بس شهان آن طرف را کشته بود ** یا به حیله یا به سطوت آن عنود
And that perverse (tyrant) had killed many kings in that region either by craft or violence.
این شه ترمد ازو در وهم بود ** وز فن دلقک خود آن وهمش فزود
This King of Tirmid was apprehensive of (being attacked by) him, and his apprehension was increased by the artifice of Dalqak.
گفت زوتر بازگو تا حال چیست ** این چنین آشوب و شور تو ز کیست 2540
He said, “Be quick! Tell (me) what is the matter. Who is the cause of your being so perturbed and agitated?”
گفت من در ده شنیدم آنک شاه ** زد منادی بر سر هر شاه‌راه
He replied, “I heard in the country that the king had proclaimed on every highway
که کسی خواهم که تازد در سه روز ** تا سمرقند و دهم او را کنوز
That he required some one to run to Samarcand in three days and would bestow (his) treasures (on the courier).
من شتابیدم بر تو بهر آن ** تا بگویم که ندارم آن توان
I hurried to you in order to say that I am not able to do it.
این چنین چستی نیاید از چو من ** باری این اومید را بر من متن
For one like me such agility is impossible: at all events do not expect this of me.”
گفت شه لعنت برین زودیت باد ** که دو صد تشویش در شهر اوفتاد 2545
“Curse your hurry!” cried the king; “for (in consequence of it) a hundred confusions have arisen in the city.
از برای این قدر خام‌ریش ** آتش افکندی درین مرج و حشیش
(Is it only) for this trifle, O half-baked fool, (that) you have set fire to this meadow and hay?”
هم‌چو این خامان با طبل و علم ** که الاقانیم در فقر و عدم
(This is) like (the behaviour of) these raw (ignorant) persons (who come) with drum and banner, saying, “We are couriers (speeding) in (the path of spiritual) poverty and non-existence,”