Although the King was displeased by his speech, still he made some inquiry concerning his hidden thoughts.
گر چه شه ناخوش شد از گفتار او ** جستجویی کرد هم ز اسرار او
He said, “With this aspect and this foul smell of the mouth, sit at a distance, but do not move too far off—
گفت با این شکل و این گند دهان ** دور بنشین لیک آن سو تر مران
For (hitherto) you have been (with regard to me in the position of) a writer of letters and notes; you have not been a companion and friend and comrade—
که تو اهل نامه و رقعه بدی ** نه جلیس و یار و هم بقعه بدی
That we may treat (and cure) that mouth of yours: you are (now) the beloved (patient), and we are the skilful physician.870
تا علاج آن دهان تو کنیم ** تو حبیب و ما طبیب پر فنیم
’Tis not fitting to burn a new blanket on account of one flea; (nor would it become me) to shut my eyes to (turn my back on) you (because of superficial faults).
بهر کیکی نو گلیمی سوختن ** نیست لایق از تو دیده دوختن
Notwithstanding all (this), sit down and talk on a few topics, that I may well see the form of your mind.”
با همه بنشین دو سه دستان بگو ** تا ببینم صورت عقلت نکو
Then he sent that keen-witted one away to do (his behest): (he sent him) to a bathhouse, saying, “Go, scrub yourself.”
آن ذکی را پس فرستاد او به کار ** سوی حمامی که رو خود را بخار
And to this other one he said, “Good! you are a clever lad: in truth you are a hundred slaves, not one.
وین دگر را گفت خه تو زیرکی ** صد غلامی در حقیقت نه یکی
You are not such as your fellow-servant declared: that envious one would (fain) have made me cold to (disgusted with) you,875
آن نهای که خواجهتاش تو نمود ** از تو ما را سرد میکرد آن حسود
(For) he said that you are thievish and dishonest and ill-behaved, immoral and infamous and so forth.”
گفت او دزد و کژ است و کژنشین ** حیز و نامرد و چنان است و چنین