- Worldly reputation is a strong chain: in the Way how is this less than a chain of iron?
- که اشتهار خلق بند محکم است ** در ره این از بند آهن کی کم است
- The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.
- قصه‌‌ی بازرگان که طوطی محبوس او او را پیغام داد به طوطیان هندوستان هنگام رفتن به تجارت
- There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.
- بود بازرگانی او را طوطیی ** در قفس محبوس زیبا طوطیی
- When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,
- چون که بازرگان سفر را ساز کرد ** سوی هندستان شدن آغاز کرد
- Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”
- هر غلام و هر کنیزک را ز جود ** گفت بهر تو چه آرم گوی زود
- Each one asked him for some object of desire: that good man gave his promise to them all. 1550
- هر یکی از وی مرادی خواست کرد ** جمله را وعده بداد آن نیک مرد
- He said to the parrot, “What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”
- گفت طوطی را چه خواهی ارمغان ** کارمت از خطه‌‌ی هندوستان
- The parrot said to him, “When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),
- گفتش آن طوطی که آن جا طوطیان ** چون ببینی کن ز حال من بیان
- ‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you, is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.
- کان فلان طوطی که مشتاق شماست ** از قضای آسمان در حبس ماست
- She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn) from you the means and way of being rightly guided.
- بر شما کرد او سلام و داد خواست ** وز شما چاره و ره ارشاد خواست
- She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you) should give up the ghost and die here in separation? 1555
- گفت می‌‌شاید که من در اشتیاق ** جان دهم اینجا بمیرم در فراق