During a (whole) month I have been in bitter distress like this, for loss or gain (accruing) from this (treasure-scroll) is forbidden to me.
مدت ماهی چنینم تلخ‌کام ** که زیان و سود این بر من حرام
Maybe thy fortune will disclose (to thee) this mine (of riches), O king (who art) victorious in war and the conqueror of fortresses.”1955
بوک بختت بر کند زین کان غطا ** ای شه پیروزجنگ و دزگشا
For six long months and more the king shot arrows and dug pits (where the arrows fell).
مدت شش ماه و افزون پادشاه ** تیر می‌انداخت و برمی‌کند چاه
Wherever an energetic drawer of the strongbow was (to be found), he (the king) gave (him) arrows to shoot and searched for the treasure in every direction.
هرکجا سخته کمانی بود چست ** تیر داد انداخت و هر سو گنج جست
(The result was) nothing but vexation and grief and futilities: as (in the case of) the ‘Anqá, the name (of the treasure) was known to all, but the essence (reality) was non-existent.
غیر تشویش و غم و طامات نی ** هم‌چو عنقا نام فاش و ذات نی
How the king despaired of finding the treasure and became weary of searching for it.
نومید شدن آن پادشاه از یافتن آن گنج و ملول شدن او از طلب آن
When he met with obstacles (to success) in (all) the breadth and length (of his enterprise), the king became sick at heart and weary.
چونک تعویق آمد اندر عرض و طول ** شاه شد زان گنج دل سیر و ملول
(After) the king (had) dug pits in the deserts, yard by yard, he threw the scroll wrathfully before him (the fakir).1960
دشتها را گز گز آن شه چاه کند ** رقعه را از خشم پیش او فکند
“Take this scroll,” said he, “which has no (good) effects; you are the fittest (owner) for it, since you have no work.
گفت گیر این رقعه کش آثار نیست ** تو بدین اولیتری کت کار نیست
It is no use for one who has work (to do) that he should burn the rose and go about (busy himself with) the thorn.
نیست این کار کسی کش هست کار ** که بسوزد گل بگردد گرد خار
’Tis singular (how) the victims of this melancholy madness expect grass to grow from iron.
نادر افتد اهل این ماخولیا ** منتظر که روید از آهن گیا