(Saying), “Either a conquering enemy is about to attack us or a deadly calamity has emerged from the Unseen,
یا عدوی قاهری در قصد ماست ** یا بلایی مهلکی از غیب خاست
For Dalqak, riding hard from the country, has killed several Arab horses on the way.”
که ز ده دلقک به سیران درشت ** چند اسپی تازی اندر راه کشت
The people gathered at the king's palace, wondering why Dalqak had come in such a hurry.2520
جمع گشته بر سرای شاه خلق ** تا چرا آمد چنین اشتاب دلق
Because of his (hot) haste and the enormity of his exertions, tumult and commotion arose in Tirmid;
از شتاب او و فحش اجتهاد ** غلغل و تشویش در ترمد فتاد
One man (was) beating both hands against his knee, while another, from presentiment of evil, was uttering woeful cries.
آن یکی دو دست بر زانوزنان ** وآن دگر از وهم واویلی‌کنان
On account of the hubbub and distraction and the dread of punishment every heart went to (wander in) a hundred streets (haunts) of phantasy.
از نفیر و فتنه و خوف نکال ** هر دلی رفته به صد کوی خیال
Every one was taking an omen (predicting) by conjecture (and trying to guess) what had set the rug on fire.
هر کسی فالی همی‌زد از قیاس ** تا چه آتش اوفتاد اندر پلاس
He (Dalqak) sought admission and the king at once granted it to him. When he kissed the earth (in homage), the king said to him, “Hey, what's the matter?”2525
راه جست و راه دادش شاه زود ** چون زمین بوسید گفتش هی چه بود
Whenever any one asked that sour-faced man for some particulars, he laid his hand on his lips as though to say “Hush!”
هرکه می‌پرسید حالی زان ترش ** دست بر لب می‌نهاد او که خمش
(Their) apprehension was increased by his gravity: all were perplexed and dumbfounded by him.
وهم می‌افزود زین فرهنگ او ** جمله در تشویش گشته دنگ او
Dalqak made a gesture, as though to say, “O gracious king, let me have a moment to take breath,
کرد اشارت دلق که ای شاه کرم ** یک‌دمی بگذار تا من دم زنم
That my wits may once come back to me, for I am fallen into a marvellous state (of exhaustion).”
تا که باز آید به من عقلم دمی ** که فتادم در عجایب عالمی
After a little while, during which both the throat and the mouth of the king were made bitter by (anxious) foreboding and surmise—2530
بعد یک ساعت که شه از وهم و ظن ** تلخ گشتش هم گلو و هم دهن
Because he had never seen Dalqak like this; for there was no companion more agreeable to him than he;
که ندیده بود دلقک را چنین ** که ازو خوشتر نبودش هم‌نشین
He was always bringing up stories and jests and keeping the king in merriment and laughter.
دایما دستان و لاغ افراشتی ** شاه را او شاد و خندان داشتی
When sitting (with him) he used to make him laugh so (heartily) that the king would grip his belly with both hands;
آن چنان خندانش کردی در نشست ** که گرفتی شه شکم را با دو دست
And (many a time) his body sweated from the violence of his laughter and he would fall on his face with laughing.
که ز زور خنده خوی کردی تنش ** رو در افتادی ز خنده کردنش
(How strange, then, that) to-day, on the contrary, he (Dalqak), pale and grim like this, is laying his hand on his lips as though to say, “Hush, O King!”2535
باز امروز این چنین زرد و ترش ** دست بر لب می‌زند کای شه خمش
Foreboding on foreboding and fancy on fancy (occurred) to the king (as he wondered) what chastisement would come (upon him),
وهم در وهم و خیال اندر خیال ** شاه را تا خود چه آید از نکال
For the king's heart was anxious and alarmed because the Khwárizmsháh was very bloodthirsty,
که دل شه با غم و پرهیز بود ** زانک خوارمشاه بس خون‌ریز بود
And that perverse (tyrant) had killed many kings in that region either by craft or violence.
بس شهان آن طرف را کشته بود ** یا به حیله یا به سطوت آن عنود
This King of Tirmid was apprehensive of (being attacked by) him, and his apprehension was increased by the artifice of Dalqak.
این شه ترمد ازو در وهم بود ** وز فن دلقک خود آن وهمش فزود
He said, “Be quick! Tell (me) what is the matter. Who is the cause of your being so perturbed and agitated?”2540
گفت زوتر بازگو تا حال چیست ** این چنین آشوب و شور تو ز کیست
He replied, “I heard in the country that the king had proclaimed on every highway
گفت من در ده شنیدم آنک شاه ** زد منادی بر سر هر شاه‌راه
That he required some one to run to Samarcand in three days and would bestow (his) treasures (on the courier).
که کسی خواهم که تازد در سه روز ** تا سمرقند و دهم او را کنوز