Afterwards diarrhoea and fever appeared in them, and their case reached the last gasp and the death-agony.
بعد از آن اطلاق و تبشان شد پدید ** کارشان تا نزع و جان کندن رسید
Then at once they sent a man to Moses to excuse that (which they had done),
پس فرستادند مردی در زمان ** سوی موسی از برای عذر آن
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)?
کامتحان کردیم و ما را کی رسد ** امتحان تو اگر نبود حسد
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.”
مجرم شاهیم ما را عفو خواه ** ای تو خاص الخاص درگاه اله
He pardoned (them), and at once they became well; they were striking their heads upon the earth (prostrating themselves) in the presence of Moses.1240
عفو کرد و در زمان نیکو شدند ** پیش موسی بر زمین سر می‌زدند
Moses said, “I pardon (you), O nobles: your bodies and souls have become unlawful to (immune from) Hell.
گفت موسی عفو کردم ای کرام ** گشت بر دوزخ تن و جانتان حرام
Verily (’tis as though) I did not see you; O (my) two friends, make yourselves strangers to (refrain from) exculpation.
من شما را خود ندیدم ای دو یار ** اعجمی سازید خود را ز اعتذار
Come, even as ye are, alien in appearance (but) familiar (in reality), to combat for the King (God).”
همچنان بیگانه‌شکل و آشنا ** در نبرد آیید بهر پادشا
Then they kissed the earth and departed: they were waiting in expectation of the time and opportunity.
پس زمین را بوسه دادند و شدند ** انتظار وقت و فرصت می‌بدند
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.”
جمع آمدن ساحران از مداین پیش فرعون و تشریفها یافتن و دست بر سینه زدن در قهر خصم او کی این بر ما نویس
Those magicians came unto Pharaoh, and he gave them robes of honour exceedingly precious.1245
تا بفرعون آمدند آن ساحران ** دادشان تشریفهای بس گران