گفت کو شهر و قلاع او را جهاز ** یا نثار گوهر و دینار ریز
She (the prince's mother) said, “Where are his cities and castles (to furnish) the wedding-outfit, or (where are his means of) scattering gems and pieces of gold?”
گفت رو هر که غم دین برگزید ** باقی غمها خدا از وی برید
He (the king) said, “Begone! Whosoever prefers to care for religion, God cuts off from him all remaining cares.”
غالب آمد شاه و دادش دختری ** از نژاد صالحی خوش جوهری
The king prevailed and gave (in marriage) to him (his son) a maiden of goodly nature, belonging to the family of a righteous man.
در ملاحت خود نظیر خود نداشت ** چهره‌اش تابان‌تر از خورشید چاشت
Verily, she had none to rival her in loveliness: her face was brighter than the sun at morn.
حسن دختر این خصالش آنچنان ** کز نکویی می‌نگنجد در بیان3140
Such was the maiden's beauty; and her qualities were such that, on account of their excellence, they are not (to be) contained in (any) description.
صید دین کن تا رسد اندر تبع ** حسن و مال و جاه و بخت منتفع
Make religion thy prey, that in consequence (as a corollary) there may come (to thee) beauty and riches and power and advantageous fortune.
آخرت قطار اشتر دان به ملک ** در تبع دنیاش هم‌چون پشم و پشک
Know that the next world, in respect of ownership, is (like) files of camels: the present world is its corollary, like the (camels') hair and dung.
پشم بگزینی شتر نبود ترا ** ور بود اشتر چه قیمت پشم را
(If) thou choose the hair, the camel will not be thine, and if the camel be thine, what value has the hair?
چون بر آمد این نکاح آن شاه را ** با نژاد صالحان بی مرا
When the marriage (matrimonial alliance) with the family of the uncontentious righteous folk was achieved (successfully arranged) by the king,
از قضا کمپیرکی جادو که بود ** عاشق شه‌زاده‌ی با حسن و جود3145
By (Divine) destiny a decrepit old witch, who was in love with the handsome and generous prince—