If the water of the King's spirit be sweet, all the river-beds are filled with the sweet water;
آب روح شاه اگر شیرین بود ** جمله جوها پر ز آب خوش شود
For only the King’s law do his subjects have (as their own): so hath the sovereign of ‘Abas declared.
که رعیت دین شه دارند و بس ** این چنین فرمود سلطان عبس
Each Companion chose a guest. Amongst them,(the infidels) was one stout and incomparable (in that respect).
هر یکی یاری یکی مهمان گزید ** در میان یک زفت بود و بی‌ندید
He had a huge body: no one took him along, he remained in the mosque like the dregs in a cup.75
جشم ضخمی داشت کس او را نبرد ** ماند در مسجد چو اندر جام درد
As he was left behind by all, Mustafá (Mohammed) took him away. In the (Prophet's) herd there were seven goats that gave milk,
مصطفی بردش چو وا ماند از همه ** هفت بز بد شیرده اندر رمه
For the goats used to stay in the house for milking in preparation for mealtime.
که مقیم خانه بودندی بزان ** بهر دوشیدن برای وقت خوان
That famishing giant son of a Ghuzz Turcoman devoured the bread and (other) food and (drank all) the milk of the seven goats.
نان و آش و شیر آن هر هفت بز ** خورد آن بوقحط عوج ابن غز
The whole household became enraged, for they all desired goat's milk.
جمله اهل بیت خشم‌آلو شدند ** که همه در شیر بز طامع بدند
He made his voracious belly like a drum: he consumed singly the portion of eighteen persons.80
معده طبلی‌خوار هم‌چون طبل کرد ** قسم هژده آدمی تنها بخورد
At bed-time he went and sat in his room; then the maid angrily shut the door.
وقت خفتن رفت و در حجره نشست ** پس کنیزک از غضب در را ببست
She put in (fastened) the door-chain from the outside, for she was angry with him and resentful.
از برون زنجیر در را در فکند ** که ازو بد خشمگین و دردمند
At midnight or dawn, when the infidel felt an urgent need and stomach-ache,
گبر را در نیم‌شب یا صبحدم ** چون تقاضا آمد و درد شکم
He hastened from his bed towards the door, (but) laying his hand on the door he found it shut.
از فراش خویش سوی در شتافت ** دست بر در چون نهاد او بسته یافت
The cunning man employed various devices to open it, but the fastening did not give way.85
در گشادن حیله کرد آن حیله‌ساز ** نوع نوع و خود نشد آن بند باز
The urgency increased, and the room was narrow: he remained in dismay and without remedy and dumbfounded.
شد تقاضا بر تقاضا خانه تنگ ** ماند او حیران و بی‌درمان و دنگ
He made shift and crept to sleep: in his slumber he dreamed that he was in a desolate place.
حیله کرد او و به خواب اندر خزید ** خویشتن در خواب در ویرانه دید
Since a desolate place was in his mind, his (inward) sight went thither in sleep.
زانک ویرانه بد اندر خاطرش ** شد به خواب اندر همانجا منظرش
Cum sese videret in loco vastato et vacuo, tanta necessitate coactus extemplo cacavit. [When he saw himself in an empty and desolate place, (being in) such need, he defecated in (that very) moment.]
خویش در ویرانه‌ی خالی چو دید ** او چنان محتاج اندر دم برید
Experrectus vidit stratum lecti in quo dormiverat sordibus plenum: pudore commotus insanire coepit. [He woke up and saw the bedclothes (in which he had slept) full of filth: he became crazy from (shame and) anguish.]90
گشت بیدار و بدید آن جامه خواب ** پر حدث دیوانه شد از اضطراب
E corde ejus ascendunt centum gemitus propter tale opprobrium pulvere non coopertum. [A hundred groans arose from his inward (heart) because of such a disgrace not covered (up) by dust.]
ز اندرون او برآمد صد خروش ** زین چنین رسواییی بی خاک‌پوش
“Somnus meus,” inquit, “pejor quam vigilia mea; hic enim edo, illic caco.” [“My sleep,” he said, “(is) worse than my wakefulness; because I eat here and I defecate there.”]
گفت خوابم بتر از بیداریم ** گه خورم این سو و آن سو می‌ریم
He was crying, “Woe and alas! Woe and alas!” even as the unbeliever in the depths of the tomb,
Waiting to see when this night would come to an end, that the noise of the door in opening might rise (to his ear),
منتظر که کی شود این شب به سر ** یا برآید در گشادن بانگ در
In order to flee like an arrow from the bow, (for fear) lest any one should see him in such a condition.95
تا گریزد او چو تیری از کمان ** تا نبیند هیچ کس او را چنان
The story is long: I will shorten it. The door opened: he was delivered from grief and pain.
قصه بسیارست کوته می‌کنم ** باز شد آن در رهید از درد و غم
How Mustafá (Mohammed) opened the door of the room for his guest and concealed himself in order that he (the guest) might not see the form of the person who opened it and be overcome with shame, but might go forth boldly.
در حجره گشادن مصطفی علیه‌السلام بر مهمان و خود را پنهان کردن تا او خیال گشاینده را نبیند و خجل شود و گستاخ بیرون رود
At dawn Mustafá came and opened the door: at dawn he gave the way (means of escape) to him who had lost the way (of salvation).
