The steadfastness of Ayáz was all the firmer forasmuch as he was taking (those) precautions in fear of arrogance.
زان قوی‌تر بود تمکین ایاز ** که ز خوف کبر کردی احتراز
He had been purified, and he had come and smitten the neck of (had beheaded) arrogance and selfishness.
او مهذب گشته بود و آمده ** کبر را و نفس را گردن زده
He was practising these devices either for the purpose of instructing (others) or for the sake of some principle of wisdom far removed from fear;240
یا پی تعلیم می‌کرد آن حیل ** یا برای حکمتی دور از وجل
Or (perhaps) the sight of his rustic shoon pleased him because (self-)existence is a shutter against the breeze of not-being,
یا که دید چارقش زان شد پسند ** کز نسیم نیستی هستیست بند
(And he looked at them) in order that the charnel-house which is (built) on not-being might open, and that he might feel the breeze of vitality and life.
تا گشاید دخمه کان بر نیستیست ** تا بیاید آن نسیم عیش و زیست
The wealth and riches and silks of this travellers' halt are a chain on the light-footed spirit.
ملک و مال و اطلس این مرحله ** هست بر جان سبک‌رو سلسله
The spirit espied the golden chain and was beguiled: it remained in the hole of a dungeon (far) from the open country.
سلسله‌ی زرین بدید و غره گشت ** ماند در سوراخ چاهی جان ز دشت
Its (the world's) appearance is (that of) Paradise, (but) in reality it is a hell; it is a viper full of venom, though its figure is (that of) a rose-cheeked (beauty).245
صورتش جنت به معنی دوزخی ** افعیی پر زهر و نقشش گل رخی
Although Hell-fire does no injury to the true believer, yet ’tis still better to pass on from that place (and leave it behind).
گرچه مؤمن را سقر ندهد ضرر ** لیک هم بهتر بود زانجا گذر
Although Hell keeps its torment far from him, yet in any case Paradise is better for him.
گرچه دوزخ دور دارد زو نکال ** لیک جنت به ورا فی کل حال