پس بیامد با دو مشک پر روان ** سوی خواجه از نواحی کاروان
Then from the neighbourhood of the caravan he came hastening with two full water-skins to his master.
دیدن خواجه غلام خود را سپید و ناشناختن کی اوست و گفتن کی غلام مرا تو کشته‌ای خونت گرفت و خدا ترا به دست من انداخت
How the master saw his slave white and did not recognise him and said, “Thou hast killed my slave: the murder hath found thee out, and God hath thrown thee into my hands.”
خواجه از دورش بدید و خیره ماند ** از تحیر اهل آن ده را بخواند
The master espied him from afar and remained bewildered: from amazement he called (to his presence) the people of the village.
راویه‌ی ما اشتر ما هست این ** پس کجا شد بنده‌ی زنگی‌جبین
“This,” said he, “is my water-skin and my camel: where, then, is my swart-browed slave gone?
این یکی بدریست می‌آید ز دور ** می‌زند بر نور روز از روش نور
This man coming from afar is (like) a full-moon: the light from his countenance strikes upon (and prevails against) the daylight.
کو غلام ما مگر سرگشته شد ** یا بدو گرگی رسید و کشته شد3180
Where is my slave? Perchance he has lost his way, or a wolf has overtaken him and he has been killed.”
چون بیامد پیش گفتش کیستی ** از یمن زادی و یا ترکیستی
When he came before him, he (the master) said, “Who art thou? Art thou a native of Yemen or a Turcoman?
گو غلامم را چه کردی راست گو ** گر بکشتی وا نما حیلت مجو
Tell (me), what hast thou done to my slave? Speak the truth! If thou hast killed him, declare it! Do not seek evasion.”
گفت اگر کشتم بتو چون آمدم ** چون به پای خود درین خون آمدم
He replied, “If I have killed him, how have I come to thee? How have I come with my own feet into this blood?”
کو غلام من بگفت اینک منم ** کرد دست فضل یزدان روشنم
(He asked again), “Where is my slave?” He (the slave) said, “Lo, I am (he): the hand of God's grace hath made me resplendent.”
هی چه می‌گویی غلام من کجاست ** هین نخواهی رست از من جز براست3185
“Eh, what art thou saying? Where is my slave? Hark, thou wilt not escape from me except by (telling) the truth.”