شهر شهر از بهر این مطلوب گشت ** نه جزیره ماند و نه کوه و نه دشت‏

He roamed from town to town for this object: neither island nor mountain nor plain was left (unvisited).

هر که را پرسید کردش ریشخند ** کاین که جوید جز مگر مجنون بند

Every one whom he asked made a mock of him, saying, “Who would search after this, unless perhaps a madman in confinement?”

بس کسان صفعش زدند اندر مزاح ** بس کسان گفتند ای صاحب فلاح‏

Many slapped him jocosely; many said, “O fortunate man,

جستجوی چون تو زیرک سینه صاف ** کی تهی باشد کجا باشد گزاف‏

How should the enquiry of a clever and clear-minded person like you be devoid (of result)? How should it be vain?”

وین مراعاتش یکی صفعی دگر ** وین ز صفع آشکارا سخت‏تر 3650

And this (ironical) respect was to him another slap, and it was harder (to bear) than the visible slap.

می‏ستودندش به تسخر کای بزرگ ** در فلان اقلیم بس هول و سترگ‏

They extolled him sarcastically, saying, “O great sir, in such and such a very tremendous and huge country,

در فلان بیشه درختی هست سبز ** بس بلند و پهن و هر شاخیش گبز

In such and such a forest there is a green tree, very tall and broad, and every branch of it is big.”

قاصد شه بسته در جستن کمر ** می‏شنید از هر کسی نوعی خبر

The king's envoy, who had braced his belt for the quest, was hearing a different kind of report from every one;

بس سیاحت کرد آن جا سالها ** می‏فرستادش شهنشه مالها

There for years he travelled much, (whilst) the king kept sending money to him.

چون بسی دید اندر آن غربت تعب ** عاجز آمد آخر الامر از طلب‏ 3655

After he had suffered much fatigue in that foreign land, at last he became too exhausted to seek (any longer).