- After the peerless king had been astounded by (gazing at) it (the horse) for a moment, he turned his face to the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk, 3455
- چون دمی حیران شد از وی شاه فرد ** روی خود سوی عماد الملک کرد
- Saying, “O vizier, is not this an exceedingly beautiful horse? Surely it belongs to Paradise, not to the earth.”
- کای اچی بس خوب اسپی نیست این ** از بهشتست این مگر نه از زمین
- Thereupon the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk said to him, “O emperor, a demon is made angelic by thy (fond) inclination.
- پس عماد الملک گفتش ای خدیو ** چون فرشته گردد از میل تو دیو
- That on which thou lookest (fondly) becomes (appears good (to thee). This steed is very handsome and graceful, and yet
- در نظر آنچ آوری گردید نیک ** بس گش و رعناست این مرکب ولیک
- The head is a blemish in its (elegant) form: you might say that its head is like the head of an ox.”
- هست ناقص آن سر اندر پیکرش ** چون سر گاوست گویی آن سرش
- These words worked on the heart of the Khwárizmsháh and caused the horse to be cheap in the king's sight. 3460
- در دل خوارمشه این دم کار کرد ** اسپ را در منظر شه خوار کرد
- When prejudice becomes a go-between and describer (of beauty), you may get (buy) a Joseph for three ells of linen.
- چون غرض دلاله گشت و واصفی ** از سه گز کرباس یابی یوسفی
- When the hour arrives for the spirit's parting (from the body), the Devil becomes a broker (depreciator) of the pearl of Faith,
- چونک هنگام فراق جان شود ** دیو دلال در ایمان شود
- And then in that (moment of) sore distress the fool hastily sells his faith for a jug of water;
- پس فروشد ابله ایمان را شتاب ** اندر آن تنگی به یک ابریق آب
- But ’tis a (mere) phantom and not (really) a jug: the aim of the broker (the Devil) is naught but trickery.
- وان خیالی باشد و ابریق نی ** قصد آن دلال جز تخریق نی