گفت با خود پیش آنک گل‌خورست ** سنگ چه بود گل نکوتر از زرست

To himself he said, “What does the weight matter to one that eats clay? Clay is better than gold.”

هم‌چو آن دلاله که گفت ای پسر ** نو عروسی یافتم بس خوب‌فر 630

As the dallála (go-between) who said, “O son, I have found a very beautiful new bride (for you).

سخت زیبا لیک هم یک چیز هست ** که آن ستیره دختر حلواگرست

(She is) exceedingly pretty, but there is just one thing, that the lady is a confectioner's daughter.”

گفت بهتر این چنین خود گر بود ** دختر او چرب و شیرین‌تر بود

“(All the) better,” said he; “if it is indeed so, his daughter will be fatter and sweeter.”

گر نداری سنگ و سنگت از گلست ** این به و به گل مرا میوه‌ی دلست

“If you have no (proper) weight and your weight is of clay, this is better and better: clay is the fruit (desired) of my heart.”

اندر آن کفه‌ی ترازو ز اعتداد ** او به جای سنگ آن گل را نهاد

He (the druggist) placed the clay, because of its being ready (to his hand), in one scale of the balance instead of the (proper) weight;

پس برای کفه‌ی دیگر به دست ** هم به قدر آن شکر را می‌شکست 635

Then, for the other scale, he was breaking with his hand the equivalent amount of sugar.

چون نبودش تیشه‌ای او دیر ماند ** مشتری را منتظر آنجا نشاند

Since he had no pick-axe, he took a long time and made the customer sit waiting.

رویش آن سو بود گل‌خور ناشکفت ** گل ازو پوشیده دزدیدن گرفت

(Whilst) his face was (turned) towards that (sugar), the clay-eater, unable to restrain himself, began covertly to steal the clay from him,

ترس ترسان که نباید ناگهان ** چشم او بر من فتد از امتحان

Terribly frightened lest his (the druggist's) eye should fall upon him of a sudden for the purpose of testing (his honesty).