manful and intrepid: he advanced, like a furious lion, to meet the lion.
پهلوان مردانه بود و بی‌حذر ** پیش شیر آمد چو شیر مست نر
He smote (it) with his sword and clove its head; (then) at once he hastened (back) to the tent of the beauty.
زد به شمشیر و سرش را بر شکافت ** زود سوی خیمه‌ی مه‌رو شتافت
Ubi sese puellae formosissimae ostendit, penis ejus itidem erectus erat. [When he showed himself to the hourí (lovely woman), his (organ of) manhood was erect in the same manner (as before).]
چونک خود را او بدان حوری نمود ** مردی او هم‌چنین بر پای بود
Pugna congressus erat cum tali leone: penis ejus erectus manebat nec languore jacuerat. [He joined in battle with such a lion: (yet) his manhood remained erect and did not rest (go limp).]
با چنان شیری به چالش گشت جفت ** مردی او مانده بر پای و نخفت
Illa diva, facie venusta lunae simili praedita, virilitatis ejus admiratione obstupuit. [That moon-faced idol, sweet of countenance, was amazed at his manhood.]3890
آن بت شیرین‌لقای ماه‌رو ** در عجب در ماند از مردی او
Protinus cum eo magna cupidine coivit: illae duae animae statim unitae evaserunt. [She joined with him (eagerly) in that moment with lust: those two souls immediately became united.]
جفت شد با او به شهوت آن زمان ** متحد گشتند حالی آن دو جان
Through the union of these two souls with one another, there will come to them from the Unseen World another soul.
ز اتصال این دو جان با همدگر ** می‌رسد از غیبشان جانی دگر
It will appear by the road of birth, if there be naught to waylay (prevent) its conception.
رو نماید از طریق زادنی ** گر نباشد از علوقش ره‌زنی
Wherever two persons unite in a love or hate, a third will certainly be born;
هر کجا دو کس به مهری یا به کین ** جمع آید ثالثی زاید یقین
But those forms are born in the Unseen World: when you go thither, you will see them in (clear) view.3895
لیک اندر غیب زاید آن صور ** چون روی آن سو ببینی در نظر
That progeny is born of your associations: beware, do not rejoice too soon in any associate.
آن نتایج از قرانات تو زاد ** هین مگرد از هر قرینی زود شاد
Remain in expectation of the appointed time (of meeting): recognise the truth of the (Divine) promise that the offspring shall join (their parents);
منتظر می‌باش آن میقات را ** صدق دان الحاق ذریات را
For they are born of action and causes: each one hath form and speech and dwelling-place.
کز عمل زاییده‌اند و از علل ** هر یکی را صورت و نطق و طلل
Their cry is coming (to you) from those delightful bowers— “O thou who hast forgotten us, hark, come with all speed!”