خوش همی‌آید مرا آواز او ** وآن خدایا گفتن و آن راز او

It pleases Me (to hear) his (piteous) voice and his cries of ‘O Lord’ and his secret (prayer),

وانک اندر لابه و در ماجرا ** می‌فریباند بهر نوعی مرا

And how in supplication and pleading (with Me) he would fain beguile Me with every sort (of persuasion).”

طوطیان و بلبلان را از پسند ** از خوش آوازی قفس در می‌کنند

Parrots and nightingales are put into cages because they give pleasure by their sweet song;

زاغ را و چغد را اندر قفس ** کی کنند این خود نیامد در قصص

(But) how should crows and owls be caged? This has never been recorded in story.

پیش شاهد باز چون آید دو تن ** آن یکی کمپیر و دیگر خوش‌ذقن 4230

When two persons, one of them a decrepit old man and the other a fair-chinned (youth), come to (a baker who is) an admirer of handsome boys,

هر دو نان خواهند او زوتر فطیر ** آرد و کمپیر را گوید که گیر

And both ask for bread, he will at once fetch the unleavened bread and bid the old man take it;

وآن دگر را که خوشستش قد و خد ** کی دهد نان بل به تاخیر افکند

But how should he (immediately) give bread to the other, by whose figure and cheeks (countenance) he is pleased? Nay, he will delay him

گویدش بنشین زمانی بی‌گزند ** که به خانه نان تازه می‌پزند

And say to him, “Sit down a (little) while, ’twill do (thee) no harm; for the new bread is baking in the house”;

چون رسد آن نان گرمش بعد کد ** گویدش بنشین که حلوا می‌رسد

And when, after the work (of baking is finished), the hot bread is brought to him (the youth), he (the baker) will say to him, “Sit down, for halwá (sweetmeat) is coming.”

هم برین فن داردارش می‌کند ** وز ره پنهان شکارش می‌کند 4235

In this same fashion he is always detaining him and seeking covertly to make him his prey,