رفت و پرسید و بیامد که ز ری ** گفت عزمش تا کجا درماند وی

رفت و پرسید و بیامد که ز ری ** گفت عزمش تا کجا درماند وی 390

He went and asked and returned, saying, “From Rayy.” “Whither bound?” asked the King. He (the Amír) was unable (to reply).

دیگری را گفت رو ای بوالعلا ** باز پرس از کاروان که تا کجا

(Then) he said to another (Amír), “Go, noble lord, and ask whither the caravan is bound.”

رفت و آمد گفت تا سوی یمن ** گفت رختش چیست هان ای موتمن

He went and returned and said, “For Yemen.” “Ha,” said the King, “what is their merchandise, O trusty one?”

ماند حیران گفت با میری دگر ** که برو وا پرس رخت آن نفر

He (the Amír) remained (silent) in perplexity. (Then) the King said to another Amír, “Go and inquire (what is) the merchandise of those people.”

باز آمد گفت از هر جنس هست ** اغلب آن کاسه‌های رازیست

He came back and said, “It is of every sort; the greater part consists of cups made in Rayy.”

گفت کی بیرون شدند از شهر ری ** ماند حیران آن امیر سست پی 395

He (the King) asked, “When did they set out from the city of Rayy?” The dull-witted Amír remained (silent) in perplexity.

هم‌چنین تا سی امیر و بیشتر ** سست‌رای و ناقص اندر کر و فر

So (it went on) till thirty Amírs and more (had been tested): (all were) feeble in judgement and deficient in (mental) power.

گفت امیران را که من روزی جدا ** امتحان کردم ایاز خویش را

(Then) he said to the Amírs, “One day I put my Ayáz to the test separately,

که بپرس از کاروان تا از کجاست ** او برفت این جمله وا پرسید راست

Saying, ‘Inquire of the caravan (and find out) whence it comes.’ He went and asked all these questions (just) right.

بی‌وصیت بی‌اشارت یک به یک ** حالشان دریافت بی ریبی و شک

Without instructions, without a hint (from me), he apprehended everything concerning them, point by point, without any uncertainty or doubt.”