The time presses and I have (only) one moment (left): act in kingly fashion, come to my aid!
وقت تنگ آمد مرا و یک نفس ** پادشاهی کن مرا فریاد رس
If Thou wilt cover me up (conceal my sin) this time, (henceforth) I repent of everything that ought not to be done.2265
گر مرا این بار ستاری کنی ** توبه کردم من ز هر ناکردنی
Accept my repentance this once more, that I may gird myself with a hundred belts for repentance.
توبه‌ام بپذیر این بار دگر ** تا ببندم بهر توبه صد کمر
If I commit any fault (in keeping my vow) this time, then do not hearken again to my prayer and words (of entreaty).”
من اگر این بار تقصیری کنم ** پس دگر مشنو دعا و گفتنم
Thus was he moaning while a hundred tears flowed (from his eyes). “I have fallen,” he cried, “into the hands of the executioner and policeman.
این همی زارید و صد قطره روان ** که در افتادم به جلاد و عوان
Let no Frank die such a death: may no mulhid (Ismá‘ílí or ‘Assassin’) have (cause to make) this lamentation!”
تا نمیرد هیچ افرنگی چنین ** هیچ ملحد را مبادا این حنین
He was uttering cries of mourning over his soul, (for) he saw the face of Azrael (coming) nearer and nearer.2270
نوحه‌ها کرد او بر جان خویش ** روی عزرائیل دیده پیش پیش
He cried “O God, O God” so often that door and wall joined with him (echoed his words).
ای خدا و ای خدا چندان بگفت ** که آن در و دیوار با او گشت جفت
He was deep in “O Lord” and “O Lord” (when suddenly) from amidst the (people engaged in) search came the (following) announcement.
در میان یارب و یارب بد او ** بانگ آمد از میان جست و جو
[How the turn came for Nasúh to be searched, and how a voice proclaimed—“We have searched them all, (now) search Nasúh”; and how Nasúh became senseless from terror, and how after extreme oppression of spirit the way of deliverance was opened to him, as the Prophet of God—may God bless and save him!— used to say, whenever sickness or anxiety overtook him, “O distress, become severe: then thou wilt pass away.”]
نوبت جستن رسیدن به نصوح و آواز آمدن که همه را جستیم نصوح را بجویید و بیهوش شدن نصوح از آن هیبت و گشاده شدن کار بعد از نهایت بستگی کماکان یقول رسول الله صلی الله علیه و سلم اذا اصابه مرض او هم اشتدی ازمة تنفرجی
“We have searched them all: come forward, O Nasúh.” Thereupon he lost his senses, his spirit took wing.
جمله را جستیم پیش آی ای نصوح ** گشت بیهوش آن زمان پرید روح
He fell like a broken wall: his consciousness and understanding departed, he became like lifeless matter.
هم‌چو دیوار شکسته در فتاد ** هوش و عقلش رفت شد او چون جماد
When his consciousness went without delay from his body, at that moment his inmost soul was united with God.2275
چونک هوشش رفت از تن بی‌امان ** سر او با حق بپیوست آن زمان
When he was emptied (of self) and his (self-) existence remained not, God called the falcon, his soul, into His presence.
چون تهی گشت و وجود او نماند ** باز جانش را خدا در پیش خواند
When his ship was wrecked and every hope had failed, he was cast on the seashore of (Divine) Mercy.
چون شکست آن کشتی او بی‌مراد ** در کنار رحمت دریا فتاد
His soul became united with God: at the moment when he lost consciousness the waves of Mercy began to surge.
جان به حق پیوست چون بیهوش شد ** موج رحمت آن زمان در جوش شد
When his soul was freed from the disgrace of the body, it went rejoicing towards its Origin.
چون که جانش وا رهید از ننگ تن ** رفت شادان پیش اصل خویشتن
The soul is like a falcon, and the body is its fetter: (’tis) a foot-bound broken-winged creature;2280
جان چو باز و تن مرورا کنده‌ای ** پای بسته پر شکسته بنده‌ای
(But) when its self-consciousness is gone and its foot untied, that falcon flies towards the King.
چونک هوشش رفت و پایش بر گشاد ** می‌پرد آن باز سوی کیقباد
When the seas of Mercy begin to surge, even stones drink the Water of Life.
چونک دریاهای رحمت جوش کرد ** سنگها هم آب حیوان نوش کرد
The frail mote becomes stout and strong; the carpet of earth becomes (like) satin and cloth of gold.
ذره‌ی لاغر شگرف و زفت شد ** فرش خاکی اطلس و زربفت شد
He that has been dead a hundred years comes forth from the grave; the accursed devil becomes an object of envy to the houris on account of his beauty.
مرده‌ی صدساله بیرون شد ز گور ** دیو ملعون شد به خوبی رشک حور
The whole face of this earth becomes verdant; the dry wood buds and becomes flourishing.2285
این همه روی زمین سرسبز شد ** چوب خشک اشکوفه کرد و نغز شد
The wolf becomes the cup-companion of the lamb; the despairing become courageous and valiant.
گرگ با بره حریف می شده ** ناامیدان خوش‌رگ و خوش پی شده
The finding of the jewel, and how the ladies-in-waiting and handmaids of the princess begged Nasúh to exonerate them.
