The Prophet (Mohammed) said (something like) this, when he heard vituperation (from the infidels who asked), “Why is Ahmad (Mohammed) made fat (happy) by praise?” این پیمبر گفت چون بشنید قدح ** که چرا فربه شود احمد به مدح
The poet went to the king and brought a poem in thanks (and praise) for (his) beneficence, saying that it (beneficence) never died. 1200 رفت شاعر پیش آن شاه و ببرد ** شعر اندر شکر احسان کان نمرد
The beneficent died, and (their) acts of beneficence remained: oh, blest is he that rode this steed! محسنان مردند و احسانها بماند ** ای خنک آن را که این مرکب براند
The unjust died, and those acts of injustice remained: alas for the soul that practises deceit and fraud! ظالمان مردند و ماند آن ظلمها ** وای جانی کو کند مکر و دها
The Prophet said, “Blest is he who departed from this world and left good deeds behind him.” گفت پیغامبر خنک آن را که او ** شد ز دنیا ماند ازو فعل نکو
The beneficent man died, but his beneficence died not: with God, religion (piety) and beneficence are not of small account. مرد محسن لیک احسانش نمرد ** نزد یزدان دین و احسان نیست خرد
Alas for him who died and whose disobedience (to God) died not: beware of thinking that by death he saved his soul (from punishment). 1205 وای آنکو مرد و عصیانش نمود ** تا نپنداری به مرگ او جان ببرد
Dismiss this (topic), for the poet is on the way—in debt and mightily in need of gold. این رها کن زانک شاعر بر گذر ** وام‌دارست و قوی محتاج زر
The poet brought the poem to the king in hope of (receiving) last year's donation and benefit— برد شاعر شعر سوی شهریار ** بر امید بخشش و احسان پار
A charming poem full of flawless pearls, in hope and expectation of the first (former) munificence. نازنین شعری پر از در درست ** بر امید و بوی اکرام نخست
The Sháh indeed, according to his habit, ordered a thousand (dinars to be paid) to him, since such was the custom of that monarch; شاه هم بر خوی خود گفتش هزار ** چون چنین بد عادت آن شهریار
But, on this occasion, the bountiful vizier had departed from the present life, (mounted) on the Buráq of glory, 1210 لیک این بار آن وزیر پر ز جود ** بر براق عز ز دنیا رفته بود
And in his place a new vizier had assumed authority; but (he was) very pitiless and mean. بر مقام او وزیر نو رئیس ** گشته لیکن سخت بی‌رحم و خسیس
He said, “O king, we have (great) outlays: this donation is not the (fitting) reward for a poet. گفت ای شه خرجها داریم ما ** شاعری را نبود این بخشش جزا
With a fortieth part of this (sum), O thou (whose favour is) eagerly sought, I will make the poet man happy and content.” من به ربع عشر این ای مغتنم ** مرد شاعر را خوش و راضی کنم
The people said to him, “He carried away a sum of ten thousand (dinars) in ready money from this valiant (king). خلق گفتندش که او از پیش‌دست ** ده هزاران زین دلاور برده است
After (having eaten) sugar, how should he chew (the empty) cane? After having been a sultan, how should he practise beggary?” 1215 بعد شکر کلک خایی چون کند ** بعد سلطانی گدایی چون کند
He (the vizier) replied, “I will squeeze him in torment, that he may be made wretched and worn out by waiting; گفت بفشارم ورا اندر فشار ** تا شود زار و نزار از انتظار
Then, if I give him earth from the road, he will snatch it as (though it were) rose-leaves from the garden. آنگه ار خاکش دهم از راه من ** در رباید هم‌چو گلبرگ از چمن
Leave this to me, for I am expert in this, even if the claimant be fiery (hot and fierce). این به من بگذار که استادم درین ** گر تقاضاگر بود هر آتشین
Though he (be able to) fly from the Pleiades to the earth, he will become meek when he sees me.” از ثریا گر بپرد تا ثری ** نرم گردد چون ببیند او مرا
The king said to him, “Go: ’tis for thee to command; but make him happy, for he is my eulogist.” 1220 گفت سلطانش برو فرمان تراست ** لیک شادش کن که نیکوگوی ماست
He (the vizier) said, “Leave him and two hundred (other) lickers-up of hope to me, and write this (down) against me.” گفت او را و دو صد اومیدلیس ** تو به من بگذار این بر من نویس
Then the minister threw him into (the pains of) expectation: winter and December passed and spring came. پس فکندش صاحب اندر انتظار ** شد زمستان و دی و آمد بهار
In expectation of it (the reward) the poet grew old; then he was crushed by this anxiety and making shift to provide (the means of livelihood), شاعر اندر انتظارش پیر شد ** پس زبون این غم و تدبیر شد