O you whose evidence is like the staff in your hand (which) indicates that you suffer from blindness,
ای دلیل تو مثال آن عصا ** در کفت دل علی عیب العمی
(All this) noise and pompous talk and assumption of authority (only means), “I cannot see: (kindly) excuse me.”
غلغل و طاق و طرنب و گیر و دار ** که نمی‌بینم مرا معذور دار
How the Sayyid, the King of Tirmid, proclaimed that he would give robes of honour and horses and slave-boys and slave-girls and a large sum in gold to any one who would go on urgent business to Samarcand (and complete the journey) in three or four days; and how Dalqak, having heard the news of this proclamation in the country (where he then was), came post-haste to the king, saying, “I, at all events, cannot go.”
منادی کردن سید ملک ترمد کی هر کی در سه یا چهار روز به سمرقند رود به فلان مهم خلعت و اسپ و غلام و کنیزک و چندین زر دهم و شنیدن دلقک خبر این منادی در ده و آمدن به اولاقی نزد شاه کی من باری نتوانم رفتن
The sagacious Dalqak was the buffoon (court-jester) of the Sayyid of Tirmid, who reigned in that place (city).2510
سید ترمد که آنجا شاه بود ** مسخره‌ی او دلقک آگاه بود
He (the king) had an urgent affair in Samarcand, and wanted a courier in order that he might conclude it.
داشت کاری در سمرقند او مهم ** جست‌الاقی تا شود او مستتم
(Therefore) he proclaimed that he would bestow (his) treasures on any one who should bring him news from there in five days.
زد منادی هر که اندر پنج روز ** آردم زانجا خبر بدهم کنوز
Dalqak was in the country and heard of that (proclamation): he mounted (a horse) and galloped to Tirmid.
دلقک اندر ده بد و آن را شنید ** بر نشست و تا بترمد می‌دوید
Two horses dropped (dead) on the way because of his galloping in that (furious) manner.
مرکبی دو اندر آن ره شد سقط ** از دوانیدن فرس را زان نمط
Then, (fresh) from the dust of the road, he ran into the council-chamber and demanded admission to the king at an untimely hour.2515
پس به دیوان در دوید از گرد راه ** وقت ناهنگام ره جست او به شاه
A whispered rumour arose in the council, and a (feeling of) agitation came into the mind of the Sultan.
فجفجی در جمله‌ی دیوان فتاد ** شورشی در وهم آن سلطان فتاد
The hearts of the nobles and populace of the city were stricken with panic, (for they wondered) what disturbance and calamity had occurred,
خاص و عام شهر را دل شد ز دست ** تا چه تشویش و بلا حادث شدست
(Saying), “Either a conquering enemy is about to attack us or a deadly calamity has emerged from the Unseen,
یا عدوی قاهری در قصد ماست ** یا بلایی مهلکی از غیب خاست
For Dalqak, riding hard from the country, has killed several Arab horses on the way.”
که ز ده دلقک به سیران درشت ** چند اسپی تازی اندر راه کشت
The people gathered at the king's palace, wondering why Dalqak had come in such a hurry.2520
جمع گشته بر سرای شاه خلق ** تا چرا آمد چنین اشتاب دلق
Because of his (hot) haste and the enormity of his exertions, tumult and commotion arose in Tirmid;
از شتاب او و فحش اجتهاد ** غلغل و تشویش در ترمد فتاد
One man (was) beating both hands against his knee, while another, from presentiment of evil, was uttering woeful cries.
آن یکی دو دست بر زانوزنان ** وآن دگر از وهم واویلی‌کنان
On account of the hubbub and distraction and the dread of punishment every heart went to (wander in) a hundred streets (haunts) of phantasy.
از نفیر و فتنه و خوف نکال ** هر دلی رفته به صد کوی خیال
Every one was taking an omen (predicting) by conjecture (and trying to guess) what had set the rug on fire.
هر کسی فالی همی‌زد از قیاس ** تا چه آتش اوفتاد اندر پلاس
He (Dalqak) sought admission and the king at once granted it to him. When he kissed the earth (in homage), the king said to him, “Hey, what's the matter?”2525
راه جست و راه دادش شاه زود ** چون زمین بوسید گفتش هی چه بود
Whenever any one asked that sour-faced man for some particulars, he laid his hand on his lips as though to say “Hush!”
هرکه می‌پرسید حالی زان ترش ** دست بر لب می‌نهاد او که خمش
(Their) apprehension was increased by his gravity: all were perplexed and dumbfounded by him.
وهم می‌افزود زین فرهنگ او ** جمله در تشویش گشته دنگ او
Dalqak made a gesture, as though to say, “O gracious king, let me have a moment to take breath,
کرد اشارت دلق که ای شاه کرم ** یک‌دمی بگذار تا من دم زنم
That my wits may once come back to me, for I am fallen into a marvellous state (of exhaustion).”
