باز امروز این چنین زرد و ترش ** دست بر لب می‌زند کای شه خمش 2535
(How strange, then, that) to-day, on the contrary, he (Dalqak), pale and grim like this, is laying his hand on his lips as though to say, “Hush, O King!”
وهم در وهم و خیال اندر خیال ** شاه را تا خود چه آید از نکال
Foreboding on foreboding and fancy on fancy (occurred) to the king (as he wondered) what chastisement would come (upon him),
که دل شه با غم و پرهیز بود ** زانک خوارمشاه بس خون‌ریز بود
For the king's heart was anxious and alarmed because the Khwárizmsháh was very bloodthirsty,
بس شهان آن طرف را کشته بود ** یا به حیله یا به سطوت آن عنود
And that perverse (tyrant) had killed many kings in that region either by craft or violence.
این شه ترمد ازو در وهم بود ** وز فن دلقک خود آن وهمش فزود
This King of Tirmid was apprehensive of (being attacked by) him, and his apprehension was increased by the artifice of Dalqak.
گفت زوتر بازگو تا حال چیست ** این چنین آشوب و شور تو ز کیست 2540
He said, “Be quick! Tell (me) what is the matter. Who is the cause of your being so perturbed and agitated?”
گفت من در ده شنیدم آنک شاه ** زد منادی بر سر هر شاه‌راه
He replied, “I heard in the country that the king had proclaimed on every highway
که کسی خواهم که تازد در سه روز ** تا سمرقند و دهم او را کنوز
That he required some one to run to Samarcand in three days and would bestow (his) treasures (on the courier).
من شتابیدم بر تو بهر آن ** تا بگویم که ندارم آن توان
I hurried to you in order to say that I am not able to do it.
این چنین چستی نیاید از چو من ** باری این اومید را بر من متن
For one like me such agility is impossible: at all events do not expect this of me.”