بود بازرگانی او را طوطیی ** در قفس محبوس زیبا طوطیی‌‌

There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.

چون که بازرگان سفر را ساز کرد ** سوی هندستان شدن آغاز کرد

When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,

هر غلام و هر کنیزک را ز جود ** گفت بهر تو چه آرم گوی زود

Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”

هر یکی از وی مرادی خواست کرد ** جمله را وعده بداد آن نیک مرد 1550

Each one asked him for some object of desire: that good man gave his promise to them all.

گفت طوطی را چه خواهی ارمغان ** کارمت از خطه‌‌ی هندوستان‌‌

He said to the parrot, “What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”

گفتش آن طوطی که آن جا طوطیان ** چون ببینی کن ز حال من بیان‌‌

The parrot said to him, “When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),

کان فلان طوطی که مشتاق شماست ** از قضای آسمان در حبس ماست‌‌

‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you, is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.

بر شما کرد او سلام و داد خواست ** وز شما چاره و ره ارشاد خواست‌‌

She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn) from you the means and way of being rightly guided.

گفت می‌‌شاید که من در اشتیاق ** جان دهم اینجا بمیرم در فراق‌‌ 1555

She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you) should give up the ghost and die here in separation?

این روا باشد که من در بند سخت ** گه شما بر سبزه گاهی بر درخت‌‌

Is this right—(that) I (should be) in grievous bondage, while ye are now on green plants, now on trees?