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گرچه پنهان بیخ هر بیخ آورست ** برگ سیماهم وجوهم اخضرست
- Although the roots of every rooty (tree) are hidden, (yet) the leaves—their marks (upon) their faces—are green.
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آنچ خورد آن بیخ از زهر و ز قند ** نک منادی می‌کند شاخ بلند
- Lo, the lofty bough is proclaiming what the root has imbibed, whether it be poison or sugar.
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بیخ اگر بی‌برگ و از مایه تهیست ** برگهای سبز اندر شاخ چیست
- If the root is leafless and without sap, what (then) are (signify) the green leaves on the bough?
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بر زبان بیخ گل مهری نهد ** شاخ دست و پا گواهی می‌دهد 2085
- The earth lays a seal on the root's tongue, (but) the bough, its hand and foot, is bearing witness.”
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آن امینان جمله در عذر آمدند ** هم‌چو سایه پیش مه ساجد شدند
- All those trusted (officers) began to excuse themselves: they fell prostrate, like a shadow in the presence of the moon.
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عذر آن گرمی و لاف و ما و من ** پیش شه رفتند با تیغ و کفن
- In excuse for that heat (hot-headedness) and boasting and egoism they went to the King with sword and winding-sheet,
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از خجالت جمله انگشتان گزان ** هر یکی می‌گفت کای شاه جهان
- All of them biting their fingers from shame, and every one saying, “O King of the world,
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گر بریزی خون حلالستت حلال ** ور ببخشی هست انعام و نوال
- If thou shed (our) blood, ’tis lawful, lawful (for thee to do so); and if thou forgive, ’tis (an act of) grace and bounty.
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کرده‌ایم آنها که از ما می‌سزید ** تا چه فرمایی تو ای شاه مجید 2090
- We have done those deeds that were worthy of us: consider what thou wilt command, O glorious King.
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گر ببخشی جرم ما ای دل‌فروز ** شب شبیها کرده باشد روز روز
- If thou forgive our crime, O thou who makest the heart radiant, the night will have shown the qualities of night, and the day (those of) day.