“Am not I,” said he, “both a king and a king's son? How have I let this King take control of me?
که نه من هم شاه و هم شه‌زاده‌ام ** چون عنان خود بدین شه داده‌ام
Now that a resplendent moon has risen for me, why should I be following a (cloud of) dust?4765
چون مرا ماهی بر آمد با لمع ** من چرا باشم غباری را تبع
The water is (running) in my river-bed, and ’tis time to show disdain: wherefore should I who want nothing endure disdain from another?
آب در جوی منست و وقت ناز ** ناز غیر از چه کشم من بی‌نیاز
Why should I bandage my head when my headache is gone? The time for pale face and tearful eye is past.
سر چرا بندم چو درد سر نماند ** وقت روی زرد و چشم تر نماند
Since my lips have become (sweet) as sugar and my cheeks (bright) as the moon, I must open another (independent) shop.”
چون شکرلب گشته‌ام عارض قمر ** باز باید کرد دکان دگر
When his carnal soul began to spawn from this egoism, he began to chew a hundred thousand thistles (cherish absurd fancies).
زین منی چون نفس زاییدن گرفت ** صد هزاران ژاژ خاییدن گرفت
Even the evil eye can traverse a hundred deserts to reach the object of its greed and envy:4770
صد بیابان زان سوی حرص و حسد ** تا بدان‌جا چشم بد هم می‌رسد
How, (then), should the sea of the King, to which every water returns, be ignorant of what is (contained) in torrent and river?
بحر شه که مرجع هر آب اوست ** چون نداند آنچ اندر سیل و جوست
The King's heart was pained by his (the prince's) thoughts and the ingratitude (shown) for his virgin (ever new) munificence.
شاه را دل درد کرد از فکر او ** ناسپاسی عطای بکر او
He said (to himself), “Prithee, O base ill-mannered fellow, was this what my bounty deserved? Marvellous!
گفت آخر ای خس واهی‌ادب ** این سزای داد من بود ای عجب
(Look) how I have dealt with thee in (lavishing) this precious treasure! (Look) how thou hast dealt with me in thy mean-spiritedness!
من چه کردم با تو زین گنج نفیس ** تو چه کردی با من از خوی خسیس
I have put in thy bosom a moon that will never set till the Day of Reckoning,4775
من ترا ماهی نهادم در کنار ** که غروبش نیست تا روز شمار
And in requital for that gift of pure light thou hast thrown thorns and earth in mine eye.
در جزای آن عطای نور پاک ** تو زدی در دیده‌ی من خار و خاک
I have become for thee a ladder to Heaven, and thou hast become a bow and arrow in combat with me.”
من ترا بر چرخ گشته نردبان ** تو شده در حرب من تیر و کمان
Pangs of jealousy arose in (the heart of) the King: the reflexion of the King's pangs entered into him (the prince).
درد غیرت آمد اندر شه پدید ** عکس درد شاه اندر وی رسید
The bird of his felicity fluttered violently in reproaching him and tore the veil (exposed the disgrace) of him who had sought seclusion (made himself independent of the King).
مرغ دولت در عتابش بر طپید ** پرده‌ی آن گوشه گشته بر درید
When the comely youth felt within himself the dust and (disturbing) effects of his wicked behaviour,4780
چون درون خود بدید آن خوش‌پسر ** از سیه‌کاری خود گرد و اثر
(And saw that) the allowance of favour and bounty had failed and that the house of his joy was filled with sorrow,
از وظیفه‌ی لطف و نعمت کم شده ** خانه‌ی شادی او پر غم شده
He came to himself (recovered) from the intoxication caused by the wine (of egoism); (but) in consequence of that sin his head became the abode of crop-sickness.
با خود آمد او ز مستی عقار ** زان گنه گشته سرش خانه‌ی خمار
He had eaten the wheat (the forbidden fruit), his celestial robe had been stripped off him, and Paradise had become for him a desert and sandy plain.
خورده گندم حله زو بیرون شده ** خلد بر وی بادیه و هامون شده
He perceived that that (intoxicating) draught had made him ill and that the poison of those egoistic pretensions had done its work.
دید کان شربت ورا بیمار کرد ** زهر آن ما و منیها کار کرد
His soul that was (formerly) like a peacock in the (eternal) garden of delight (now) became like an owl in the wilderness of unreality.4785
جان چون طاوس در گل‌زار ناز ** هم‌چو چغدی شد به ویرانه‌ی مجاز
Like Adam, he was left far away from Paradise, driving an ox on the earth for the purpose of sowing.
هم‌چو آدم دور ماند او از بهشت ** در زمین می‌راند گاوی بهر کشت
He was shedding tears and crying, “O Hindú mighty (in craft), thou hast made the lion a captive of the cow's tail.
اشک می‌راند او کای هندوی زاو ** شیر را کردی اسیر دم گاو
O wicked fleshly soul with thy chill breath, thou hast acted disloyally to the King who answers every call for help.
کردی ای نفس بد بارد نفس ** بی‌حفاظی با شه فریادرس
In thy greed for a grain of wheat thou hast chosen (to enter) the trap, and every grain of its wheat has become a scorpion to (sting) thee.
