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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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