Hey, begone ! Cut short this palaver ! Do not cast thyself and us into woe!"
هین برو کوتاه کن این قیل و قال ** خویش و ما را در میفکن در وبال
How the guest answered them and adduced the parable of the guardian of the cornfield who, by making a noise with the tomtom, sought to drive away from the cornfield a camel on whose back they were beating the big kettle-drum of (Sultan) Mahmúd.
جواب گفتن مهمان ایشان را و مثل آوردن بدفع کردن حارس کشت به بانگ دف از کشت شتری را کی کوس محمودی بر پشت او زدندی
He said, “O friends, I am not one of the devils, that (the strength of) my sinews should fail at a single lá hawl.
گفت ای یاران از آن دیوان نیم ** که ز لا حولی ضعیف آید پیم
A boy, who was the guardian of a cornfield, used to beat a tomtom in order to keep off the birds,
کودکی کو حارس کشتی بدی ** طبلکی در دفع مرغان می‌زدی
So that the birds, at (the sound of) the tomtom, were scared away from the field, and the field became safe from evil birds.4090
تا رمیدی مرغ زان طبلک ز کشت ** کشت از مرغان بد بی خوف گشت
When the Sultan, the noble King Mahmúd, pitched a great tent in that neighbourhood as he passed on the way
چونک سلطان شاه محمود کریم ** برگذر زد آن طرف خیمه‌ی عظیم
With an army like the stars of heaven (in number), numerous and victorious, one that pierces the ranks (of the enemy) and takes possession of empire—
با سپاهی همچو استاره‌ی اثیر ** انبه و پیروز و صفدر ملک‌گیر
There was a camel that carried the kettle-drum: ’twas a Bactrian (camel), going in front (of the army) like a cock:
اشتری بد کو بدی حمال کوس ** بختیی بد پیش‌رو همچون خروس
Day and night he (the driver) used loudly to beat the big kettle-drum and the (ordinary) drum on its back in returning (from an expedition) and in setting out.
بانگ کوس و طبل بر وی روز و شب ** می‌زدی اندر رجوع و در طلب
That camel entered the cornfield, and the boy beat his tom--tom to protect the corn.4095
اندر آن مزرع در آمد آن شتر ** کودک آن طبلک بزد در حفظ بر
An intelligent man said to him, ‘Don't beat the tomtom, for he (the camel) is well-seasoned by the drum; he is accustomed to it.
عاقلی گفتش مزن طبلک که او ** پخته‌ی طبلست با آنشست خو