گر خداع بی‌گناهی می‌دهند ** حایط و عرصه گواهی می‌دهند
(For) if they make a pretence of being innocent, the wall and floor will bear witness (against them).
باز می‌گشتند سوی شهریار ** پر ز گرد و روی زرد و شرمسار
(With such reflections) they were returning to the King, covered with dust and pale-faced and ashamed.
بازگشتن نمامان از حجره‌ی ایاز به سوی شاه توبره تهی و خجل هم‌چون بدگمانان در حق انبیا علیهم‌السلام بر وقت ظهور برائت و پاکی ایشان کی یوم تبیض وجوه و تسود وجوه و قوله تری الذین کذبوا علی الله وجوههم مسودة
How the plotters returned from the chamber of Ayáz to the King with empty bags and overcome by shame, as those who thought ill of the prophets, on whom be peace, (shall be confounded) at the time when their (the prophets') innocence and holiness shall be made manifest; for (God hath said), “on the Day when (some) faces shall be white and (some) faces shall be black,” and He hath said, “and thou shalt see those who lied against God, their faces blackened.”
شاه قاصد گفت هین احوال چیست ** که بغلتان از زر و همیان تهیست 2080
The King, (speaking) with a purpose, said, “What has happened? for your arms are empty of gold and purses;
ور نهان کردید دینار و تسو ** فر شادی در رخ و رخسار کو
And if ye have concealed the pounds and pence, (then) where is the brightness of joy (that should appear) on cheeks and countenance?
Although the roots of every rooty (tree) are hidden, (yet) the leaves—their marks (upon) their faces—are green.
آنچ خورد آن بیخ از زهر و ز قند ** نک منادی می‌کند شاخ بلند
Lo, the lofty bough is proclaiming what the root has imbibed, whether it be poison or sugar.
بیخ اگر بی‌برگ و از مایه تهیست ** برگهای سبز اندر شاخ چیست
If the root is leafless and without sap, what (then) are (signify) the green leaves on the bough?
بر زبان بیخ گل مهری نهد ** شاخ دست و پا گواهی می‌دهد 2085
The earth lays a seal on the root's tongue, (but) the bough, its hand and foot, is bearing witness.”
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.
ز امتحان شرمنده خلقی بی‌شمار ** امتحانها از تو جمله شرمسار
A countless multitude of people are ashamed of (being put to) the test, (but) all tests are ashamed of (being tried on) thee.
بحر بی‌قعرست تنها علم نیست ** کوه و صد کوهست این خود حلم نیست
It (thy knowledge) is a bottomless ocean: it is not (creaturely) knowledge alone; it (thy forbearance) is a mountain and a hundred mountains: indeed, it is not (creaturely) forbearance.”
گفت من دانم عطای تست این ** ورنه من آن چارقم و آن پوستین
He (Ayáz) replied, “I know that this is thy gift; otherwise I am (nothing except) those rustic shoon and that sheepskin jacket.”
بهر آن پیغامبر این را شرح ساخت ** هر که خود بشناخت یزدان را شناخت
Hence the Prophet expounded this (matter), (when he said), “Whoso knoweth himself knoweth God.”
چارقت نطفه‌ست و خونت پوستین ** باقی ای خواجه عطای اوست این 2115
The seed (from which you were conceived) is your shoon, and your blood is the sheepskin jacket: (all) the rest, O master, is His gift.
بهر آن دادست تا جویی دگر ** تو مگو که نیستش جز این قدر
He hath given it to you in order that you may seek more: do not say, “He has only this amount (to give).”
زان نماید چند سیب آن باغبان ** تا بدانی نخل و دخل بوستان
The gardener shows a number of apples, to the end that you may know the trees and produce of the orchard.
کف گندم زان دهد خریار را ** تا بداند گندم انبار را
He (the wheat-merchant) gives the purchaser a handful of wheat, in order that he may know (the quality of) the wheat in the granary.
نکته‌ای زان شرح گوید اوستاد ** تا شناسی علم او را مستزاد
The teacher explains a nice point in order that you may recognise that his knowledge exceeds (those limits);
ور بگویی خود همینش بود و بس ** دورت اندازد چنانک از ریش خس 2120
And if you say, “This is all (the knowledge) he has,” he will cast you far (from him) as sticks and straws (are cast) from the beard.
ای ایاز اکنون بیا و داده ده ** داد نادر در جهان بنیاد نه
“Now come, O Ayáz, and deal justice: lay the foundation of a rare justice in the world.
مجرمانت مستحق کشتن‌اند ** وز طمع بر عفو و حلمت می‌تنند
Those who have sinned against thee deserve to be killed, but in hope (of escaping death) they are attending (waiting upon) thy pardon and forbearance,
تا که رحمت غالب آید یا غضب ** آب کوثر غالب آید یا لهب
To see whether mercy will prevail or wrath, whether the water of Kawthar will prevail or the flames (of Hell).”
از پی مردم‌ربایی هر دو هست ** شاخ حلم و خشم از عهد الست
From the (ancient) Covenant of Alast (until now) both (these) boughs, (namely) forbearance and anger, are in existence for the purpose of carrying men (up to God).
بهر این لفظ الست مستبین ** نفی و اثباتست در لفظی قرین 2125
Hence the perspicuous word Alast is (a case of) negation and affirmation joined in one word,
زانک استفهام اثباتیست این ** لیک در وی لفظ لیس شد قرین
Because this (Alast) is an affirmative question, but (nevertheless) the word laysa is buried in it.
ترک کن تا ماند این تقریر خام ** کاسه‌ی خاصان منه بر خوان عام
Leave off, and let this exposition remain incomplete: do not lay the bowl for the elect on the table of the vulgar.