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
I hurried to you in order to say that I am not able to do it.
من شتابیدم بر تو بهر آن ** تا بگویم که ندارم آن توان
For one like me such agility is impossible: at all events do not expect this of me.”
این چنین چستی نیاید از چو من ** باری این اومید را بر من متن
“Curse your hurry!” cried the king; “for (in consequence of it) a hundred confusions have arisen in the city.2545
گفت شه لعنت برین زودیت باد ** که دو صد تشویش در شهر اوفتاد
(Is it only) for this trifle, O half-baked fool, (that) you have set fire to this meadow and hay?”
از برای این قدر خامریش ** آتش افکندی درین مرج و حشیش
(This is) like (the behaviour of) these raw (ignorant) persons (who come) with drum and banner, saying, “We are couriers (speeding) in (the path of spiritual) poverty and non-existence,”
همچو این خامان با طبل و علم ** که الاقانیم در فقر و عدم
(Who) boast far and wide of being Shaykhs and make out that they have (attained to) the rank of Báyazíd,
لاف شیخی در جهان انداخته ** خویشتن را بایزیدی ساخته
And, having (as they claim) travelled away from themselves and become united (with God), open a conventicle (for disciples) in the abode of pretension.
هم ز خود سالک شده واصل شده ** محفلی واکرده در دعویکده
(While) the bridegroom's house is full of turmoil and trouble, the girl's family know nothing about it.2550
خانهی داماد پرآشوب و شر ** قوم دختر را نبوده زین خبر
(The bridegroom's people raise) an outcry, saying, “Half the affair is concluded: the conditions that are (necessary) on our side have been fulfilled.
ولوله که کار نیمی راست شد ** شرطهایی که ز سوی ماست شد
We have swept and garnished the rooms and have risen up (from our labour) intoxicated and glad with this ardent desire (to receive the bride).”
خانهها را روفتیم آراستیم ** زین هوس سرمست و خوش برخاستیم
Has any message come from over there? “No.” Has any bird come hither from that roof? “No.”
زان طرف آمد یکی پیغام نی ** مرغی آمد این طرف زان بام نی
After (all) these missives (which ye have sent) one on the top of another, has any answer reached you from that neighbourhood?