ای خداوند و شهنشاه و امیر ** من نگفتم جهل من گفت آن مگیر

O lord and emperor and amír, I spoke not, my folly spoke: do not punish that (offence).

شمه‏ای زین حال اگر دانستمی ** گفتن بی‏هوده کی تانستمی‏

If I had known a tittle of this matter, how could I have spoken foolish words?

بس ثنایت گفتمی ای خوش خصال ** گر مرا یک رمز می‏گفتی ز حال‏ 1905

I should have spoken much praise of you, O man of good qualities, if you had given me a single hint as to the (actual) case;

لیک خامش کرده می‏آشوفتی ** خامشانه بر سرم می‏کوفتی‏

But you, keeping silence, showed perturbation and silently continued to beat me on the head.

شد سرم کالیوه عقل از سر بجست ** خاصه این سر را که مغزش کمتر است‏

My head became dizzy, the wits flew out of my head— especially as this head has (but) little brain.

عفو کن ای خوب روی خوب کار ** آن چه گفتم از جنون اندر گذار

Pardon, O man of goodly countenance and goodly behaviour: let pass that which I said in frenzy.”

گفت اگر من گفتمی رمزی از آن ** زهره‏ی تو آب گشتی آن زمان‏

He answered, “If I had uttered a hint of it, your gall would instantly have turned to water.

گر ترا من گفتمی اوصاف مار ** ترس از جانت بر آوردی دمار 1910

Had I told you the qualities of the snake, terror would have made you give up the ghost.”

مصطفی فرمود اگر گویم به راست ** شرح آن دشمن که در جان شماست‏

Mustafá (Mohammed) said, ‘If I should tell aright the description of the enemy which is in your souls,

زهره‏های پر دلان هم بر درد ** نه رود ره نه غم کاری خورد

The gall-bladders even of courageous men would burst: he (such a one) would neither go his way nor care for any work.