چون تو بسیاران بلافیده ز بخت ** ریش خود بر کنده یک یک لخت لخت
Many like thee have prated of (their) luck, (and in the end) they have torn out their beards, one by one, piecemeal.
هین برو کوتاه کن این قیل و قال ** خویش و ما را در میفکن در وبال
Hey, begone ! Cut short this palaver ! Do not cast thyself and us into woe!"
جواب گفتن مهمان ایشان را و مثل آوردن بدفع کردن حارس کشت به بانگ دف از کشت شتری را کی کوس محمودی بر پشت او زدندی
How the guest answered them and adduced the parable of the guardian of the cornfield who, by making a noise with the tomtom, sought to drive away from the cornfield a camel on whose back they were beating the big kettle-drum of (Sultan) Mahmúd.
گفت ای یاران از آن دیوان نیم ** که ز لا حولی ضعیف آید پیم
He said, “O friends, I am not one of the devils, that (the strength of) my sinews should fail at a single lá hawl.
کودکی کو حارس کشتی بدی ** طبلکی در دفع مرغان می‌زدی
A boy, who was the guardian of a cornfield, used to beat a tomtom in order to keep off the birds,
تا رمیدی مرغ زان طبلک ز کشت ** کشت از مرغان بد بی خوف گشت4090
So that the birds, at (the sound of) the tomtom, were scared away from the field, and the field became safe from evil birds.
چونک سلطان شاه محمود کریم ** برگذر زد آن طرف خیمه‌ی عظیم
When the Sultan, the noble King Mahmúd, pitched a great tent in that neighbourhood as he passed on the way
با سپاهی همچو استاره‌ی اثیر ** انبه و پیروز و صفدر ملک‌گیر
With an army like the stars of heaven (in number), numerous and victorious, one that pierces the ranks (of the enemy) and takes possession of empire—
اشتری بد کو بدی حمال کوس ** بختیی بد پیش‌رو همچون خروس
There was a camel that carried the kettle-drum: ’twas a Bactrian (camel), going in front (of the army) like a cock:
بانگ کوس و طبل بر وی روز و شب ** می‌زدی اندر رجوع و در طلب
Day and night he (the driver) used loudly to beat the big kettle-drum and the (ordinary) drum on its back in returning (from an expedition) and in setting out.
اندر آن مزرع در آمد آن شتر ** کودک آن طبلک بزد در حفظ بر4095
That camel entered the cornfield, and the boy beat his tom--tom to protect the corn.