- An informer said to the Caliph of Egypt, “The King of Mawsil is wedded to a houri.
- مر خلیفه‌ی مصر را غماز گفت ** که شه موصل به حوری گشت جفت
- He holds in his arms a girl like whom there is no (other) beauty in the world.
- یک کنیزک دارد او اندر کنار ** که به عالم نیست مانندش نگار
- She does not admit of description, for her loveliness is beyond (all) limits: here is her portrait on paper.”
- در بیان ناید که حسنش بی‌حدست ** نقش او اینست که اندر کاغذست
- When the Emperor saw the portrait on the paper, he became distraught and the cup dropped from his hand.
- نقش در کاغذ چو دید آن کیقباد ** خیره گشت و جام از دستش فتاد
- Immediately he despatched to Mawsil a captain with a very mighty army, 3835
- پهلوانی را فرستاد آن زمان ** سوی موصل با سپاه بس گران
- Saying, “If he will not give up that moon (beauty) to thee, rase his court and palace to the ground;
- که اگر ندهد به تو آن ماه را ** برکن از بن آن در و درگاه را
- But if he give her up, leave him alone and bring the moon (hither), that on the earth I may embrace the moon.”
- ور دهد ترکش کن و مه را بیار ** تا کشم من بر زمین مه در کنار
- The captain set out towards Mawsil with his retinue and with thousands of heroes and drums and banners.
- پهلوان شد سوی موصل با حشم ** با هزاران رستم و طبل و علم
- (With an army) like innumerable locusts (gathered) round the crops, he resolved to destroy the inhabitants of the city.
- چون ملخها بی‌عدد بر گرد کشت ** قاصد اهلاک اهل شهر گشت
- On every side he brought into hostile action a mangonel (ballista) like Mount Qáf. 3840
- هر نواحی منجنیقی از نبرد ** هم‌چو کوه قاف او بر کار کرد