(But) that thorn-removing physician was an expert: putting his hand on one spot after another, he tested (it).
آن حکیم خارچین استاد بود ** دست می‌‌زد جا به جا می‌‌آزمود
He inquired of the girl concerning her friends, by way of narrative,
ز ان کنیزک بر طریق داستان ** باز می‌‌پرسید حال دوستان
And she disclosed to the physician (many) circumstances touching her home and (former) masters and town and dwelling.
با حکیم او قصه‌‌ها می‌‌گفت فاش ** از مقام و خاجگان و شهر تاش
He listened to her story (while) he continued to observe her pulse and its beating,160
سوی قصه گفتنش می‌‌داشت گوش ** سوی نبض و جستنش می‌‌داشت هوش
So that at whosoever's name her pulse should begin to throb, (he might know that) that person is the object of her soul's desire in the world.
تا که نبض از نام کی گردد جهان ** او بود مقصود جانش در جهان‌‌ا ن
He reckoned up the friends and town; then he mentioned another town by name.
دوستان شهر او را بر شمرد ** بعد از آن شهری دگر را نام برد
He said: “When you went forth from your own town, in which town did you live mostly?”
گفت چون بیرون شدی از شهر خویش ** در کدامین شهر بوده ستی تو بیش
She mentioned the name of a certain town and from that too she passed on (to speak of another, and meanwhile) there was no change in the colour of her face or in her pulse.
نام شهری گفت وز آن هم در گذشت ** رنگ روی و نبض او دیگر نگشت
Masters and towns, one by one, she told of, and about dwelling-place and bread and salt.165
خواجگان و شهرها را یک به یک ** باز گفت از جای و از نان و نمک
She told stories of many a town and many a house, (and still) no vein of her quivered nor did her cheek grow pale.
شهر شهر و خانه خانه قصه کرد ** نی رگش جنبید و نی رخ گشت زرد