من بدانم در دل من روشنیست ** بایدت گفتن هر آنچ گفتنیست

I shall know, (for) there is light in my heart: thou must tell everything that ought to be told.

در دل شاهان تو ماهی دان سطبر ** گرچه گه گه شد ز غفلت زیر ابر

Know that in the heart of kings there is a mighty moon, though sometimes it is overclouded by forgetfulness.

یک چراغی هست در دل وقت گشت ** وقت خشم و حرص آید زیر طشت 3960

In the heart there is a lamp with which one goes about (as a rule); at times of anger and concupiscence it is put under the basin.

آن فراست این زمان یار منست ** گر نگویی آنچ حق گفتنست

That clairvoyance accompanies me just now: unless thou tell that which ’tis thy duty to tell,

من بدین شمشیر برم گردنت ** سود نبود خود بهانه کردنت

I will sever thy neck with this scimitar: evasion will not avail thee at all.

ور بگویی راست آزادت کنم ** حق یزدان نشکنم شادت کنم

And if thou tell the truth, I will set thee free: I will not violate the duty I owe to God, I will make thee glad.”

هفت مصحف آن زمان برهم نهاد ** خورد سوگند و چنین تقریر داد

At the same moment he placed seven Qur’áns one on the top of another and swore an oath and thus confirmed (his promise).

فاش کردن آن کنیزک آن راز را با خلیفه از زخم شمشیر و اکراه خلیفه کی راست گو سبب این خنده را و گر نه بکشمت

How the girl disclosed the secret to the Caliph in fear of (having her head cut off by) a blow of the sword, and how she was forced (to speak) by the Caliph (who said), “Give a true account of the cause of thy laughter or else I will kill thee.”

زن چو عاجز شد بگفت احوال را ** مردی آن رستم صد زال را 3965

When the woman became (found herself) helpless, she related what had happened (concerning) the manliness of that Rustam who was the son of a hundred Záls.

شرح آن گردک که اندر راه بود ** یک به یک با آن خلیفه وا نمود

She described to the Caliph, point by point, the bride-chamber that was (prepared for her) on the route (of the march),

شیر کشتن سوی خیمه آمدن ** وان ذکر قایم چو شاخ کرگدن

His killing the lion and returning to the tent pene erecto tanquam cornu rhinocerotis; [His killing the lion and returning to the tent with the penis erect like the horn of a rhinoceros;]