To any one who finds life in love, aught but (devoted) service would seem infidelity.”
هر که اندر عشق یابد زندگی ** کفر باشد پیش او جز بندگی
At midnight the Amír with thirty trusted (officers) set out to open his chamber,
نیمشب آن میر با سی معتمد ** در گشاد حجرهی او رای زد
And all these valiant men, carrying torches, moved joyfully in that direction,
مشعله بر کرده چندین پهلوان ** جانب حجره روانه شادمان
Saying, “’Tis the Sultan's command: let us raid the room and each of us pocket a purse of gold.”
که امر سلطانست بر حجره زنیم ** هر یکی همیان زر در کش کنیم
“Hey!” cried one of them, “why trouble about gold?” Talk (rather) of cornelians and rubies and (all sorts of) jewels.1870
آن یکی میگفت هی چه جای زر ** از عقیق و لعل گوی و از گهر
He is the most privileged (keeper) of the Sultan's treasury: nay, he is now (as dear) to the King (as) life itself.”
خاص خاص مخزن سلطان ویست ** بلک اکنون شاه را خود جان ویست
What worth should rubies and corundums and emeralds or cornelians possess in the eyes of this man (so) beloved (of the King)?
چه محل دارد به پیش این عشیق ** لعل و یاقوت و زمرد یا عقیق
The King had no evil thoughts of him: he was (only) making a mock (of the courtiers) by way of trial.
شاه را بر وی نبودی بد گمان ** تسخری میکرد بهر امتحان
He knew him to be free from all deceitfulness and guile; (yet) again his heart was shaken with misgiving,
پاک میدانستش از هر غش و غل ** باز از وهمش همیلرزید دل
Lest this (charge) might be (true) and he (Ayáz) should be wounded (in his feelings). “I do not wish,” (he said), “that shame should come over him.1875
که مبادا کین بود خسته شود ** من نخواهم که برو خجلت رود
He has not done this thing; and if he has, ’tis right: let him do whatever he will, (for) he is my beloved.
این نکردست او و گر کرد او رواست ** هر چه خواهد گو بکن محبوب ماست
Whatever my beloved may do, ’tis I have done (it). I am he, he is I: what (matter) though I am (hidden from view) in the veil?”
هر چه محبوبم کند من کردهام ** او منم من او چه گر در پردهام
Again he would say, “He is far removed from this disposition and (these bad) qualities: such wild accusations (on their part) are (mere) drivel and fancy.
باز گفتی دور از آن خو و خصال ** این چنین تخلیط ژاژست و خیال
(That) this (should proceed) from Ayáz is absurd and incredible, for he is an ocean whereof none can see the bottom.”
از ایاز این خود محالست و بعید ** کو یکی دریاست قعرش ناپدید
The Seven Seas are (but) a drop in it: the whole of existence is (but) a driblet of its waves.1880
هفت دریا اندرو یک قطرهای ** جملهی هستی ز موجش چکرهای
All purities are fetched from that ocean: its drops, every one, are alchemists.
جمله پاکیها از آن دریا برند ** قطرههااش یک به یک میناگرند
He is the King of kings; nay, he is the King-maker, though on account of the evil eye his name is “Ayáz.”
شاه شاهانست و بلک شاهساز ** وز برای چشم بد نامش ایاز
Even the good eyes are evil to him in respect of (their) jealousy, for his beauty is infinite.
چشمهای نیک هم بر وی به دست ** از ره غیرت که حسنش بیحدست
I want a mouth as broad as heaven to describe the qualities of him who is envied by the angels;
یک دهان خواهم به پهنای فلک ** تا بگویم وصف آن رشک ملک
And if I should get a mouth like this and a hundred times as (broad as) this, it would be too narrow for (utterance of) this longing's distressful cry.1885
ور دهان یابم چنین و صد چنین ** تنگ آید در فغان این حنین
(Yet), if I should not utter even this (little) amount, O trusted (friend), the phial, (which is) my heart, would burst from weakness (inability to contain its emotion).
این قدر گر هم نگویم ای سند ** شیشهی دل از ضعیفی بشکند
Since I have seen my heart's phial (to be) fragile, I have rent many a mantle in order to allay (my pain).