بر امید وعده‌ی هاتف که گنج ** یابد اندر مصر بهر دفع رنج 4245
(For he was) in hope of (the fulfilment of) the promise given by the heavenly Voice that he would find in Cairo the treasure to remove his trouble—
در فلان کوی و فلان موضع دفین ** هست گنجی سخت نادر بس گزین
“In such and such a quarter and such and such a spot there is a buried treasure exceedingly rare and very choice.”
لیک نفقه‌ش بیش و کم چیزی نماند ** خواست دقی بر عوام‌الناس راند
But of money for expenses, great or small, he had nothing left; and he was about to go and beg from the common folk,
لیک شرم و همتش دامن گرفت ** خویش را در صبر افشردن گرفت
But (feelings of) shame and honour held him back, (so that) he began to plant himself firmly on fortitude.
باز نفسش از مجاعت بر طپید ** ز انتجاع و خواستن چاره ندید
(Meanwhile), however, his soul fluttered (in distress) on account of hunger: he saw no means of escape from foraging and begging.
گفت شب بیرون روم من نرم نرم ** تا ز ظلمت نایدم در کدیه شرم 4250
“At nightfall,” he said (to himself), “I will slip out very quietly, in order that I may beg in the dark without feeling ashamed.
هم‌چو شبکوکی کنم شب ذکر و بانگ ** تا رسد از بامهاام نیم دانگ
At night I will chant (litanies) and bawl like a night-mendicant, that half a dáng may come to me from the roofs.”
اندرین اندیشه بیرون شد بکوی ** واندرین فکرت همی شد سو به سوی
Thus meditating, he went out into the street, and with these thoughts (in his head) he wandered to and fro.
یک زمان مانع همی‌شد شرم و جاه ** یک زمانی جوع می‌گفتش بخواه
At one moment shame and dignity prevented him (from begging), at another moment hunger said to him, “Beg!”
پای پیش و پای پس تا ثلث شب ** که بخواهم یا بخسپم خشک‌لب
Till a third part of the night was gone, (he kept putting) one foot forward and one foot backward (hesitating and asking himself), “Shall I beg or shall I lie down to sleep with my lips dry?”
رسیدن آن شخص به مصر و شب بیرون آمدن به کوی از بهر شبکوکی و گدایی و گرفتن عسس او را و مراد اوحاصل شدن از عسس بعد از خوردن زخم بسیار و عسی ان تکرهوا شیا و هو خیر لکم و قوله تعالی سیجعل الله بعد عسر یسرا و قوله علیه‌السلام اشتدی ازمة تنفرجی و جمیع القرآن و الکتب المنزلة فی تقریر هذا
How that person arrived at Cairo and at night came out into the street to play the mendicant and beg, and how he was arrested by the night-patrol and after having been soundly beaten succeeded through him in gaining his object. “And it may be that ye loathe a thing though it is better for you”; and as God most High hath (also) said, “God will surely vouchsafe after hardship ease”; and as God most High hath said, “Lo, with hardship goeth ease”; and as he (the Prophet), on whom be peace, hath said, “O year of drought, become severe, and then thou wilt pass away.” And the whole of the Qur’án and all the Revealed Books confirm this.