The party (of merchants) said to him, “O man (weak) as a sandhill, what were you doing, then? Who are you, O recreant?”
قوم گفتندش که ای چو تل ریگ ** پس چه می‌کردی کیی ای مردریگ
“I was (only one,” said he, “and they were a band, armed and brave and formidable.”
گفت من یک کس بدم ایشان گروه ** با سلاح و با شجاعت با شکوه
He (the spokesman of the merchants) said, “If you had no hope (of overcoming them) in battle, (why didn't you) shout, ‘Gentlemen, spring up (from your beds)?’”
گفت اگر در جنگ کم بودت امید ** نعره‌ای زن کای کریمان برجهید
He replied, “At that moment they produced knives and swords, crying, ‘Silence! or we will kill you ruthlessly.’
گفت آن دم کارد بنمودند و تیغ ** که خمش ورنه کشیمت بی‌دریغ
At that time I shut my mouth in terror; at this time (I can utter) screams and calls for help and cries of distress.550
آن زمان از ترس بستم من دهان ** این زمان هیهای و فریاد و فغان
At that time my breath was stopped from breathing a word: at this time I will scream as much as you please.”
آن زمان بست آن دمم که دم زنم ** این زمان چندانک خواهی هی کنم
After the Devil who exposes (sinners) to disgrace has carried off your life, it is foolish (to cry) “I take refuge (with God)” and (to recite) the Fátiha;
چونک عمرت برد دیو فاضحه ** بی‌نمک باشد اعوذ و فاتحه
(But) though ’tis foolish to moan now, (yet) assuredly heedlessness is (even) more foolish than that (tardy supplication).
گرچه باشد بی‌نمک اکنون حنین ** هست غفلت بی‌نمک‌تر زان یقین