FROM TALL TREES ON WINDY HEIGHTS, THESE ROLLERS TRANSPORT ME AS THEY TURN ON THE TABLE. Dearest to me the die that never sleeps, than Mujavan’s own Soma’s deep draught.
SHE NEVER ANNOYS ME NOR IS ANGRY WITH ME, BUT TO MY FRIENDS AND ME EVER GRACIOUS. FOR THE DIE’S SAKE, WHOSE SINGLE POINT IS FINAL, I ALIENATE MY OWN DEVOTED WIFE.
MY WIFE HELPS ME AWAY, HER MOTHER HATES ME: THE WRETCHED MAN FINDS NONE TO GIVE HIM CONSOLOATION. AS OF A COSTLY HORSE GROWN OLD AND WEAK, I FIND NOT ANY PROFIT IN THE GAMBLER.
OTHERS CARESS THE WIFE OF HIM WHOSE RICHES THE DIE HAS CARED FOR, THAT RAPID COURSE: OF HIM SPEAK FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHERS SAYING, WE KNOW HIM NOT: BIND HIM AND TAKE HIM WITH YOU.
WHEN I DECIDE TO PLAY NO LONGER WITH THEM, MY FRIENDS DEPART FROM ME AND LEAVE ME ALONE. WHEN THE BROWN DICE THROW ON THE BOARD RATTLE LIKE A FOND GIRL SEEK THE PLACE OF MEETING.
THE GAMBLER SEES THE GAMBLING-HOUSE AND WORRISES HIS BODY ALL AFIRE, SHALL I BE LUCKY? STILL DO THE DICE EXTEND HIS EAGER LONGING, STAKING HIS GAINS AGAINST HIS ADVERSARY.
DICE, VERILY, ARE ARMED WITH GOADS AND DRIVING-HOOKS, DECEIVING AND TORMENTING, CAUSING GREAT SORROW. THEY GIVE FRAGILE GIFTS AND THEN DESTROY THE MAN WHO WINS, THICKLY ANOINTED WITH THE PLAYER’S BEST.
MERRILY SPORT THEIR TROOP, THE THREE-FIFTY, LIKE SAVITAR THE GOD WHOSE WAYS ARE FAITHFUL. THEY BEND NOT EVEN TO THE MIGHTY’S ANGER: THE KING HIMSELF PAYS HOMAGE AND REVERES THEM.
DOWNWARD THEY ROLL AND THEN QUICKLY UPRISING, AND HANDLESS FORCE THE MAN WITH HANDS TO SERVE THEM. CAST ON THE BOARD, LIKE LUMPS OF MAGIC CHARCO