A certain man was drumming at a certain gate to announce the sahúr: ’twas a court-house and the pavilion of a grandee.
آن یکی می‌زد سحوری بر دری ** درگهی بود و رواق مهتری
(Whilst) he was beating his drum vigorously at midnight, some one said to him, “O thou who art seeking (the means of) support,
نیم‌شب می‌زد سحوری را به جد ** گفت او را قایلی کای مستمد
Firstly, give this call to the sahúr at daybreak: midnight is not the time for (making) this disturbance;
اولا وقت سحر زن این سحور ** نیم‌شب نبود گه این شر و شور
And secondly, observe, O man of vain desire, whether in fact there is any one inside this house at midnight.
دیگر آنک فهم کن ای بوالهوس ** که درین خانه درون خود هست کس
There is nobody here except demons and spirits: why art thou trifling thy time away?850
کس درینجا نیست جز دیو و پری ** روزگار خود چه یاوه می‌بری
Thou art beating thy tambourine for the sake of an ear: where is the ear? Intelligence is needed in order to know (thy purpose): where is the intelligence?”
بهر گوشی می‌زنی دف گوش کو ** هوش باید تا بداند هوش کو
He replied, “You have said (your say): (now) hear the answer from your (humble) servant, that you may not remain in bewilderment and confusion.
گفت گفتی بشنو از چاکر جواب ** تا نمانی در تحیر و اضطراب
Although in your opinion this moment is midnight, in my view the dawn of delight is near at hand.
گرچه هست این دم بر تو نیم‌شب ** نزد من نزدیک شد صبح طرب
In my sight every defeat has been turned to victory, in my eyes all nights have been turned to day.
هر شکستی پیش من پیروز شد ** جمله شبها پیش چشمم روز شد
To you the water of the river Nile seems blood; to me it is not blood, ’tis water, O noble one.855
پیش تو خونست آب رود نیل ** نزد من خون نیست آبست ای نبیل