When the man who received the inheritance had squandered it and become a pauper, he began to cry “O Lord!” and weep and lament.
مرد میراثی چو خورد و شد فقیر ** آمد اندر یا رب و گریه و نفیر
Verily, who shall knock at this Door, from which mercy is showered, without gaining in response a hundred springs (seasons of spiritual refreshment)?
خود کی کوبد این در رحمت‌نثار ** که نیابد در اجابت صد بهار
He dreamed that he heard a Voice from heaven saying, “Thy fortune will be found in Cairo;4240
خواب دید او هاتفی گفت او شنید ** که غنای تو به مصر آید پدید
Go to Cairo: there thy affair will be set right. He (God) hath accepted thy humble petition: He is the (only) Object of hope.
رو به مصر آنجا شود کار تو راست ** کرد کدیت را قبول او مرتجاست
In such-and-such a spot is a great treasure: thou must go to Cairo in quest of it.
در فلان موضع یکی گنجی است زفت ** در پی آن بایدت تا مصر رفت
Hark, O wretched man, go without any delay from Baghdád to Cairo and the home of sugar-candy.”
بی‌درنگی هین ز بغداد ای نژند ** رو به سوی مصر و منبت‌گاه قند
When he departed from Baghdád (and came) to Cairo, at the sight of Cairo his courage was restored,
چون ز بغداد آمد او تا سوی مصر ** گرم شد پشتش چو دید او روی مصر
(For he was) in hope of (the fulfilment of) the promise given by the heavenly Voice that he would find in Cairo the treasure to remove his trouble—4245
بر امید وعده‌ی هاتف که گنج ** یابد اندر مصر بهر دفع رنج
“In such and such a quarter and such and such a spot there is a buried treasure exceedingly rare and very choice.”
در فلان کوی و فلان موضع دفین ** هست گنجی سخت نادر بس گزین
But of money for expenses, great or small, he had nothing left; and he was about to go and beg from the common folk,
لیک نفقه‌ش بیش و کم چیزی نماند ** خواست دقی بر عوام‌الناس راند