دام بگزیدی ز حرص گندمی ** بر تو شد هر گندم او کزدمی
The vain fancy of egoism came into thy head: (now) behold a shackle weighing fifty mann on thy foot!”4790
در سرت آمد هوای ما و من ** قید بین بر پای خود پنجاه من
In this fashion was he mourning for his soul, saying, “Why did I become the antagonist of my sovereign?”
نوحه می‌کرد این نمط بر جان خویش ** که چرا گشتم ضد سلطان خویش
(Then) he came to himself and asked pardon of God, and with his repentance he combined something else.
آمد او با خویش و استغفار کرد ** با انابت چیز دیگر یار کرد
The pain that arises from dread of losing one's faith—take pity (on him who is thus afflicted), for that is the irremediable pain.
درد کان از وحشت ایمان بود ** رحم کن کان درد بی‌درمان بود
May no human being have a perfect (new and spotless) raiment! As soon as he is delivered from enduring (poverty) he at once seeks the seat of honour.
مر بشر را خود مبا جامه‌ی درست ** چون رهید از صبر در حین صدر جست
May no human being possess a fist and nails! (for) then he never thinks of devotion and righteousness.4795
مر بشر را پنجه و ناخن مباد ** که نه دین اندیشد آنگه نه سداد
’Tis best for a man to be killed (mortified) in tribulation: the carnal soul is an ingrate and one that has gone astray.
آدمی اندر بلا کشته بهست ** نفس کافر نعمتست و گمرهست
How God addressed Azrael, saying, “Of all these creatures whose souls thou hast seized, whom didst thou pity most?” and the answer given by Azrael to the Lord.
خطاب حق تعالی به عزرائیل علیه‌السلام کی ترا رحم بر کی بیشتر آمد ازین خلایق کی جانشان قبض کردی و جواب دادن عزرائیل حضرت را
God was saying to Azrael, “O marshal, whom of all the miserable ones didst thou pity (most)?”
حق به عزرائیل می‌گفت ای نقیب ** بر کی رحم آمد ترا از هر کیب
He replied, “My heart burns with grief for them all, but I am afraid to neglect the (Divine) command,
گفت بر جمله دلم سوزد به درد ** لیک ترسم امر را اهمال کرد
So that I should say, ‘Would that God might sacrifice me in exchange for the (generous) youth!’”
تا بگویم کاشکی یزدان مرا ** در عوض قربان کند بهر فتی
God asked, “For whom didst thou feel the greatest pity? On account of whom was thy heart most filled with flame and grilled?”4800
گفت بر کی بیشتر رحم آمدت ** از کی دل پر سوز و بریان‌تر شدت
“One day,” said he, “by (Thy) command I wrecked a ship on the fierce waves, so that it went to pieces.
گفت روزی کشتیی بر موج تیز ** من شکستم ز امر تا شد ریز ریز
Then Thou bad’st me take the souls of them all, except one woman and one child belonging to that company.
پس بگفتی قبض کن جان همه ** جز زنی و غیر طفلی زان رمه
The twain were left on a plank, and the plank was being driven on by the waves.
هر دو بر یک تخته‌ای در ماندند ** تخته را آن موج‌ها می‌راندند
Then Thou saidst, ‘Take the mother's soul and leave the child alone in obedience to the command Be!’
باز گفتی جان مادر قبض کن ** طفل را بگذار تنها ز امر کن
When I parted the child from its mother, Thou thyself knowest how bitter ’twas to me.4805
چون ز مادر بسکلیدم طفل را ** خود تو می‌دانی چه تلخ آمد مرا
Often have I seen sighs (heaved) in great mournings, (but) the bitter grief of that child has never gone from my recollection.”
بس بدیدم دود ماتم‌های زفت ** تلخی آن طفل از فکرم نرفت
God said, “Of My grace I bade the waves cast that child into a forest—
گفت حق آن طفل را از فضل خویش ** موج را گفتم فکن در بیشه‌ایش
A forest abounding in lilies and sweet basils and roses, full of trees laden with fruit good to eat,
بیشه‌ای پر سوسن و ریحان و گل ** پر درخت میوه‌دار خوش‌اکل
And fountains of sweet limpid water. I fostered the child with a hundred endearments.
چشمه‌های آب شیرین زلال ** پروریدم طفل را با صد دلال
Myriads of melodious singing-birds poured forth a hundred songs in that garden.4810
صد هزاران مرغ مطرب خوش‌صدا ** اندر آن روضه فکنده صد نوا
I made for him a couch of wild-rose leaves; I made him secure from the shock of afflictions.
پسترش کردم ز برگ نسترن ** کرده او را آمن از صدمه‌ی فتن
I told the sun not to scorch him; I told the wind to blow on him gently;
گفته من خورشید را کو را مگز ** باد را گفته برو آهسته وز
I told the clouds not to rain upon him; I told the lightning not to dart at him.
ابر را گفته برو باران مریز ** برق را گفته برو مگرای تیز