حرص غالب بود و زر چون جان شده ** نعره‌ی عقل آن زمان پنهان شده
Greed was predominant (in them), and gold had become (dear to them) as their souls: at that moment the cry of reason was unheard.
گشته صدتو حرص و غوغاهای او ** گشته پنهان حکمت و ایمای او 2060
Greed and its clamours had become hundredfold; wisdom and its suggestions had vanished,
تا که در چاه غرور اندر فتد ** آنگه از حکمت ملامت بشنود
To the end that he (the greedy man) may fall into the pit of delusion, and then hearken to the reproaches of Wisdom.
چون ز بند دام باد او شکست ** نفس لوامه برو یابید دست
When his wind (idle self-conceit) is broken by imprisonment in the trap,the rebuking soul gets the upper hand over him.
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?
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.