آن یکی می‌زد سحوری بر دری ** درگهی بود و رواق مهتری
A certain man was drumming at a certain gate to announce the sahúr: ’twas a court-house and the pavilion of a grandee.
نیم‌شب می‌زد سحوری را به جد ** گفت او را قایلی کای مستمد
(Whilst) he was beating his drum vigorously at midnight, some one said to him, “O thou who art seeking (the means of) support,
اولا وقت سحر زن این سحور ** نیم‌شب نبود گه این شر و شور
Firstly, give this call to the sahúr at daybreak: midnight is not the time for (making) this disturbance;
دیگر آنک فهم کن ای بوالهوس ** که درین خانه درون خود هست کس
And secondly, observe, O man of vain desire, whether in fact there is any one inside this house at midnight.
کس درینجا نیست جز دیو و پری ** روزگار خود چه یاوه می‌بری 850
There is nobody here except demons and spirits: why art thou trifling thy time away?
بهر گوشی می‌زنی دف گوش کو ** هوش باید تا بداند هوش کو
Thou art beating thy tambourine for the sake of an ear: where is the ear? Intelligence is needed in order to know (thy purpose): where is the intelligence?”
گفت گفتی بشنو از چاکر جواب ** تا نمانی در تحیر و اضطراب
He replied, “You have said (your say): (now) hear the answer from your (humble) servant, that you may not remain in bewilderment and confusion.
گرچه هست این دم بر تو نیم‌شب ** نزد من نزدیک شد صبح طرب
Although in your opinion this moment is midnight, in my view the dawn of delight is near at hand.
هر شکستی پیش من پیروز شد ** جمله شبها پیش چشمم روز شد
In my sight every defeat has been turned to victory, in my eyes all nights have been turned to day.
پیش تو خونست آب رود نیل ** نزد من خون نیست آبست ای نبیل 855
To you the water of the river Nile seems blood; to me it is not blood, ’tis water, O noble one.