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بهر یاری مار جوید آدمی ** غم خورد بهر حریف بی‌غمی
- Man seeks a snake for the purpose of friendship and cares for one that is without care (for him).
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او همی‌جستی یکی ماری شگرف ** گرد کوهستان و در ایام برف 995
- He (the snake-catcher) was searching for a big snake round about the mountains and in the days of snow.
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اژدهایی مرده دید آنجا عظیم ** که دلش از شکل او شد پر ز بیم
- He espied there a huge dead dragon, at the aspect whereof his heart was filled with fear.
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مارگیر اندر زمستان شدید ** مار می‌جست اژدهایی مرده دید
- (Whilst) the snake-catcher was looking for snakes in the hard winter, he espied a dead dragon.
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مارگیر از بهر حیرانی خلق ** مار گیرد اینت نادانی خلق
- The snake-catcher catches snakes in order to amaze the people—behold the foolishness of the people!
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آدمی کوهیست چون مفتون شود ** کوه اندر مار حیران چون شود
- Man is a mountain: how should he be led into temptation? How should a mountain become amazed at a snake?
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خویشتن نشناخت مسکین آدمی ** از فزونی آمد و شد در کمی 1000
- Wretched Man does not know himself: he has come from a high estate and fallen into lowlihood.
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خویشتن را آدمی ارزان فروخت ** بود اطلس خویش بر دلقی بدوخت
- Man has sold himself cheaply: he was satin, he has sewn himself on (become attached) to a tattered cloak.
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صد هزاران مار و که حیران اوست ** او چرا حیران شدست و ماردوست
- Hundreds of thousands of snakes and mountains are amazed at him: why (then) has he become amazed and fond of a snake?
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مارگیر آن اژدها را بر گرفت ** سوی بغداد آمد از بهر شگفت
- The snake-catcher took up that snake and came to Baghdád for the sake of (exciting) astonishment.