Every one was taking an omen (predicting) by conjecture (and trying to guess) what had set the rug on fire.
هر کسی فالی همی‌زد از قیاس ** تا چه آتش اوفتاد اندر پلاس
He (Dalqak) sought admission and the king at once granted it to him. When he kissed the earth (in homage), the king said to him, “Hey, what's the matter?”2525
راه جست و راه دادش شاه زود ** چون زمین بوسید گفتش هی چه بود
Whenever any one asked that sour-faced man for some particulars, he laid his hand on his lips as though to say “Hush!”
هرکه می‌پرسید حالی زان ترش ** دست بر لب می‌نهاد او که خمش
(Their) apprehension was increased by his gravity: all were perplexed and dumbfounded by him.
وهم می‌افزود زین فرهنگ او ** جمله در تشویش گشته دنگ او
Dalqak made a gesture, as though to say, “O gracious king, let me have a moment to take breath,
کرد اشارت دلق که ای شاه کرم ** یک‌دمی بگذار تا من دم زنم
That my wits may once come back to me, for I am fallen into a marvellous state (of exhaustion).”
تا که باز آید به من عقلم دمی ** که فتادم در عجایب عالمی
After a little while, during which both the throat and the mouth of the king were made bitter by (anxious) foreboding and surmise—2530
بعد یک ساعت که شه از وهم و ظن ** تلخ گشتش هم گلو و هم دهن
Because he had never seen Dalqak like this; for there was no companion more agreeable to him than he;
که ندیده بود دلقک را چنین ** که ازو خوشتر نبودش هم‌نشین
He was always bringing up stories and jests and keeping the king in merriment and laughter.
دایما دستان و لاغ افراشتی ** شاه را او شاد و خندان داشتی
When sitting (with him) he used to make him laugh so (heartily) that the king would grip his belly with both hands;
آن چنان خندانش کردی در نشست ** که گرفتی شه شکم را با دو دست