بود دو خانه مقابل دربدر ** ز آن یکی چینی ستد رومی دگر

There were two rooms with door facing door: the Chinese took one, the Greeks the other.

چینیان صد رنگ از شه خواستند ** پس خزینه باز کرد آن ارجمند

The Chinese requested the King to give them a hundred colours: then that excellent (king) opened the treasury.

هر صباحی از خزینه رنگها ** چینیان را راتبه بود از عطا

Every morning, by (his) bounty, the colours were dispensed from the treasury to the Chinese.

رومیان گفتند نی نقش و نه رنگ ** در خور آید کار را جز دفع زنگ‌‌

The Greeks said, “No tints and pictures are proper for our work, (nothing is needed) except to remove the rust.”

در فرو بستند و صیقل می‌‌زدند ** همچو گردون ساده و صافی شدند 3475

They shut the door and went on burnishing: they became clear and pure like the sky.

از دو صد رنگی به بی‌‌رنگی رهی است ** رنگ چون ابر است و بی‌‌رنگی مهی است‌‌

There is a way from many-colouredness to colourlessness: colour is like the clouds, and colourlessness is a moon.

هر چه اندر ابر ضو بینی و تاب ** آن ز اختر دان و ماه و آفتاب‌‌

Whatsoever light and splendour you see in the clouds, know that it comes from the stars and the moon and the sun.

چینیان چون از عمل فارغ شدند ** از پی شادی دهلها می‌‌زدند

When the Chinese had finished their work, they were beating drums for joy.

شه در آمد دید آن جا نقشها ** می‌‌ربود آن عقل را و فهم را

The King entered and saw the pictures there: that (sight) was robbing him of his wits and understanding.

بعد از آن آمد به سوی رومیان ** پرده را بالا کشیدند از میان‌‌ 3480

After that, he came towards the Greeks: they drew up the intervening curtain.