What in sooth is Adam's (Man's) sovereignty and power of choice beside the Light of the Everlasting Abode?
خود چه باشد پیش نور مستقر ** کر و فر اختیار بوالبشر
His speaking organ is a piece of flesh; the seat of his vision is a piece of fat;
گوشت‌پاره آلت گویای او ** پیه‌پاره منظر بینای او
The seat of his hearing consists of two pieces of bone; the seat of his (intellectual) perception is two drops of blood, that is to say, the heart.
مسمع او آن دو پاره استخوان ** مدرکش دو قطره خون یعنی جنان
Thou art a little worm and art stuffed with filth; (yet) thou hast made a (great) display of pomp in the world.1855
کرمکی و از قذر آکنده‌ای ** طمطراقی در جهان افکنده‌ای
Thou wert (originally composed) of seed: relinquish egoism! O Ayáz, keep in mind that sheepskin jacket!
از منی بودی منی را واگذار ** ای ایاز آن پوستین را یاد دار
The Story of Ayáz and his having a chamber for his rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket; and how his fellow-servants thought he had a buried treasure in that room, because the door was so strong and the lock so heavy.
قصه‌ی ایاز و حجره داشتن او جهت چارق و پوستین و گمان آمدن خواجه تاشانس را کی او را در آن حجره دفینه است به سبب محکمی در و گرانی قفل
Impelled by sagacity, Ayáz hung up his sheepskin jacket and rustic shoon.
آن ایاز از زیرکی انگیخته ** پوستین و چارقش آویخته
Every day he would go into the private chamber, (saying to himself), “These are thy shoon: do not regard thy (present) eminence.”
می‌رود هر روز در حجره‌ی خلا ** چارقت اینست منگر درعلا
They (his rivals) said to the King (Mahmúd), “He has a chamber, and in it there is gold and silver and a jar (of treasure).
شاه را گفتند او را حجره‌ایست ** اندر آنجا زر و سیم و خمره‌ایست
He admits no one into it: he always keeps the door locked.”1860
راه می‌ندهد کسی را اندرو ** بسته می‌دارد همیشه آن در او
The King said, “Oh, I wonder what in sooth that servant (of mine) has that is hidden and concealed from me.”
شاه فرمود ای عجب آن بنده را ** چیست خود پنهان و پوشیده ز ما