It pleases Me (to hear) his (piteous) voice and his cries of ‘O Lord’ and his secret (prayer),
خوش همی‌آید مرا آواز او ** وآن خدایا گفتن و آن راز او
And how in supplication and pleading (with Me) he would fain beguile Me with every sort (of persuasion).”
وانک اندر لابه و در ماجرا ** می‌فریباند بهر نوعی مرا
Parrots and nightingales are put into cages because they give pleasure by their sweet song;
طوطیان و بلبلان را از پسند ** از خوش آوازی قفس در می‌کنند
(But) how should crows and owls be caged? This has never been recorded in story.
زاغ را و چغد را اندر قفس ** کی کنند این خود نیامد در قصص
When two persons, one of them a decrepit old man and the other a fair-chinned (youth), come to (a baker who is) an admirer of handsome boys,4230
پیش شاهد باز چون آید دو تن ** آن یکی کمپیر و دیگر خوش‌ذقن
And both ask for bread, he will at once fetch the unleavened bread and bid the old man take it;
هر دو نان خواهند او زوتر فطیر ** آرد و کمپیر را گوید که گیر
But how should he (immediately) give bread to the other, by whose figure and cheeks (countenance) he is pleased? Nay, he will delay him
وآن دگر را که خوشستش قد و خد ** کی دهد نان بل به تاخیر افکند
And say to him, “Sit down a (little) while, ’twill do (thee) no harm; for the new bread is baking in the house”;
گویدش بنشین زمانی بی‌گزند ** که به خانه نان تازه می‌پزند
And when, after the work (of baking is finished), the hot bread is brought to him (the youth), he (the baker) will say to him, “Sit down, for halwá (sweetmeat) is coming.”
چون رسد آن نان گرمش بعد کد ** گویدش بنشین که حلوا می‌رسد
In this same fashion he is always detaining him and seeking covertly to make him his prey,4235
هم برین فن داردارش می‌کند ** وز ره پنهان شکارش می‌کند