گفت کودک گریه‌ام زانست زار ** که مرا مادر در آن شهر و دیار

The boy said, “The cause of my weeping bitterly is that in yonder city and country my mother

از توم تهدید کردی هر زمان ** بینمت در دست محمود ارسلان

Was always threatening me with thee, (saying), ‘May I see you in the hands of the lion, Mahmúd!’

پس پدر مر مادرم را در جواب ** جنگ کردی کین چه خشمست و عذاب

Then my father would wrangle with my mother (and say) in reply, ‘What wrath and torment is this (that you would inflict on him)?

می‌نیابی هیچ نفرینی دگر ** زین چنین نفرین مهلک سهلتر

Cannot you find any other curse lighter than this deadly curse?

سخت بی‌رحمی و بس سنگین‌دلی ** که به صد شمشیر او را قاتلی 1395

You are very pitiless and exceedingly hard-hearted, for you are (virtually) killing him with a hundred swords.’

من ز گفت هر دو حیران گشتمی ** در دل افتادی مرا بیم و غمی

I used to be dismayed by the talk of both: a (great) terror and pain would come into my heart,

تا چه دوزخ‌خوست محمود ای عجب ** که مثل گشتست در ویل و کرب

(Thinking), ‘Oh, wonderful! What a hellish person Mahmúd must be, since he has become proverbial for woe and anguish!’

من همی‌لرزیدمی از بیم تو ** غافل از اکرام و از تعظیم تو

I used to tremble in fear of thee, being ignorant of thy gracious treatment and high regard.

مادرم کو تا ببیند این زمان ** مر مرا بر تخت ای شاه جهان

Where is my mother, that she might see me now (seated) on the throne, O King of the world?”

فقر آن محمود تست ای بی‌سعت ** طبع ازو دایم همی ترساندت 1400

(Spiritual) poverty is your Mahmúd, O man without affluence: your (sensual) nature is always making you afraid of it.