ظالمان مردند و ماند آن ظلمها ** وای جانی کو کند مکر و دها

The unjust died, and those acts of injustice remained: alas for the soul that practises deceit and fraud!

گفت پیغامبر خنک آن را که او ** شد ز دنیا ماند ازو فعل نکو

The Prophet said, “Blest is he who departed from this world and left good deeds behind him.”

مرد محسن لیک احسانش نمرد ** نزد یزدان دین و احسان نیست خرد

The beneficent man died, but his beneficence died not: with God, religion (piety) and beneficence are not of small account.

وای آنکو مرد و عصیانش نمود ** تا نپنداری به مرگ او جان ببرد 1205

Alas for him who died and whose disobedience (to God) died not: beware of thinking that by death he saved his soul (from punishment).

این رها کن زانک شاعر بر گذر ** وام‌دارست و قوی محتاج زر

Dismiss this (topic), for the poet is on the way—in debt and mightily in need of gold.

برد شاعر شعر سوی شهریار ** بر امید بخشش و احسان پار

The poet brought the poem to the king in hope of (receiving) last year's donation and benefit—

نازنین شعری پر از در درست ** بر امید و بوی اکرام نخست

A charming poem full of flawless pearls, in hope and expectation of the first (former) munificence.

شاه هم بر خوی خود گفتش هزار ** چون چنین بد عادت آن شهریار

The Sháh indeed, according to his habit, ordered a thousand (dinars to be paid) to him, since such was the custom of that monarch;

لیک این بار آن وزیر پر ز جود ** بر براق عز ز دنیا رفته بود 1210

But, on this occasion, the bountiful vizier had departed from the present life, (mounted) on the Buráq of glory,

بر مقام او وزیر نو رئیس ** گشته لیکن سخت بی‌رحم و خسیس

And in his place a new vizier had assumed authority; but (he was) very pitiless and mean.

گفت ای شه خرجها داریم ما ** شاعری را نبود این بخشش جزا

He said, “O king, we have (great) outlays: this donation is not the (fitting) reward for a poet.

من به ربع عشر این ای مغتنم ** مرد شاعر را خوش و راضی کنم

With a fortieth part of this (sum), O thou (whose favour is) eagerly sought, I will make the poet man happy and content.”

خلق گفتندش که او از پیش‌دست ** ده هزاران زین دلاور برده است

The people said to him, “He carried away a sum of ten thousand (dinars) in ready money from this valiant (king).

بعد شکر کلک خایی چون کند ** بعد سلطانی گدایی چون کند 1215

After (having eaten) sugar, how should he chew (the empty) cane? After having been a sultan, how should he practise beggary?”

گفت بفشارم ورا اندر فشار ** تا شود زار و نزار از انتظار

He (the vizier) replied, “I will squeeze him in torment, that he may be made wretched and worn out by waiting;

آنگه ار خاکش دهم از راه من ** در رباید هم‌چو گلبرگ از چمن

Then, if I give him earth from the road, he will snatch it as (though it were) rose-leaves from the garden.

این به من بگذار که استادم درین ** گر تقاضاگر بود هر آتشین

Leave this to me, for I am expert in this, even if the claimant be fiery (hot and fierce).

از ثریا گر بپرد تا ثری ** نرم گردد چون ببیند او مرا

Though he (be able to) fly from the Pleiades to the earth, he will become meek when he sees me.”

گفت سلطانش برو فرمان تراست ** لیک شادش کن که نیکوگوی ماست 1220

The king said to him, “Go: ’tis for thee to command; but make him happy, for he is my eulogist.”

گفت او را و دو صد اومیدلیس ** تو به من بگذار این بر من نویس

He (the vizier) said, “Leave him and two hundred (other) lickers-up of hope to me, and write this (down) against me.”

پس فکندش صاحب اندر انتظار ** شد زمستان و دی و آمد بهار

Then the minister threw him into (the pains of) expectation: winter and December passed and spring came.

شاعر اندر انتظارش پیر شد ** پس زبون این غم و تدبیر شد

In expectation of it (the reward) the poet grew old; then he was crushed by this anxiety and making shift to provide (the means of livelihood),

گفت اگر زر نه که دشنامم دهی ** تا رهد جانم ترا باشم رهی

And said (to the vizier), “If there is no gold (for me), please give me abuse, so that my soul may be delivered (from expectation) (and that) I may be thy (devoted) slave.

انتظارم کشت باری گو برو ** تا رهد این جان مسکین از گرو 1225

Expectation has killed me: at least bid me go, that this wretched soul may be delivered from bondage.”

بعد از آنش داد ربع عشر آن ** ماند شاعر اندر اندیشه‌ی گران

After that, he (the vizier) gave him the fortieth part of that (gift): the poet remained in heavy thought,