مصطفی صبح آمد و در را گشاد ** صبح آن گمراه را او راه داد
Mustafá opened the door and became hidden, in order that the afflicted man might not be ashamed,
در گشاد و گشت پنهان مصطفی ** تا نگردد شرمسار آن مبتلا
But might come forth and walk boldly away and not see the back or face of the door-opener.
تا برون آید رود گستاخ او ** تا نبیند درگشا را پشت و رو
Either he became hidden behind something, or the skirt (merciful palliation) of God concealed him from him (the infidel).100
یا نهان شد در پس چیزی و یا ** از ویش پوشید دامان خدا
The dye of Allah sometimes makes (a thing to be) covered and draws a mysterious veil o’er the beholder,
صبغة الله گاه پوشیده کند ** پرده‌ی بی‌چون بر آن ناظر تند
So that he does not see the enemy at his side: the power of God is more than that, (yea), more.
تا نبیند خصم را پهلوی خویش ** قدرت یزدان از آن بیشست بیش
Mustafá was seeing all that happened to him in the night, but the command of the Lord restrained him
مصطفی می‌دید احوال شبش ** لیک مانع بود فرمان ربش
From opening a way (of escape) before the fault (was committed), so that he (the infidel) should not be cast into a pit (of grief) by the disgrace (which he had incurred).
تا که پیش از خبط بگشاید رهی ** تا نیفتد زان فضیحت در چهی
(Otherwise, Mustafá would have let him out in time), but it was the (Divine) wisdom and the command of Heaven that he should see himself thus (disgraced and confounded).105
لیک حکمت بود و امر آسمان ** تا ببیند خویشتن را او چنان
There be many acts of enmity which are (really) friendship, many acts of destruction which are (really) restoration.
بس عداوتها که آن یاری بود ** بس خرابیها که معماری بود
A meddlesome fellow purposely brought the dirty bed-clothes to the Prophet,
جامه خواب پر حدث را یک فضول ** قاصدا آورد در پیش رسول
Saying, “Look! Thy guest has done such a thing!” He smiled, (he who was sent as) a mercy to all created beings,
که چنین کردست مهمانت ببین ** خنده‌ای زد رحمةللعالمین
And said, “Bring the pail here, that I may wash all (clean) with my own hand.”
که بیار آن مطهره اینجا به پیش ** تا بشویم جمله را با دست خویش
Every one jumped up, saying, “For God's sake (refrain)! Our souls and our bodies are a sacrifice to thee.110
هر کسی می‌جست کز بهر خدا ** جان ما و جسم ما قربان ترا
We will wash this filth: do thou leave it alone. This kind (of affair) is hand's work, not heart's work.
ما بشوییم این حدث را تو بهل ** کار دستست این نمط نه کار دل
O La-‘amruk, God pronounced unto thee (the word) ‘life’; then He made thee (His) Vicegerent and seated thee on the throne.
ای لعمرک مر ترا حق عمر خواند ** پس خلیفه کرد و بر کرسی نشاند
We live for thy service: as thou (thyself) art performing the service, what then are we?”
ما برای خدمت تو می‌زییم ** چون تو خدمت می‌کنی پس ما چه‌ایم
He said, “I know that, but this is an (extraordinary) occasion; I have a deep reason for washing this myself.”
گفت آن دانم و لیک این ساعتیست ** که درین شستن بخویشم حکمتیست
They waited, saying, “This is the Prophet's word,” till it should appear what these mysteries were.115
منتظر بودند کین قول نبیست ** تا پدید آید که این اسرار چیست
(Meanwhile) he was busily washing those filthy things, by God's command exclusively, not from blind conformity and ostentation;
او به جد می‌شست آن احداث را ** خاص ز امر حق نه تقلید و ریا
For his heart was telling him, “Do thou wash them, for herein is wisdom manifold.”
که دلش می‌گفت کین را تو بشو ** که درین جا هست حکمت تو بتو
The cause of the guest's return to the house of Mustafá, on whom be peace, at the hour when Mustafá was washing his befouled bed-rug with his own hand; and how he was overcome with shame and rent his garment and made lamentation for himself and for his plight.
سبب رجوع کردن آن مهمان به خانه‌ی مصطفی علیه‌السلام در آن ساعت که مصطفی نهالین ملوث او را به دست خود می‌شست و خجل شدن او و جامه چاک کردن و نوحه‌ی او بر خود و بر سعادت خود
The wretched infidel had an amulet (which he carried) as a keepsake. He observed that it was lost, and became distracted.
کافرک را هیکلی بد یادگار ** یاوه دید آن را و گشت او بی‌قرار
He said, “The room in which I lodged during the night—I (must have) left the amulet there unawares.”
گفت آن حجره که شب جا داشتم ** هیکل آنجا بی‌خبر بگذاشتم
Though he was ashamed, greed took away his shame: greed is a dragon, it is no small thing.120
گر چه شرمین بود شرمش حرص برد ** حرص اژدرهاست نه چیزیست خرد
In quest of the amulet he ran hastily into the house of Mustafá and saw him,
از پی هیکل شتاب اندر دوید ** در وثاق مصطفی و آن را بدید