- For it was a formidable lock with intricate bolts: he (Ayáz) had selected it from (many other) locks,
- زانک قفل صعب و پر پیچیده بود ** از میان قفلها بگزیده بود
- Not that he was avaricious of silver and riches and crude (uncoined) gold, (but) in order to hide that secret (of his) from the vulgar,
- نه ز بخل سیم و مال و زر خام ** از برای کتم آن سر از عوام
- “Lest” (so he thought) “some people imagine evil, (while) others call me a hypocrite.”
- که گروهی بر خیال بد تنند ** قوم دیگر نام سالوسم کنند
- With the man of lofty aspiration the soul's secrets are kept from the base (worldlings) more safely than the ruby in the mine. 2055
- پیش با همت بود اسرار جان ** از خسان محفوظ‌تر از لعل کان
- To fools gold seems better than the soul; in the opinion of (spiritual) kings gold is to be scattered on the soul (as an offering).
- زر به از جانست پیش ابلهان ** زر نثار جان بود نزد شهان
- In greed of gold they (the officers) were hastening rapidly (to the chamber), (though) their reason was saying, “No; not so fast.”
- می شتابیدند تفت از حرص زر ** عقلشان میگفت نه آهستهتر
- Greed runs in vain towards the mirage, (though) reason says, "Look carefully: it is not water."
- حرس تازد بیهده سوی سراب ** عقل گوید نیک بین کان نیست آب
- Greed was predominant (in them), and gold had become (dear to them) as their souls: at that moment the cry of reason was unheard.
- حرص غالب بود و زر چون جان شده ** نعره‌ی عقل آن زمان پنهان شده
- Greed and its clamours had become hundredfold; wisdom and its suggestions had vanished, 2060
- گشته صدتو حرص و غوغاهای او ** گشته پنهان حکمت و ایمای او
- To the end that he (the greedy man) may fall into the pit of delusion, and then hearken to the reproaches of Wisdom.
- تا که در چاه غرور اندر فتد ** آنگه از حکمت ملامت بشنود