یافته شدن گوهر و حلالی خواستن حاجبکان و کنیزکان شاه‌زاده از نصوح
After that soul-destroying fear, came the good news—“Here is the lost (jewel)!”
بعد از آن خوفی هلاک جان بده ** مژده‌ها آمد که اینک گم شده
Suddenly rose a shout—“The danger is past: the single pearl that was missing has been found.
بانگ آمد ناگهان که رفت بیم ** یافت شد گم گشته آن در یتیم
It is found, and we are penetrated with joy: give us the reward, for we have found the pearl.”
یافت شد واندر فرح در بافتیم ** مژدگانی ده که گوهر یافتیم
The bath-house was filled with clamour and screams and clapping of hands (because) sorrow had disappeared.2290
از غریو و نعره و دستک زدن ** پر شده حمام قد زال الحزن
Nasúh who had gone (out of himself) came to himself again: his eye saw in front (of him) the splendour of a hundred (shining) days.
آن نصوح رفته باز آمد به خویش ** دید چشمش تابش صد روز بیش
Every one was begging him to exonerate them and giving his hand many a kiss.
می حلالی خواست از وی هر کسی ** بوسه می‌دادند بر دستش بسی
(They said), “We had evil thoughts (of thee), and (we pray thee to) exonerate us. We were backbiting thee in our talk”;
بد گمان بردیم و کن ما را حلال ** گوشت تو خوردیم اندر قیل و قال
For the suspicion of all (the women) against him had been increased by the fact that he was in higher favour (with the princess) than all (the rest of them).
زانک ظن جمله بر وی بیش بود ** زانک در قربت ز جمله پیش بود
Nasúh was her private shampooer and confidant; nay (they were) as two bodies with one soul.2295
خاص دلاکش بد و محرم نصوح ** بلک هم‌چون دو تنی یک گشته روح
(Hence the women had said), “If (any one) has taken the pearl, only he can have taken it: none is more closely attached to the Lady than he.
گوهر ار بردست او بردست و بس ** زو ملازم‌تر به خاتون نیست کس
At first she wished to search him forcibly, (but) from respect for his reputation she delayed,
اول او را خواست جستن در نبرد ** بهر حرمت داشتش تاخیر کرد
In the hope that he might drop it (the pearl) somewhere and (thus) save himself during the respite.”
تا بود کان را بیندازد به جا ** اندرین مهلت رهاند خویش را
They were begging him to grant these absolutions and were rising up to excuse themselves.
این حلالیها ازو می‌خواستند ** وز برای عذر برمی‌خاستند
He replied, “’Twas the grace of God, who deals justice; else I am worse than what has been said (of me).2300
گفت بد فضل خدای دادگر ** ورنه زآنچم گفته شد هستم بتر
Why should absolution be begged of me? for I am the most sinful of (all) the people in the world.
چه حلالی خواست می‌باید ز من ** که منم مجرم‌تر اهل زمن
The evil they spoke of me is (but) a hundredth part (of that which I have committed): this is clearly known to me, if any one has a doubt (concerning it).
آنچ گفتندم ز بد از صد یکیست ** بر من این کشفست ار کس را شکیست
What does any one know of me but a little—(what but) one of my thousand sins and evil deeds?
کس چه می‌داند ز من جز اندکی ** از هزاران جرم و بد فعلم یکی
I know, and He who draws a veil (of concealment) over me (knows) my sins and the wickedness of my conduct.
من همی دانم و آن ستار من ** جرمها و زشتی کردار من
At first an Iblís was my teacher; afterwards Iblís was (mere) wind in comparison with me.2305
اول ابلیسی مرا استاد بود ** بعد از آن ابلیس پیشم باد بود
God saw all that (iniquity), (but) made as though He saw it not, lest I should be openly dishonoured by its exposure.
حق بدید آن جمله را نادیده کرد ** تا نگردم در فضیحت روی‌زرد
Moreover, (the Divine) Mercy exercised the furrier's craft on me and bestowed on me a repentance sweet as life.
باز رحمت پوستین دوزیم کرد ** توبه‌ی شیرین چو جان روزیم کرد
Whatever (ill deeds) I had done, it took them as not having been done; and my undone (acts of) obedience it took as having been performed.
هر چه کردم جمله ناکرده گرفت ** طاعت ناکرده آورده گرفت
It made me free (pure and noble) as the cypress and the lily; it made me glad of heart as fortune and felicity.
هم‌چو سرو و سوسنم آزاد کرد ** هم‌چو بخت و دولتم دلشاد کرد
It inscribed my name in the register of the righteous: I was one doomed to Hell; it gave me Paradise.2310
نام من در نامه‌ی پاکان نوشت ** دوزخی بودم ببخشیدم بهشت
(When) I cried ‘Alas,’ my ‘Alas’ became a rope, and the rope was let down into my well.
آه کردم چون رسن شد آه من ** گشت آویزان رسن در چاه من
I clutched that rope and climbed out: I became glad and strong and stout and rosy.
آن رسن بگرفتم و بیرون شدم ** شاد و زفت و فربه و گلگون شدم
(Formerly) I was lying in misery at the bottom of a well: now I am not contained in the whole world.
در بن چاهی همی‌بودم زبون ** در همه عالم نمی‌گنجم کنون