- When (the refrain) “I know not” passed beyond bounds, our Turk was amazed and his heart became sick of this ditty.
- چون ز حد شد می‌ندانم از شگفت ** ترک ما را زین حراره دل گرفت
- The Turk leaped up and fetched an iron mace to smite the minstrel's head with it on the spot; 710
- برجهید آن ترک و دبوسی کشید ** تا علیها بر سر مطرب رسید
- (But) an officer seized the mace with his hand, saying, “Nay; ’tis wicked to kill the minstrel at this moment.”
- گرز را بگرفت سرهنگی بدست ** گفت نه مطرب کشی این دم بدست
- He (the Turk) replied, “This endless and countless repetition of his has pounded my nerves: I will pound his head.
- گفت این تکرار بی حد و مرش ** کوفت طبعم را بکوبم من سرش
- O cuckold, (if) you don't know, don't talk nonsense; and if you do know, play (a tune) to the purpose.
- قلتبانا می‌ندانی گه مخور ** ور همی‌دانی بزن مقصود بر
- Tell of that which you know, O crazy fool: don't draw out (repeat continually) ‘I know not, I know not.’
- آن بگو ای گیج که می‌دانیش ** می‌ندانم می‌ندانم در مکش
- (Suppose) I ask, ‘Where do you come from, hypocrite, eh?’ you will say, ‘Not from Balkh, and not from Herát, 715
- من بپرسم کز کجایی هی مری ** تو بگویی نه ز بلخ و نه از هری
- Not from Baghdád and not from Mosul and not from Tiráz’: you will draw out a long journey in (saying) ‘not’ and ‘not.’
- نه ز بغداد و نه موصل نه طراز ** در کشی در نی و نی راه دراز
- Just say where you come from and escape (from further discussion): in this case it is folly to elaborate the point at issue.
- خود بگو من از کجاام باز ره ** هست تنقیح مناط اینجا بله
- Or (suppose) I asked, ‘What had you for breakfast?’ you would say, ‘Not wine and not roast-meat,
- یا بپرسیدم چه خوردی ناشتاب ** تو بگویی نه شراب و نه کباب