کرد بازرگان تجارت را تمام ** باز آمد سوی منزل دوست کام‌‌

The merchant finished his trading and returned home (prosperously) to the joy of his friends.

هر غلامی را بیاورد ارمغان ** هر کنیزک را ببخشید او نشان‌‌ 1650

He brought a present for every male slave, he gave a token to every slave-girl.

گفت طوطی ارمغان بنده کو ** آن چه دیدی و آن چه گفتی باز گو

“Where is my present?” asked the parrot. “Relate what thou hast seen and said.”

گفت نی من خود پشیمانم از آن ** دست خود خایان و انگشتان گزان‌‌

“Nay,” said he, “indeed I am repenting of that (which I said), gnawing my hand and biting my fingers (in remorse).

من چرا پیغام خامی از گزاف ** بردم از بی‌‌دانشی و از نشاف‌‌

Why, from ignorance and folly, did I idly bear (such) an inconsiderate message?”

گفت ای خواجه پشیمانی ز چیست ** چیست آن کاین خشم و غم را مقتضی است‌‌

“O master,” said the parrot, “what is thy repentance for? What is it that causes this anger and grief?”

گفت گفتم آن شکایتهای تو ** با گروهی طوطیان همتای تو 1655

“I told thy complaints,” said he, “to a company of parrots resembling thee.

آن یکی طوطی ز دردت بوی برد ** زهره‌‌اش بدرید و لرزید و بمرد

One parrot got scent of (understood) thy pain: her heart broke, and she trembled and died.

من پشیمان گشتم این گفتن چه بود ** لیک چون گفتم پشیمانی چه سود

I became sorry, (thinking) ‘why did I say this?’ but what was the use of repenting after I had said it?”

نکته ای کان جست ناگه از زبان ** همچو تیری دان که جست آن از کمان‌‌

Know that a word which suddenly shot from the tongue is like an arrow shot from the bow.