At the same moment he placed seven Qur’áns one on the top of another and swore an oath and thus confirmed (his promise).
هفت مصحف آن زمان برهم نهاد ** خورد سوگند و چنین تقریر داد
How the girl disclosed the secret to the Caliph in fear of (having her head cut off by) a blow of the sword, and how she was forced (to speak) by the Caliph (who said), “Give a true account of the cause of thy laughter or else I will kill thee.”
فاش کردن آن کنیزک آن راز را با خلیفه از زخم شمشیر و اکراه خلیفه کی راست گو سبب این خنده را و گر نه بکشمت
When the woman became (found herself) helpless, she related what had happened (concerning) the manliness of that Rustam who was the son of a hundred Záls.3965
زن چو عاجز شد بگفت احوال را ** مردی آن رستم صد زال را
She described to the Caliph, point by point, the bride-chamber that was (prepared for her) on the route (of the march),
شرح آن گردک که اندر راه بود ** یک به یک با آن خلیفه وا نمود
His killing the lion and returning to the tent pene erecto tanquam cornu rhinocerotis; [His killing the lion and returning to the tent with the penis erect like the horn of a rhinoceros;]
شیر کشتن سوی خیمه آمدن ** وان ذکر قایم چو شاخ کرگدن
Contra, hujus (membri) ambitiosi debilatatem quod ob unum muris susurrum succidit. [(And) again, the weakness of the ambitious one (the male organ) that collapsed (as though) dead because of the rustling of a mouse.]
باز این سستی این ناموس‌کوش ** کو فرو مرد از یکی خش خشت موش
God is ever making the hidden things manifest: since they will grow up, do not sow bad seed.
رازها را می‌کند حق آشکار ** چون بخواهد رست تخم بد مکار
Rain and clouds and fire and this sun are ever bringing up the hidden things from the earth.3970
آب و ابر و آتش و این آفتاب ** رازها را می برآرد از تراب
This new springtide after the fall of the leaves is a proof of the existence of the Resurrection.
این بهار نو ز بعد برگ‌ریز ** هست برهان وجود رستخیز
In spring the secrets are revealed: whatsoever this Earth has eaten is exposed to view.
در بهار آن سرها پیدا شود ** هر چه خوردست این زمین رسوا شود
It shoots up from her mouth and lips in order that she may bring to light her hidden mind and way.
بر دمد آن از دهان و از لبش ** تا پدید آید ضمیر و مذهبش
The secret of the root of every tree and its nutriment—the whole of that is plainly shown forth on its (leafy) top.
سر بیخ هر درختی و خورش ** جملگی پیدا شود آن بر سرش
Every sorrow whereby thou art (made) sore in heart is the headache arising from the wine that thou hast drunk;3975
هر غمی کز وی تو دل آزرده‌ای ** از خمار می بود کان خورده‌ای
But how shouldst thou know from which wine that headache has arisen (and become) manifest?
لیک کی دانی که آن رنج خمار ** از کدامین می بر آمد آشکار
This crop-sickness (headache) is the blossom of that seed (only) he that is sagacious and wise will recognise it.
این خمار اشکوفه‌ی آن دانه است ** آن شناسد کاگه و فرزانه است
The bough and its blossom do not resemble the seed: how should semen resemble the body of man?
شاخ و اشکوفه نماند دانه را ** نطفه کی ماند تن مردانه را
The matter (of which anything is composed) does not resemble the product: when did the seed (ever) resemble the tree (that sprang from it)?
نیست مانندا هیولا با اثر ** دانه کی ماننده آمد با شجر
Semen is (the product) of bread, (but) how should it be like bread? Man is (the product) of semen, (but) how should he be like it?3980
نطفه از نانست کی باشد چو نان ** مردم از نطفه‌ست کی باشد چنان
The Jinní is (created) from fire, (but) how should he resemble fire? The cloud is (produced) from vapour, but it is not like vapour.
جنی از نارست کی ماند به نار ** از بخارست ابر و نبود چون بخار
Jesus was produced from the breath of Gabriel, (but) when was he (ever) like him in form or comparable (to him in that respect)?
از دم جبریل عیسی شد پدید ** کی به صورت هم‌چو او بد یا ندید
Adam is (made) of earth, (but) how should he resemble earth? No grape resembles the vine.
آدم از خاکست کی ماند به خاک ** هیچ انگوری نمی‌ماند به تاک
How should robbery look like the foot of the gallows? How should piety be like the everlasting abode (Paradise)?
کی بود دزدی به شکل پایدار ** کی بود طاعت چو خلد پایدار
No origin resembles its product; therefore thou canst not know the origin of (thy) pain and headache.3985
هیچ اصلی نیست مانند اثر ** پس ندانی اصل رنج و درد سر
But this punishment is not without an origin: how should God inflict pain without any sin (having been committed)?
لیک بی‌اصلی نباشدت این جزا ** بی‌گناهی کی برنجاند خدا
That which is the origin and bringer-on of that (painful) thing—if it (the painful thing) does not resemble it, still it is (produced) from it.
آنچ اصلست و کشنده‌ی آن شی است ** گر نمی‌ماند بوی هم از وی است
Know, then, that thy pain is the result of some lapse (and that) this woe with which thou art stricken arises from some lust.
