بخش 121 - مستجاب شدن دعای پادشاه در خلاص پسرش از جادوی کابلی

He had heard from afar the news that that boy had been captivated by an old woman,

A crone who in witchery was unrivalled and secure from likeness and duality.

Hand is above hand, O youth, in skill and in strength up to the Essence of God.

The ultimate end of (all) hands is the Hand of God: the ultimate end of (all) torrents is undoubtedly the sea.

From it the clouds take their origin, and in it too the torrent hath an end.

The king said to him, “This boy has passed out of control (has lost his wits).” He (the magician) said, “Look you, I am come as a potent remedy.

None of these sorcerers is equal to the old woman except me, the sagacious one, who have arrived from yonder shore.

Lo, by command of the Creator, I, like the hand of Moses, will utterly destroy her sorcery;

For to me this knowledge hath come from yonder region, not from having been schooled in the sorcery which is held cheap (by the wise).

I am come to undo her sorcery, so that the prince may not remain pale-faced.

Go to the graveyard at the hour of the meal taken before dawn: beside the wall is a whitened tomb.

Dig up that place in the direction of the qibla, that thou mayst behold the power and the working of God.”

This story is very long, and you (O reader) are weary: I will relate the cream (of it), I dismiss what is superfluous.

He (the magician) untied those heavy knots: then he gave to the king's son a way (of escape) from the affliction.

The boy came to himself and with a hundred tribulations went running towards the throne of the king.

He made prostration and was beating his chin on the earth: the boy held in his arms a sword and winding-sheet.

The king ordered the city to be decorated, and the citizens and the despairing disappointed bride rejoiced.

The (whole) world revived once more and was filled with radiance: (the people said), “Oh, what a wondrous difference between that day (of sorrow) and to-day!”

The king made such a (lavish) wedding-feast for him that sugared julep was (placed) before the dogs.

The old witch died of vexation and gave up her hideous face and (foul) nature to Málik.

The prince was left in amazement: (he said to himself), “How did she rob me of understanding and insight?”

He beheld a newly wedded bride like the beauteous moon, who was (as a brigand) infesting the road of beauty (and occupying it) against (all) the (other) fair ones.

He became senseless and fell on his face: for three days the heart (consciousness) vanished from his body.

Three days and nights he became unconscious of himself, so that the people were (sorely) perturbed by his swoon.

By means of rose-water and (other) remedies he came to himself (again): little by little, good and evil were apprehended by him (once more).

After a year the king said to him jokingly in conversation, “O son, bethink thee of that old friend (of thine),

Bethink thee of that bedfellow and that bed: do not be so faithless and harsh!”

“Go to!” said he; “I have found the abode of joy, I am delivered from the pit of the abode of delusion.”

’Tis even so: when the true believer has found the way towards the Light of God, he averts his face from the darkness (of this world).