تا که باز آید به من عقلم دمی ** که فتادم در عجایب عالمی
After a little while, during which both the throat and the mouth of the king were made bitter by (anxious) foreboding and surmise—2530
بعد یک ساعت که شه از وهم و ظن ** تلخ گشتش هم گلو و هم دهن
Because he had never seen Dalqak like this; for there was no companion more agreeable to him than he;
که ندیده بود دلقک را چنین ** که ازو خوشتر نبودش هم‌نشین
He was always bringing up stories and jests and keeping the king in merriment and laughter.
دایما دستان و لاغ افراشتی ** شاه را او شاد و خندان داشتی
When sitting (with him) he used to make him laugh so (heartily) that the king would grip his belly with both hands;
آن چنان خندانش کردی در نشست ** که گرفتی شه شکم را با دو دست
And (many a time) his body sweated from the violence of his laughter and he would fall on his face with laughing.
که ز زور خنده خوی کردی تنش ** رو در افتادی ز خنده کردنش
(How strange, then, that) to-day, on the contrary, he (Dalqak), pale and grim like this, is laying his hand on his lips as though to say, “Hush, O King!”2535
باز امروز این چنین زرد و ترش ** دست بر لب می‌زند کای شه خمش
Foreboding on foreboding and fancy on fancy (occurred) to the king (as he wondered) what chastisement would come (upon him),
وهم در وهم و خیال اندر خیال ** شاه را تا خود چه آید از نکال
For the king's heart was anxious and alarmed because the Khwárizmsháh was very bloodthirsty,
که دل شه با غم و پرهیز بود ** زانک خوارمشاه بس خون‌ریز بود
And that perverse (tyrant) had killed many kings in that region either by craft or violence.
بس شهان آن طرف را کشته بود ** یا به حیله یا به سطوت آن عنود
This King of Tirmid was apprehensive of (being attacked by) him, and his apprehension was increased by the artifice of Dalqak.
این شه ترمد ازو در وهم بود ** وز فن دلقک خود آن وهمش فزود
He said, “Be quick! Tell (me) what is the matter. Who is the cause of your being so perturbed and agitated?”2540
گفت زوتر بازگو تا حال چیست ** این چنین آشوب و شور تو ز کیست
He replied, “I heard in the country that the king had proclaimed on every highway
گفت من در ده شنیدم آنک شاه ** زد منادی بر سر هر شاه‌راه
That he required some one to run to Samarcand in three days and would bestow (his) treasures (on the courier).
که کسی خواهم که تازد در سه روز ** تا سمرقند و دهم او را کنوز
I hurried to you in order to say that I am not able to do it.
من شتابیدم بر تو بهر آن ** تا بگویم که ندارم آن توان
For one like me such agility is impossible: at all events do not expect this of me.”
این چنین چستی نیاید از چو من ** باری این اومید را بر من متن
“Curse your hurry!” cried the king; “for (in consequence of it) a hundred confusions have arisen in the city.2545
گفت شه لعنت برین زودیت باد ** که دو صد تشویش در شهر اوفتاد
(Is it only) for this trifle, O half-baked fool, (that) you have set fire to this meadow and hay?”
از برای این قدر خام‌ریش ** آتش افکندی درین مرج و حشیش
(This is) like (the behaviour of) these raw (ignorant) persons (who come) with drum and banner, saying, “We are couriers (speeding) in (the path of spiritual) poverty and non-existence,”
هم‌چو این خامان با طبل و علم ** که الاقانیم در فقر و عدم
(Who) boast far and wide of being Shaykhs and make out that they have (attained to) the rank of Báyazíd,
لاف شیخی در جهان انداخته ** خویشتن را بایزیدی ساخته
And, having (as they claim) travelled away from themselves and become united (with God), open a conventicle (for disciples) in the abode of pretension.
هم ز خود سالک شده واصل شده ** محفلی واکرده در دعوی‌کده
(While) the bridegroom's house is full of turmoil and trouble, the girl's family know nothing about it.2550
خانه‌ی داماد پرآشوب و شر ** قوم دختر را نبوده زین خبر
(The bridegroom's people raise) an outcry, saying, “Half the affair is concluded: the conditions that are (necessary) on our side have been fulfilled.
ولوله که کار نیمی راست شد ** شرطهایی که ز سوی ماست شد
We have swept and garnished the rooms and have risen up (from our labour) intoxicated and glad with this ardent desire (to receive the bride).”
خانه‌ها را روفتیم آراستیم ** زین هوس سرمست و خوش برخاستیم
Has any message come from over there? “No.” Has any bird come hither from that roof? “No.”
زان طرف آمد یکی پیغام نی ** مرغی آمد این طرف زان بام نی
After (all) these missives (which ye have sent) one on the top of another, has any answer reached you from that neighbourhood?