گرز را بگرفت سرهنگی بدست ** گفت نه مطرب کشی این دم بدست

(But) an officer seized the mace with his hand, saying, “Nay; ’tis wicked to kill the minstrel at this moment.”

گفت این تکرار بی حد و مرش ** کوفت طبعم را بکوبم من سرش

He (the Turk) replied, “This endless and countless repetition of his has pounded my nerves: I will pound his head.

قلتبانا می‌ندانی گه مخور ** ور همی‌دانی بزن مقصود بر

O cuckold, (if) you don't know, don't talk nonsense; and if you do know, play (a tune) to the purpose.

آن بگو ای گیج که می‌دانیش ** می‌ندانم می‌ندانم در مکش

Tell of that which you know, O crazy fool: don't draw out (repeat continually) ‘I know not, I know not.’

من بپرسم کز کجایی هی مری ** تو بگویی نه ز بلخ و نه از هری 715

(Suppose) I ask, ‘Where do you come from, hypocrite, eh?’ you will say, ‘Not from Balkh, and not from Herát,

نه ز بغداد و نه موصل نه طراز ** در کشی در نی و نی راه دراز

Not from Baghdád and not from Mosul and not from Tiráz’: you will draw out a long journey in (saying) ‘not’ and ‘not.’

خود بگو من از کجاام باز ره ** هست تنقیح مناط اینجا بله

Just say where you come from and escape (from further discussion): in this case it is folly to elaborate the point at issue.

یا بپرسیدم چه خوردی ناشتاب ** تو بگویی نه شراب و نه کباب

Or (suppose) I asked, ‘What had you for breakfast?’ you would say, ‘Not wine and not roast-meat,

نه قدید و نه ثرید و نه عدس ** آنچ خوردی آن بگو تنها و بس

Not qadíd and not tharíd and not lentils’: tell me what you did eat, only (that) and no more.

این سخن‌خایی دراز از بهر چیست ** گفت مطرب زانک مقصودم خفیست 720

Wherefore is this long palaver?” “Because,” said the minstrel, “my object is recondite.