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
But (feelings of) shame and honour held him back, (so that) he began to plant himself firmly on fortitude.
لیک شرم و همتش دامن گرفت ** خویش را در صبر افشردن گرفت
(Meanwhile), however, his soul fluttered (in distress) on account of hunger: he saw no means of escape from foraging and begging.
باز نفسش از مجاعت بر طپید ** ز انتجاع و خواستن چاره ندید
“At nightfall,” he said (to himself), “I will slip out very quietly, in order that I may beg in the dark without feeling ashamed.4250
گفت شب بیرون روم من نرم نرم ** تا ز ظلمت نایدم در کدیه شرم
At night I will chant (litanies) and bawl like a night-mendicant, that half a dáng may come to me from the roofs.”
هم‌چو شبکوکی کنم شب ذکر و بانگ ** تا رسد از بامهاام نیم دانگ
Thus meditating, he went out into the street, and with these thoughts (in his head) he wandered to and fro.
اندرین اندیشه بیرون شد بکوی ** واندرین فکرت همی شد سو به سوی
At one moment shame and dignity prevented him (from begging), at another moment hunger said to him, “Beg!”
یک زمان مانع همی‌شد شرم و جاه ** یک زمانی جوع می‌گفتش بخواه