شاه بیدارست حارس خفته گیر ** جان فدای خفتگان دل‌بصیر
The King is awake: suppose the guardsman is asleep, (what does it matter?). May (my) soul be sacrificed to the sleepers whose hearts are seeing!
وصف بیداری دل ای معنوی ** در نگنجد در هزاران مثنوی
The description of the heart's wakefulness, O spiritual man, would not be contained in thousands of rhymed couplets.
چون بدیدندش که خفتست او دراز ** بهر دزدی عصا کردند ساز
When they (the magicians) saw that he was sleeping outstretched, they made preparations for stealing the rod.
ساحران قصد عصا کردند زود ** کز پسش باید شدن وانگه ربود1230
The magicians quickly approached the rod, saying, “We must go behind him and then snatch it (from him).”
اندکی چون پیشتر کردند ساز ** اندر آمد آن عصا در اهتزاز
When they prepared (to approach) a little nearer, the rod began to shake.
آنچنان بر خود بلرزید آن عصا ** کان دو بر جا خشک گشتند از وجا
The rod quivered upon itself in such wise (that) both (magicians) on the spot became petrified by the shock (of terror).
بعد از آن شد اژدها و حمله کرد ** هر دوان بگریختند و روی‌زرد
After that, it turned into a dragon and made a rush (at them): both fled, and pale of countenance
رو در افتادن گرفتند از نهیب ** غلط غلطان منهزم در هر نشیب
Began to fall on their faces from affright, tumbling panic-stricken down every slope.
پس یقینشان شد که هست از آسمان ** زانک می‌دیدند حد ساحران1235
Then to them it became certain that he (Moses) was from Heaven, since they were seeing the limit of (the power of) magicians.
بعد از آن اطلاق و تبشان شد پدید ** کارشان تا نزع و جان کندن رسید
Afterwards diarrhoea and fever appeared in them, and their case reached the last gasp and the death-agony.
پس فرستادند مردی در زمان ** سوی موسی از برای عذر آن
Then at once they sent a man to Moses to excuse that (which they had done),
کامتحان کردیم و ما را کی رسد ** امتحان تو اگر نبود حسد
Saying, “We have put (thee) to the test, and how should (the thought of) testing thee occur to us unless there be envy (as a motive)?
مجرم شاهیم ما را عفو خواه ** ای تو خاص الخاص درگاه اله
We are sinners against the King (God): do thou crave pardon for us, O thou that art the elect of the elect of the Court of God.”
عفو کرد و در زمان نیکو شدند ** پیش موسی بر زمین سر می‌زدند1240
He pardoned (them), and at once they became well; they were striking their heads upon the earth (prostrating themselves) in the presence of Moses.
گفت موسی عفو کردم ای کرام ** گشت بر دوزخ تن و جانتان حرام
Moses said, “I pardon (you), O nobles: your bodies and souls have become unlawful to (immune from) Hell.
من شما را خود ندیدم ای دو یار ** اعجمی سازید خود را ز اعتذار
Verily (’tis as though) I did not see you; O (my) two friends, make yourselves strangers to (refrain from) exculpation.
همچنان بیگانه‌شکل و آشنا ** در نبرد آیید بهر پادشا
Come, even as ye are, alien in appearance (but) familiar (in reality), to combat for the King (God).”
پس زمین را بوسه دادند و شدند ** انتظار وقت و فرصت می‌بدند
Then they kissed the earth and departed: they were waiting in expectation of the time and opportunity.
جمع آمدن ساحران از مداین پیش فرعون و تشریفها یافتن و دست بر سینه زدن در قهر خصم او کی این بر ما نویس
How the magicians from the cities assembled before Pharaoh and received robes of honour and laid their hands upon their breasts, (pledging themselves) to subdue his enemy (Moses), and saying, “Write this down against us.”
تا بفرعون آمدند آن ساحران ** دادشان تشریفهای بس گران1245
Those magicians came unto Pharaoh, and he gave them robes of honour exceedingly precious.
وعده‌هاشان کرد و پیشین هم بداد ** بندگان و اسپان و نقد و جنس و زاد
He made promises to them, and also gave them in advance slaves and horses and money and goods and provisions.
بعد از آن می‌گفت هین ای سابقان ** گر فزون آیید اندر امتحان
After that, he was saying, “Hark, O ye that are foremost (in your art), if ye prove superior in the trial,
برفشانم بر شما چندان عطا ** که بدرد پرده‌ی جود و سخا
I will scatter over you so many gifts that the veil of bounty and munificence will be rent.”
پس بگفتندش به اقبال تو شاه ** غالب آییم و شود کارش تباه
Then they said to him, “Through thy fortune, O King, we shall prevail, and his cause shall be ruined.
ما درین فن صفدریم و پهلوان ** کس ندارد پای ما اندر جهان1250
We are heroes and champions in this art: no one in the world can resist us.”
The mention of Moses has become a chain (obstruction) to the thoughts (of my readers), (for they think) that these are stories (of that) which happened long ago.