آن امینان جمله در عذر آمدند ** هم‌چو سایه پیش مه ساجد شدند
All those trusted (officers) began to excuse themselves: they fell prostrate, like a shadow in the presence of the moon.
عذر آن گرمی و لاف و ما و من ** پیش شه رفتند با تیغ و کفن
In excuse for that heat (hot-headedness) and boasting and egoism they went to the King with sword and winding-sheet,
از خجالت جمله انگشتان گزان ** هر یکی می‌گفت کای شاه جهان
All of them biting their fingers from shame, and every one saying, “O King of the world,
گر بریزی خون حلالستت حلال ** ور ببخشی هست انعام و نوال
If thou shed (our) blood, ’tis lawful, lawful (for thee to do so); and if thou forgive, ’tis (an act of) grace and bounty.
کرده‌ایم آنها که از ما می‌سزید ** تا چه فرمایی تو ای شاه مجید 2090
We have done those deeds that were worthy of us: consider what thou wilt command, O glorious King.
گر ببخشی جرم ما ای دل‌فروز ** شب شبیها کرده باشد روز روز
If thou forgive our crime, O thou who makest the heart radiant, the night will have shown the qualities of night, and the day (those of) day.
گر ببخشی یافت نومیدی گشاد ** ورنه صد چون ما فدای شاه باد
If thou forgive, despair will be removed; and if not, may a hundred like us be a sacrifice to the King!”
گفت شه نه این نواز و این گداز ** من نخواهم کرد هست آن ایاز
The King replied, “Nay, I will not show this clemency or deal this punishment: that (right) belongs to Ayáz.
حواله کردن پادشاه قبول و توبه‌ی نمامان و حجره گشایان و سزا دادن ایشان با ایاز کی یعنی این جنایت بر عرض او رفته است
[How the King referred to Ayáz the question of accepting the repentance of the ploiters who had opened his chamber or of punishing them, because he judged that the offence had been committed against his honour.]
این جنایت بر تن و عرض ویست ** زخم بر رگهای آن نیکوپیست
This is an offence against his person and honour: the blow is (inflicted) on the veins of that man of goodly ways.
گرچه نفس واحدیم از روی جان ** ظاهرا دورم ازین سود و زیان 2095
Although we are spiritually one, formally I am far from (I am unaffected by) this profit and loss.”
تهمتی بر بنده شه را عار نیست ** جز مزید حلم و استظهار نیست
An accusation against a (guilty) servant is no disgrace to the King: it is only (a means of) increasing (His) forbearance and (the servant's) reliance (on His protection).
متهم را شاه چون قارون کند ** بی‌گنه را تو نظر کن چون کند
Inasmuch as the King makes one who is accused (rich as) Qárún (Korah), consider how He will act towards one who is innocent.
شاه را غافل مدان از کار کس ** مانع اظهار آن حلمست و بس
Deem not the King to be ignorant of any one's actions: ’tis only His forbearance that prevents it (the evil action) from being brought to light.
من هنا یشفع به پیش علم او ** لا ابالی‌وار الا حلم او
Here who shall recklessly intercede with His knowledge— (who) except His forbearance?
آن گنه اول ز حلمش می‌جهد ** ورنه هیبت آن مجالش کی دهد 2100
The sin arises at first from His forbearance; otherwise, how should His awful majesty give (any) room for it (to arise)?
خونبهای جرم نفس قاتله ** هست بر حلمش دیت بر عاقله
(Payment of) the blood-price for the crime of the murderous carnal soul falls on His forbearance: the blood-wit is (an obligation) on the (murderer's) kin.
مست و بی‌خود نفس ما زان حلم بود ** دیو در مستی کلاه از وی ربود
Our carnal soul was intoxicated and made beside itself by that forbearance: during its intoxication the Devil snatched away its cap.
Unless the Sáqí, Forbearance, had poured (the intoxicating) wine, how should the Devil have quarrelled with Adam?
گاه علم آدم ملایک را کی بود ** اوستاد علم و نقاد نقود
At the time of (his being in possession of) knowledge, who was Adam in relation to the angels? (He was) the teacher of knowledge and the assayer of (its) coins.
چونک در جنت شراب حلم خورد ** شد ز یک بازی شیطان روی زرد 2105
After he had drunk the wine of (God's) forbearance in Paradise, he was confounded by a single trick of Satan.
آن بلادرهای تعلیم ودود ** زیرک و دانا و چستش کرده بود
The doses of anacardium, (namely), the lessons (given to him) by the Loving One, had made him sagacious and wise and clever;
باز آن افیون حلم سخت او ** دزد را آورد سوی رخت او
(But) afterwards the potent opium of His forbearance brought the Thief to (carry away) his (Adam's) property.
عقل آید سوی حلمش مستجیر ** ساقیم تو بوده‌ای دستم بگیر
Reason comes to seek refuge with His forbearance, (saying), “Thou hast been my Sáqí (Thou hast intoxicated me): take my hand (succour me)!”
فرمودن شاه ایاز را کی اختیار کن از عفو و مکافات کی از عدل و لطف هر چه کنی اینجا صوابست و در هر یکی مصلحتهاست کی در عدل هزار لطف هست درج و لکم فی القصاص حیوة آنکس کی کراهت می‌دارد قصاص را درین یک حیات قاتل نظر می‌کند و در صد هزار حیات کی معصوم و محقون خواهند شدن در حصن بیم سیاست نمی‌نگرد
How the King said to Ayáz, “Choose either to pardon or to punish, for in the present case ’tis (equally) right whether you do justice or show mercy; and there are advantages in each.” Within justice a thousand mercies are enclosed: (God hath said), “and for you in retaliation there is a life.” He who deems retaliation abominable is regarding only the single life of the murderer and does not consider the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be protected and kept safe, as in a fortress, by fear of punishment.
کن میان مجرمان حکم ای ایاز ** ای ایاز پاک با صد احتراز
“O Ayáz, pass sentence on the culprits! O incorruptible Ayáz who takest infinite precautions (to keep thyself pure),
گر دو صد بارت بجوشم در عمل ** در کف جوشت نیابم یک دغل 2110
Though I boil (test) thee in practice two hundred times, I do not find any refuse in the foam of thy boiling.