پس بدان رنجت نتیجه‌ی زلتیست ** آفت این ضربتت از شهوتیست
If thou canst not discern that sin by means of consideration, at once make humble entreaty and seek pardon (from God).
گر ندانی آن گنه را ز اعتبار ** زود زاری کن طلب کن اغتفار
Prostrate thyself a hundred times and keep saying, “O God, this pain is nothing but my due and desert.3990
سجده کن صد بار می‌گوی ای خدا ** نیست این غم غیر درخورد و سزا
O Thou who art transcendent in holiness and free from (all) injustice and oppression, how shouldst Thou inflict grief and pain upon the soul when it has not sinned?
ای تو سبحان پاک از ظلم و ستم ** کی دهی بی‌جرم جان را درد و غم
I do not know my sin definitely, but (I know that) there must be a sin (to account) for the anguish.
من معین می‌ندانم جرم را ** لیک هم جرمی بباید گرم را
Since Thou hast concealed the cause from my consideration, do Thou always keep my sin concealed (from others);
چون بپوشیدی سبب را ز اعتبار ** دایما آن جرم را پوشیده دار
For it would be retribution to disclose my sin, so that my thievery (rascality) should be made manifest by punishment.”
که جزا اظهار جرم من بود ** کز سیاست دزدیم ظاهر شود
How the monarch, on being acquainted with that act of treachery, resolved to conceal and pardon it and give her (the slave-girl) to him (the captain), and recognised that the tribulation was a punishment inflicted on him and was (the result of) his attempt (to obtain the slave-girl) and the wrong which he had done to the lord of Mawsil; for “and whoso doeth evil, it is against himself” and “lo, thy Lord is on the watch”; and how he feared that, if he should avenge himself, the vengeance would recoil on his own head, as this injustice and greed (of his) had (already) recoiled upon him.
عزم کردن شاه چون واقف شد بر آن خیانت کی بپوشاند و عفو کند و او را به او دهد و دانست کی آن فتنه جزای او بود و قصد او بود و ظلم او بر صاحب موصل کی و من اساء فعلیها و ان ربک لبالمرصاد و ترسیدن کی اگر انتقام کشد آن انتقام هم بر سر او آید چنانک این ظلم و طمع بر سرش آمد
The monarch came to himself. He asked pardon (of God) and confessed his sin and lapse and persistence (in wrong-doing).3995
شاه با خود آمد استغفار کرد ** یاد جرم و زلت و اصرار کرد
He said to himself, “The retribution for what I did to certain persons has reached (overtaken) my soul.
گفت با خود آنچ کردم با کسان ** شد جزای آن به جان من رسان
From (pride of) power I made an attempt on the concubine of another: that (injustice) recoiled upon me and I fell into the pit (which I had dug).
قصد جفت دیگران کردم ز جاه ** بر من آمد آن و افتادم به چاه
I knocked at the door of another person's house: consequently he knocked at the door of my house.”
من در خانه‌ی کسی دیگر زدم ** او در خانه‌ی مرا زد لاجرم
Whoever seeks to commit adultery with (other) people's wives, know that he is a pimp to his own wife;
هر که با اهل کسان شد فسق‌جو ** اهل خود را دان که قوادست او
For that (adultery) is requited by the like, since the retribution for an evil act is an act like unto it.4000
زانک مثل آن جزای آن شود ** چون جزای سیه مثلش بود
Inasmuch as you have made a cord and pulled one like it towards yourself, you are a wittol and worse.
چون سبب کردی کشیدی سوی خویش ** مثل آن را پس تو دیوثی و بیش
“I took the king of Mawsil's concubine from him by force, (so) she was soon taken by force from me too.
غصب کردم از شه موصل کنیز ** غصب کردند از من او را زود نیز
My treacherous deeds made a traitor of him who was my trusted friend and servant.
او کامین من بد و لالای من ** خاینش کرد آن خیانتهای من
’Tis no time to inflict punishment (for the injury) and avenge myself: I prepared the disaster with my own hand.
نیست وقت کین‌گزاری و انتقام ** من به دست خویش کردم کار خام
If I wreak vengeance on the Amír and the woman, that trespass also will come (recoil) on my head,4005
گر کشم کینه بر آن میر و حرم ** آن تعدی هم بیاید بر سرم
Just as this (other) one has (already) come (upon me) in retribution: I have tried Him (God), I will not try Him again.
هم‌چنانک این یک بیامد در جزا ** آزمودم باز نزمایم ورا
The grief of the lord of Mawsil has broken my neck: I dare not wound this other man as well.
درد صاحب موصلم گردن شکست ** من نیارم این دگر را نیز خست
God hath given us information concerning retribution: He hath said, ‘If ye repeat it (the offence), We shall repeat it (the punishment).’
داد حق‌مان از مکافات آگهی ** گفت ان عدتم به عدنا به
Since in this case it is useless to commit excess (to transgress further), nothing but patience and mercy is praiseworthy.
چون فزونی کردن اینجا سود نیست ** غیر صبر و مرحمت محمود نیست
O our Lord, verily we have done wrong, a fault has occurred: perform an act of mercy, O Thou whose mercifulnesses are mighty!4010