- Dismiss this (topic), for the poet is on the way—in debt and mightily in need of gold.
- این رها کن زانک شاعر بر گذر ** وامدارست و قوی محتاج زر
- The poet brought the poem to the king in hope of (receiving) last year's donation and benefit—
- برد شاعر شعر سوی شهریار ** بر امید بخشش و احسان پار
- A charming poem full of flawless pearls, in hope and expectation of the first (former) munificence.
- نازنین شعری پر از در درست ** بر امید و بوی اکرام نخست
- The Sháh indeed, according to his habit, ordered a thousand (dinars to be paid) to him, since such was the custom of that monarch;
- شاه هم بر خوی خود گفتش هزار ** چون چنین بد عادت آن شهریار
- But, on this occasion, the bountiful vizier had departed from the present life, (mounted) on the Buráq of glory, 1210
- لیک این بار آن وزیر پر ز جود ** بر براق عز ز دنیا رفته بود
- And in his place a new vizier had assumed authority; but (he was) very pitiless and mean.
- بر مقام او وزیر نو رئیس ** گشته لیکن سخت بیرحم و خسیس
- He said, “O king, we have (great) outlays: this donation is not the (fitting) reward for a poet.
- گفت ای شه خرجها داریم ما ** شاعری را نبود این بخشش جزا
- With a fortieth part of this (sum), O thou (whose favour is) eagerly sought, I will make the poet man happy and content.”
- من به ربع عشر این ای مغتنم ** مرد شاعر را خوش و راضی کنم
- The people said to him, “He carried away a sum of ten thousand (dinars) in ready money from this valiant (king).
- خلق گفتندش که او از پیشدست ** ده هزاران زین دلاور برده است
- After (having eaten) sugar, how should he chew (the empty) cane? After having been a sultan, how should he practise beggary?” 1215
- بعد شکر کلک خایی چون کند ** بعد سلطانی گدایی چون کند