مرد محسن لیک احسانش نمرد ** نزد یزدان دین و احسان نیست خرد

The beneficent man died, but his beneficence died not: with God, religion (piety) and beneficence are not of small account.

وای آنکو مرد و عصیانش نمود ** تا نپنداری به مرگ او جان ببرد 1205

Alas for him who died and whose disobedience (to God) died not: beware of thinking that by death he saved his soul (from punishment).

این رها کن زانک شاعر بر گذر ** وام‌دارست و قوی محتاج زر

Dismiss this (topic), for the poet is on the way—in debt and mightily in need of gold.

برد شاعر شعر سوی شهریار ** بر امید بخشش و احسان پار

The poet brought the poem to the king in hope of (receiving) last year's donation and benefit—

نازنین شعری پر از در درست ** بر امید و بوی اکرام نخست

A charming poem full of flawless pearls, in hope and expectation of the first (former) munificence.

شاه هم بر خوی خود گفتش هزار ** چون چنین بد عادت آن شهریار

The Sháh indeed, according to his habit, ordered a thousand (dinars to be paid) to him, since such was the custom of that monarch;

لیک این بار آن وزیر پر ز جود ** بر براق عز ز دنیا رفته بود 1210

But, on this occasion, the bountiful vizier had departed from the present life, (mounted) on the Buráq of glory,

بر مقام او وزیر نو رئیس ** گشته لیکن سخت بی‌رحم و خسیس

And in his place a new vizier had assumed authority; but (he was) very pitiless and mean.

گفت ای شه خرجها داریم ما ** شاعری را نبود این بخشش جزا

He said, “O king, we have (great) outlays: this donation is not the (fitting) reward for a poet.

من به ربع عشر این ای مغتنم ** مرد شاعر را خوش و راضی کنم

With a fortieth part of this (sum), O thou (whose favour is) eagerly sought, I will make the poet man happy and content.”