شاعر اندر انتظارش پیر شد ** پس زبون این غم و تدبیر شد
In expectation of it (the reward) the poet grew old; then he was crushed by this anxiety and making shift to provide (the means of livelihood),
گفت اگر زر نه که دشنامم دهی ** تا رهد جانم ترا باشم رهی
And said (to the vizier), “If there is no gold (for me), please give me abuse, so that my soul may be delivered (from expectation) (and that) I may be thy (devoted) slave.
انتظارم کشت باری گو برو ** تا رهد این جان مسکین از گرو1225
Expectation has killed me: at least bid me go, that this wretched soul may be delivered from bondage.”
بعد از آنش داد ربع عشر آن ** ماند شاعر اندر اندیشه‌ی گران
After that, he (the vizier) gave him the fortieth part of that (gift): the poet remained in heavy thought,
کانچنان نقد و چنان بسیار بود ** این که دیر اشکفت دسته‌ی خار بود
(Thinking), “That (former gift) was so promptly paid and was so much: this one that blossomed late was (only) a handful of thorns.”
پس بگفتندش که آن دستور راد ** رفت از دنیا خدا مزدت دهاد
Then they (the courtiers) said to him, “That generous vizier has departed from this life: may God reward thee!
که مضاعف زو همی‌شد آن عطا ** کم همی‌افتاد بخشش را خطا
For those gifts were always multiplied (increased in amount) by him: there was no fault to be found with the donations (then);
این زمان او رفت و احسان را ببرد ** او نمرد الحق بلی احسان بمرد1230
(But) now, he is gone and has taken beneficence away (with him): he is not dead, (but) beneficence is dead (in this world), yea, verily.
رفت از ما صاحب راد و رشید ** صاحب سلاخ درویشان رسید
The generous and upright minister is gone from us; the minister who is a flayer of the poor has arrived.
رو بگیر این را و زینجا شب گریز ** تا نگیرد با تو این صاحب‌ستیز
Go, take this (money) and flee from here by night, lest this minister pick a quarrel with thee.