The king sent thither one or two messengers, clever men and competent and very just.
To Samarcand came the two messengers for the goldsmith debonair and wanton,
Saying, “O fine master, perfect in knowledge, thou whose quality (of perfection in thy craft) is famous in (all) the lands,
Lo, such-and-such a king hath chosen thee for (thy skill in) the goldsmith's craft, because thou art eminent.
Look now, receive this robe of honour and gold and silver; when thou comest (to the king), thou wilt be a favourite and boon- companion.”
The man saw the much wealth and the many robes: he was beguiled, he parted from his town and children.
Blithely the man came into the road, unaware that the king had formed a design against his life.
O (fool), who with a hundred consents thyself with thine own foot didst enter on the journey to the fated ill!
In his fancy (were dreams of) riches, power, and lordship. Said ‘Azrá‘íl (the Angel of Death), “Go (thy way). Yes, thou wilt get (them)!”
When the stranger arrived (and turned) from the road, the physician brought him into the presence of the king.
Proudly and delicately they conducted him to the king of kings, that he might burn (like a moth) on that candle of Tiráz.
The king beheld him, showed great regard (for him), and entrusted to him the treasure house (full) of gold.
Then the physician said to him: “O mighty Sultan, give the handmaiden to this lord,
In order that the handmaiden may be happy in union with him, and that the water of union with him may put out the fire (of passion).”
The king bestowed on him that moon-faced one and wedded those twain (who were) craving (each other's) company.
During the space of six months they were satisfying their desire, till the girl was wholly restored to health.
Thereafter he prepared for him a potion, so that when he drank it he began to dwindle away before her.
When because of sickness his beauty remained not, the soul of the girl remained not in his pestilence (deadly toils).
Since he became ugly and ill-favoured and sallow-cheeked, little by little he became cold (irksome and unpleasing) in her heart.
Those loves which are for the sake of a colour (outward beauty) are not love: in the end they are a disgrace.
Would that he too had been disgrace (deformity) altogether, so that that evil judgement might not have come to pass upon him!
Blood ran from his eye (that flowed with tears) like a river; his (handsome) face became the enemy of his life.
The peacock's plumage is its enemy: O many the king who hath been slain by his magnificence!
He said, “I am the muskdeer on account of whose gland that hunter shed my pure (innocent) blood.
Oh, I am the fox of the field whose head they (the hunters springing forth) from the covert cut off for the sake of the fur.
Oh, I am the elephant whose blood was shed by the blow of the mahout for the sake of the bone (ivory).
He who hath slain me for that which is other than I, does not he know that my blood sleepeth not (will not rest unavenged)?
To-day it lies on me and to-morrow it lies on him: when does the blood of one such as I am go to waste like this?
Although the wall casts a long shadow, (yet at last) the shadow turns back again towards it.
This world is the mountain, and our action the shout: the echo of the shouts comes (back) to us.”
He said this and at the (same) moment went under the earth (gave up the ghost). The handmaiden was purged of pain and love,
Because love of the dead is not enduring, because the dead one is never coming (back) to us;
(But) love of the living is every moment fresher than a bud in the spirit and in the sight.
Choose the love of that Living One who is everlasting, who gives thee to drink of the wine that increases life.
Choose the love of Him from whose love all the prophets gained power and glory.
Do not say, “We have no admission to that King.” Dealings with the generous are not difficult.
