How the slave was indignant because no reply to his letter arrived from the king.

Truly this desert hath no head or foot (top or bottom). That youth, (being) without a reply to his letter, is aggrieved

And says, “Oh, ‘tis a wonder. How did the king give me no reply? Or (perchance) the carrier of the letter behaved treacherously because of the torment (of envy),

And concealed the letter and did not show it to the king; for he was a hypocrite and (like) a piece of water beneath straw.

I will write another letter by way of test and seek another accomplished messenger.”

That heedless man ignorantly puts the blame on the Amir and the steward and the letter-carrier.

Never does he go round about (inspect) himself and say, “I have acted perversely, like the idolater in (turning away from’ the true) religion.”