It remains amongst them in sore misery, like an Abú Bakr in the city of Sabzawár.
او بمانده در میانشان زارزار ** هم‌چو بوبکری به شهر سبزوار
Story of Mohammed Khwárizmsháh who took by war (force) the city of Sabzawár, where all (the inhabitants) are Ráfizís (extreme Shí‘ites). (When) they begged him to spare their lives, he said, “I will grant (you) security as soon as ye produce from this city a man named Abú Bakr and present him to me.”
حکایت محمد خوارزمشاه کی شهر سبزوار کی همه رافضی باشند به جنگ بگرفت اما جان خواستند گفت آنگه امان دهم کی ازین شهر پیش من به هدیه ابوبکر نامی بیارید
Mohammed Alp Ulugh Khwárizmsháh marched to battle against Sabzawár, (the city) full of refuge (for the wicked).845
شد محمد الپ الغ خوارزمشاه ** در قتال سبزوار پر پناه
His troops reduced them (the inhabitants) to straits; his army fell to killing the foe.
تنگشان آورد لشکرهای او ** اسپهش افتاد در قتل عدو
They prostrated themselves before him, crying, “Mercy! Make us thy thralls, (but) spare our lives!
سجده آوردند پیشش کالامان ** حلقه‌مان در گوش کن وا بخش جان
Whatever thou requirest (in the way of) tribute or presents will come to thee from us with increase (abundantly) at every fixed time (of payment).
هر خراج و صلتی که بایدت ** آن ز ما هر موسمی افزایدت
Our lives are thine, O lion-natured (prince): let them be on deposit with us for a (little) while.”
جان ما آن توست ای شیرخو ** پیش ما چندی امانت باش گو
He replied, “Ye will not save your lives from me unless ye bring an Abú Bakr into my presence.850
گفت نرهانید از من جان خویش ** تا نیاریدم ابوبکری به پیش
Unless ye bring to me as a gift from your city one whose name is Abú Bakr, O people who have fled (from righteousness),
تا مرا بوبکر نام از شهرتان ** هدیه نارید ای رمیده امتان
I will mow you down like corn, O vile folk: I will accept neither tribute nor blandishments.”
بدرومتان هم‌چو کشت ای قوم دون ** نه خراج استانم و نه هم فسون
They offered him many sacks of gold, saying, “Do not demand an Abú Bakr from a city like this.
بس جوال زر کشیدندش به راه ** کز چنین شهری ابوبکری مخواه