در فلان موضع یکی گنجی است زفت ** در پی آن بایدت تا مصر رفت

In such-and-such a spot is a great treasure: thou must go to Cairo in quest of it.

بی‌درنگی هین ز بغداد ای نژند ** رو به سوی مصر و منبت‌گاه قند

Hark, O wretched man, go without any delay from Baghdád to Cairo and the home of sugar-candy.”

چون ز بغداد آمد او تا سوی مصر ** گرم شد پشتش چو دید او روی مصر

When he departed from Baghdád (and came) to Cairo, at the sight of Cairo his courage was restored,

بر امید وعده‌ی هاتف که گنج ** یابد اندر مصر بهر دفع رنج 4245

(For he was) in hope of (the fulfilment of) the promise given by the heavenly Voice that he would find in Cairo the treasure to remove his trouble—

در فلان کوی و فلان موضع دفین ** هست گنجی سخت نادر بس گزین

“In such and such a quarter and such and such a spot there is a buried treasure exceedingly rare and very choice.”

لیک نفقه‌ش بیش و کم چیزی نماند ** خواست دقی بر عوام‌الناس راند

But of money for expenses, great or small, he had nothing left; and he was about to go and beg from the common folk,

لیک شرم و همتش دامن گرفت ** خویش را در صبر افشردن گرفت

But (feelings of) shame and honour held him back, (so that) he began to plant himself firmly on fortitude.

باز نفسش از مجاعت بر طپید ** ز انتجاع و خواستن چاره ندید

(Meanwhile), however, his soul fluttered (in distress) on account of hunger: he saw no means of escape from foraging and begging.

گفت شب بیرون روم من نرم نرم ** تا ز ظلمت نایدم در کدیه شرم 4250

“At nightfall,” he said (to himself), “I will slip out very quietly, in order that I may beg in the dark without feeling ashamed.

هم‌چو شبکوکی کنم شب ذکر و بانگ ** تا رسد از بامهاام نیم دانگ

At night I will chant (litanies) and bawl like a night-mendicant, that half a dáng may come to me from the roofs.”