O you whose evidence is like the staff in your hand (which) indicates that you suffer from blindness,
غلغل و طاق و طرنب و گیر و دار ** که نمی‌بینم مرا معذور دار
(All this) noise and pompous talk and assumption of authority (only means), “I cannot see: (kindly) excuse me.”
منادی کردن سید ملک ترمد کی هر کی در سه یا چهار روز به سمرقند رود به فلان مهم خلعت و اسپ و غلام و کنیزک و چندین زر دهم و شنیدن دلقک خبر این منادی در ده و آمدن به اولاقی نزد شاه کی من باری نتوانم رفتن
How the Sayyid, the King of Tirmid, proclaimed that he would give robes of honour and horses and slave-boys and slave-girls and a large sum in gold to any one who would go on urgent business to Samarcand (and complete the journey) in three or four days; and how Dalqak, having heard the news of this proclamation in the country (where he then was), came post-haste to the king, saying, “I, at all events, cannot go.”
سید ترمد که آنجا شاه بود ** مسخره‌ی او دلقک آگاه بود 2510
The sagacious Dalqak was the buffoon (court-jester) of the Sayyid of Tirmid, who reigned in that place (city).
داشت کاری در سمرقند او مهم ** جست‌الاقی تا شود او مستتم
He (the king) had an urgent affair in Samarcand, and wanted a courier in order that he might conclude it.
زد منادی هر که اندر پنج روز ** آردم زانجا خبر بدهم کنوز
(Therefore) he proclaimed that he would bestow (his) treasures on any one who should bring him news from there in five days.
دلقک اندر ده بد و آن را شنید ** بر نشست و تا بترمد می‌دوید
Dalqak was in the country and heard of that (proclamation): he mounted (a horse) and galloped to Tirmid.
مرکبی دو اندر آن ره شد سقط ** از دوانیدن فرس را زان نمط
Two horses dropped (dead) on the way because of his galloping in that (furious) manner.
پس به دیوان در دوید از گرد راه ** وقت ناهنگام ره جست او به شاه 2515
Then, (fresh) from the dust of the road, he ran into the council-chamber and demanded admission to the king at an untimely hour.
فجفجی در جمله‌ی دیوان فتاد ** شورشی در وهم آن سلطان فتاد
A whispered rumour arose in the council, and a (feeling of) agitation came into the mind of the Sultan.
خاص و عام شهر را دل شد ز دست ** تا چه تشویش و بلا حادث شدست
The hearts of the nobles and populace of the city were stricken with panic, (for they wondered) what disturbance and calamity had occurred,
یا عدوی قاهری در قصد ماست ** یا بلایی مهلکی از غیب خاست
(Saying), “Either a conquering enemy is about to attack us or a deadly calamity has emerged from the Unseen,
که ز ده دلقک به سیران درشت ** چند اسپی تازی اندر راه کشت
For Dalqak, riding hard from the country, has killed several Arab horses on the way.”
جمع گشته بر سرای شاه خلق ** تا چرا آمد چنین اشتاب دلق 2520
The people gathered at the king's palace, wondering why Dalqak had come in such a hurry.
از شتاب او و فحش اجتهاد ** غلغل و تشویش در ترمد فتاد
Because of his (hot) haste and the enormity of his exertions, tumult and commotion arose in Tirmid;
آن یکی دو دست بر زانوزنان ** وآن دگر از وهم واویلی‌کنان
One man (was) beating both hands against his knee, while another, from presentiment of evil, was uttering woeful cries.
از نفیر و فتنه و خوف نکال ** هر دلی رفته به صد کوی خیال
On account of the hubbub and distraction and the dread of punishment every heart went to (wander in) a hundred streets (haunts) of phantasy.
هر کسی فالی همی‌زد از قیاس ** تا چه آتش اوفتاد اندر پلاس
Every one was taking an omen (predicting) by conjecture (and trying to guess) what had set the rug on fire.
راه جست و راه دادش شاه زود ** چون زمین بوسید گفتش هی چه بود 2525
He (Dalqak) sought admission and the king at once granted it to him. When he kissed the earth (in homage), the king said to him, “Hey, what's the matter?”
هرکه می‌پرسید حالی زان ترش ** دست بر لب می‌نهاد او که خمش
Whenever any one asked that sour-faced man for some particulars, he laid his hand on his lips as though to say “Hush!”
وهم می‌افزود زین فرهنگ او ** جمله در تشویش گشته دنگ او
(Their) apprehension was increased by his gravity: all were perplexed and dumbfounded by him.
کرد اشارت دلق که ای شاه کرم ** یک‌دمی بگذار تا من دم زنم
Dalqak made a gesture, as though to say, “O gracious king, let me have a moment to take breath,
تا که باز آید به من عقلم دمی ** که فتادم در عجایب عالمی
That my wits may once come back to me, for I am fallen into a marvellous state (of exhaustion).”
بعد یک ساعت که شه از وهم و ظن ** تلخ گشتش هم گلو و هم دهن 2530
After a little while, during which both the throat and the mouth of the king were made bitter by (anxious) foreboding and surmise—
که ندیده بود دلقک را چنین ** که ازو خوشتر نبودش هم‌نشین
Because he had never seen Dalqak like this; for there was no companion more agreeable to him than he;
دایما دستان و لاغ افراشتی ** شاه را او شاد و خندان داشتی
He was always bringing up stories and jests and keeping the king in merriment and laughter.
آن چنان خندانش کردی در نشست ** که گرفتی شه شکم را با دو دست
When sitting (with him) he used to make him laugh so (heartily) that the king would grip his belly with both hands;
که ز زور خنده خوی کردی تنش ** رو در افتادی ز خنده کردنش
And (many a time) his body sweated from the violence of his laughter and he would fall on his face with laughing.
باز امروز این چنین زرد و ترش ** دست بر لب می‌زند کای شه خمش 2535
(How strange, then, that) to-day, on the contrary, he (Dalqak), pale and grim like this, is laying his hand on his lips as though to say, “Hush, O King!”
وهم در وهم و خیال اندر خیال ** شاه را تا خود چه آید از نکال
Foreboding on foreboding and fancy on fancy (occurred) to the king (as he wondered) what chastisement would come (upon him),
که دل شه با غم و پرهیز بود ** زانک خوارمشاه بس خون‌ریز بود
For the king's heart was anxious and alarmed because the Khwárizmsháh was very bloodthirsty,
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,”
لاف شیخی در جهان انداخته ** خویشتن را بایزیدی ساخته
(Who) boast far and wide of being Shaykhs and make out that they have (attained to) the rank of Báyazíd,
هم ز خود سالک شده واصل شده ** محفلی واکرده در دعوی‌کده
And, having (as they claim) travelled away from themselves and become united (with God), open a conventicle (for disciples) in the abode of pretension.
خانه‌ی داماد پرآشوب و شر ** قوم دختر را نبوده زین خبر 2550
(While) the bridegroom's house is full of turmoil and trouble, the girl's family know nothing about it.
ولوله که کار نیمی راست شد ** شرطهایی که ز سوی ماست شد
(The bridegroom's people raise) an outcry, saying, “Half the affair is concluded: the conditions that are (necessary) on our side have been fulfilled.
خانه‌ها را روفتیم آراستیم ** زین هوس سرمست و خوش برخاستیم
We have swept and garnished the rooms and have risen up (from our labour) intoxicated and glad with this ardent desire (to receive the bride).”
زان طرف آمد یکی پیغام نی ** مرغی آمد این طرف زان بام نی
Has any message come from over there? “No.” Has any bird come hither from that roof? “No.”