Kings are rubbing their lips joyfully on the dust of thy thresh old, O mighty emperor.
پادشاهان لب همی مالند شاد ** بر ستانه‌ی خاک تو این کیقباد
When the enemy’s horse sees our horse, it turns its face and flees without flogging’.
اسپ یاغی چون ببیند اسپ ما ** رو بگرداند گریزد بی عصا
Hitherto thou hast been worshipped and adored by the (whole) world: (now) thou wilt become the meanest of slaves.2730
تاکنون معبود و مسجود جهان ** بوده‌ای گردی کمینه‌ی بندگان
To go into a thousand fires is better than this, that a lord should become the servant of a slave.
در هزار آتش شدن زین خوشترست ** که خداوندی شود بنده‌پرست
Nay, kill me first, O king of China, that mine eye may not be hold this (servility) in the king.
نه بکش اول مرا ای شاه چین ** تا نبیند چشم من بر شاه این
O emperor, behead me first, that mine eye may not behold this ignominy.
خسروا اول مرا گردن بزن ** تا نبیند این مذلت چشم من
Truly never has there been—and never may there be!—such a thing as this, that the earth should become the sky, and the sky become the earth;
خود نبودست و مبادا این چنین ** که زمین گردون شود گردون زمین
(That) our slaves should become our fellow-servants, (and that) our timorous ones should become those who (cruelly) wound our hearts;2735
بندگان‌مان خواجه‌تاش ما شوند ** بی‌دلان‌مان دلخراش ما شوند
(That our) enemies (should be) bright-eyed and (our) friends blind: then (in that case) the rose-garden has become for us (like) the bottom of the tomb.”
چشم‌روشن دشمنان و دوست کور ** گشت ما را پس گلستان قعر گور
Showing the falsity of Hámán’s speech— the curse (of God) be upon him!
تزییف سخن هامان علیه‌اللعنه
He did not know friend from enemy: he was playing back gammon (all) wrong, like a blind man.
دوست از دشمن همی نشناخت او ** نرد را کورانه کژ می‌باخت او