بخش 171 - عزم کردن شاه چون واقف شد بر آن خیانت کی بپوشاند و عفو کند و او را به او دهد و دانست کی آن فتنه جزای او بود و قصد او بود و ظلم او بر صاحب موصل کی و من اساء فعلیها و ان ربک لبالمرصاد و ترسیدن کی اگر انتقام کشد آن انتقام هم بر سر او آید چنانک این ظلم و طمع بر سرش آمد

The monarch came to himself. He asked pardon (of God) and confessed his sin and lapse and persistence (in wrong-doing).

He said to himself, “The retribution for what I did to certain persons has reached (overtaken) my soul.

From (pride of) power I made an attempt on the concubine of another: that (injustice) recoiled upon me and I fell into the pit (which I had dug).

I knocked at the door of another person's house: consequently he knocked at the door of my house.”

Whoever seeks to commit adultery with (other) people's wives, know that he is a pimp to his own wife;

For that (adultery) is requited by the like, since the retribution for an evil act is an act like unto it.

Inasmuch as you have made a cord and pulled one like it towards yourself, you are a wittol and worse.

“I took the king of Mawsil's concubine from him by force, (so) she was soon taken by force from me too.

My treacherous deeds made a traitor of him who was my trusted friend and servant.

’Tis no time to inflict punishment (for the injury) and avenge myself: I prepared the disaster with my own hand.

If I wreak vengeance on the Amír and the woman, that trespass also will come (recoil) on my head,

Just as this (other) one has (already) come (upon me) in retribution: I have tried Him (God), I will not try Him again.

The grief of the lord of Mawsil has broken my neck: I dare not wound this other man as well.

God hath given us information concerning retribution: He hath said, ‘If ye repeat it (the offence), We shall repeat it (the punishment).’

Since in this case it is useless to commit excess (to transgress further), nothing but patience and mercy is praiseworthy.

O our Lord, verily we have done wrong, a fault has occurred: perform an act of mercy, O Thou whose mercifulnesses are mighty!

I have pardoned (him), do Thou also pardon me—(pardon) the new sin and the old lapses!”

He said, “Now, O girl, do not relate (to any one) this tale which I have heard from thee.

I will unite thee with the Amír: for God's sake, for God's sake, do not breathe a word of this story,

Lest he become ashamed to face me; for he has done one bad deed and a hundred thousand good.

(Many) times have I put him to the test: I have entrusted him with (girls) fairer than thou art.

I (always) found him perfect in fidelity; (so I know that) this too was a (Divine) judgment resulting from things done by me.”

Then he summoned his Amír to his presence: he extinguished in himself the wrath that meditates a violent revenge.

He made an agreeable excuse to him, saying, “I have become disinclined to this slave-girl,

Because the mother of my children is terribly agitated by jealousy and envy of the girl.

The mother of my children has many claims (on me): she does not deserve (to suffer) such injustice and unkindness.

She is nursing envy and jealousy, she is suffering anguish, she is feeling great bitterness on account of this girl.

Since I wish to give this girl to some person, ’tis most fitting (that I should give her) to thee, O dear friend;

For thou didst hazard thy life for the sake of (obtaining) her: it would not be fair to give her to any one but thee.”

He gave her in marriage and handed her over to him: he crushed anger and cupidity to atoms.