تا به دیوار بلا ناید سرش ** نشنود پند دل آن گوش کرش
Until his head comes against the wall of affliction, his deaf ear will not listen to the counsel of his heart.
کودکان را حرص گوزینه و شکر ** از نصیحتها کند دو گوش کر
Greed for walnut-cake and sugar makes the ears of children deaf to admonitions;
چونک دردت دنبلش آغاز شد ** در نصیحت هر دو گوشش باز شد 2065
(Only) when the pain of his abscess begins do his (the child's) ears become open to good advice.
حجره را با حرص و صدگونه هوس ** باز کردند آن زمان آن چند کس
Then the party (of searchers), with cupidity and a hundred kinds of vain desire, opened the chamber.
اندر افتادند از در ز ازدحام ** هم‌چو اندر دوغ گندیده هوام
They swarmed in through the doorway, jostling each other, like vermin (falling) on fetid buttermilk.
عاشقانه در فتد با کر و فر ** خورد امکان نی و بسته هر دو پر
They (the insects) fall on it triumphantly, like lovers, (but) there is no possibility of drinking, and both wings are stuck.
بنگریدند از یسار و از یمین ** چارقی بدریده بود و پوستین
They (the officers) looked to the left and to the right: there was (only) a torn pair of shoon and a sheepskin jacket.
باز گفتند این مکان بی‌نوش نیست ** چارق اینجا جز پی روپوش نیست 2070
After (having looked), they said (to one another), “This place is not without balm: the shoon are only (displayed) here as a blind.
هین بیاور سیخهای تیز را ** امتحان کن حفره و کاریز را
Hey, bring sharp picks: try excavation and tunnelling.”
هر طرف کندند و جستند آن فریق ** حفره‌ها کردند و گوهای عمیق
The (searching) party dug and searched in every direction: they dug holes and deep cavities.
حفره‌هاشان بانگ می‌داد آن زمان ** کنده‌های خالییم ای کندگان
Thereupon the holes were (virtually) crying out to them, “We are empty holes, O ye stinkers!”
زان سگالش شرم هم می‌داشتند ** کنده‌ها را باز می‌انباشتند
Accordingly they (the officers) were ashamed of that (evil) thought (concerning Ayáz) and filled up the holes again.
بی‌عدد لا حول در هر سینه‌ای ** مانده مرغ حرصشان بی‌چینه‌ای 2075
In every breast were innumerable (sighs of) lá hawl: the bird, their greed, was left without any food to peck.
زان ضلالتهای یاوه‌تازشان ** حفره‌ی دیوار و در غمازشان
The holes in the walls and in the door were informers against them (giving intelligence) of their futile aberrations.
ممکن اندای آن دیوار نی ** با ایاز امکان هیچ انکار نی
The wall could not possibly be plastered (repaired): there was no possibility of denying before Ayáz (what they had done);
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?