شاعری آورد شعری پیش شاه ** بر امید خلعت و اکرام و جاه
A poet brought a poem before the king in hope of (receiving) robes of honour and bounty and rank.
شاه مکرم بود فرمودش هزار ** از زر سرخ و کرامات و نثار
The king was munificent: he ordered him (to receive) a thousand (dinars) of red gold and bounties and largesse.
پس وزیرش گفت کین اندک بود ** ده هزارش هدیه وا ده تا رود
Then the vizier said to him, “This is (too) little: bestow (on him) a gift of ten thousand (dinars), that he may depart (satisfied).
از چنو شاعر نس از تو بحردست ** ده هزاری که بگفتم اندکست
From a poet like him intellect (displays itself); from thee, whose hand is like the ocean (in bounty), the (sum of) ten thousand (dinars) which I mentioned is little.”
فقه گفت آن شاه را و فلسفه ** تا برآمد عشر خرمن از کفه1160
He argued and reasoned with the king until the tithe on the threshed grain was made up out of the unthreshed ears of corn (which remain on the threshing-floor).
ده هزارش داد و خلعت درخورش ** خانه‌ی شکر و ثنا گشت آن سرش
He (the king) gave him the ten thousand (dinars) and the robes of honour suitable to him: his head became a house of thanksgiving and praise.
پس تفحص کرد کین سعی کی بود ** شاه را اهلیت من کی نمود
Then he made inquiry, saying, “Whose work was this? Who declared my merit to the king?”
پس بگفتندش فلان‌الدین وزیر ** آن حسن نام و حسن خلق و ضمیر
So they told him, “(It was) —— al-Dín, the vizier, he whose name is Hasan and whose disposition and heart are good (hasan).”
در ثنای او یکی شعری دراز ** بر نبشت و سوی خانه رفت باز
He wrote a long poem in praise of him (the vizier) and returned home.
بی‌زبان و لب همان نعمای شاه ** مدح شه می‌کرد و خلعتهای شاه1165
Without tongue or lip (mutely) that bounty of the king and those robes of honour bestowed by the king were praising the king.
باز آمدن آن شاعر بعد چند سال به امید همان صله و هزار دینار فرمودن بر قاعده‌ی خویش و گفتن وزیر نو هم حسن نام شاه را کی این سخت بسیارست و ما را خرجهاست و خزینه خالیست و من او را بده یک آن خشنود کنم
How after several years the poet came back in the hope of (receiving) the same reward, and how the king according to his custom ordered a thousand dinars to be given to him, and how the new vizier, who was also named Hasan, said to the king, "This is very much: we have (great) expenses and the treasury is empty, and I will satisfy him with a tenth of that (sum)."
بعد سالی چند بهر رزق و کشت ** شاعر از فقر و عوز محتاج گشت
After some years the poet, on account of poverty and destitution, became in need for daily bread and seed-produce (the means of livelihood).
گفت وقت فقر و تنگی دو دست ** جست و جوی آزموده بهترست
He said, “At the time of poverty and close-handedness (want), it is better to seek out one who has been tried.
درگهی را که آزمودم در کرم ** حاجت نو را بدان جانب برم
The court which I have tried in regard to generosity—I will carry the new request to the same quarter.”
معنی الله گفت آن سیبویه ** یولهون فی الحوائج هم لدیه
That (celebrated) Síbawayh said (that) the meaning of (the name) Alláh (is that) they (His worshippers) take refuge (yawlahúna) with Him in (all) their needs.