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آنک بر دیوار افتد آفتاب ** آن‌چنان نبود کز آب و اضطراب
- (The radiance of) the sun falling on a wall is not the same as (when it is reflected) from water and quivering movement.
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چون دمی حیران شد از وی شاه فرد ** روی خود سوی عماد الملک کرد 3455
- After the peerless king had been astounded by (gazing at) it (the horse) for a moment, he turned his face to the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk,
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کای اچی بس خوب اسپی نیست این ** از بهشتست این مگر نه از زمین
- Saying, “O vizier, is not this an exceedingly beautiful horse? Surely it belongs to Paradise, not to the earth.”
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پس عماد الملک گفتش ای خدیو ** چون فرشته گردد از میل تو دیو
- Thereupon the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk said to him, “O emperor, a demon is made angelic by thy (fond) inclination.
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در نظر آنچ آوری گردید نیک ** بس گش و رعناست این مرکب ولیک
- That on which thou lookest (fondly) becomes (appears good (to thee). This steed is very handsome and graceful, and yet
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هست ناقص آن سر اندر پیکرش ** چون سر گاوست گویی آن سرش
- The head is a blemish in its (elegant) form: you might say that its head is like the head of an ox.”
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در دل خوارمشه این دم کار کرد ** اسپ را در منظر شه خوار کرد 3460
- These words worked on the heart of the Khwárizmsháh and caused the horse to be cheap in the king's sight.
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چون غرض دلاله گشت و واصفی ** از سه گز کرباس یابی یوسفی
- When prejudice becomes a go-between and describer (of beauty), you may get (buy) a Joseph for three ells of linen.
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چونک هنگام فراق جان شود ** دیو دلال در ایمان شود
- When the hour arrives for the spirit's parting (from the body), the Devil becomes a broker (depreciator) of the pearl of Faith,
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پس فروشد ابله ایمان را شتاب ** اندر آن تنگی به یک ابریق آب
- And then in that (moment of) sore distress the fool hastily sells his faith for a jug of water;