Far from the wisdom of Ayáz is this characteristic, (namely), that his prayer should be uttered without (being a real) prayer.
دور این خصلت ز فرهنگ ایاز ** که پدید آید نمازش بی‌نماز
He has been the cock of Heaven from of old: all his crowings are (taking place) at their (proper) time.
او خروس آسمان بوده ز پیش ** نعره‌های او همه در وقت خویش
On the meaning of this (Tradition), “Show unto us the things as they are (in reality)”; and on the meaning of this (saying), “If the covering were lifted, my certainty would not be increased”; and on his (the poet's) verse: “When thou regardest any one with a malign eye, thou art regarding him from the hoop (narrow circle) of thy (self-)existence.” (Hemistich): “The crooked ladder casts a crooked shadow.”
در معنی این کی ارنا الاشیاء کما هی و معنی این کی لو کشف الغطاء ما از ددت یقینا و قوله در هر که تو از دیده‌ی بد می‌نگری از چنبره‌ی وجود خود می‌نگری پایه‌ی کژ کژ افکند سایه
O cocks, learn crowing from him: he crows for God's sake, not for the sake of pence.
ای خروسان از وی آموزید بانگ ** بانگ بهر حق کند نه بهر دانگ
The false dawn comes and does not deceive him: the false dawn is the World with its good and evil.1975
صبح کاذب آید و نفریبدش ** صبح کاذب عالم و نیک و بدش
The worldly people had defective understandings, so that they deemed it to be the true dawn.
اهل دنیا عقل ناقص داشتند ** تا که صبح صادقش پنداشتند
The false dawn has waylaid (many) caravans which have set out in hope of the daybreak.
صبح کاذب کاروانها را زدست ** که به بوی روز بیرون آمدست
May the false dawn not be the people's guide! for it gives many caravans to the wind (of destruction).
صبح کاذب خلق را رهبر مباد ** کو دهد بس کاروانها را به باد
O thou who hast become captive to the false dawn, do not regard the true dawn also as false.
ای شده تو صبح کاذب را رهین ** صبح صادق را تو کاذب هم مبین
If thou (thyself) hast no protection (art not exempt) from hypocrisy and wickedness, wherefore shouldst thou impute the same (vices) to thy brother?1980
گر نداری از نفاق و بد امان ** از چه داری بر برادر ظن همان
The evil-doer is always thinking ill (of others): he reads his own book as referring to his neighbour.
بدگمان باشد همیشه زشت‌کار ** نامه‌ی خود خواند اندر حق یار
The wretches who have remained (sunk) in (their own) unrighteous qualities have called the prophets magicians and unrighteous;
آن خسان که در کژیها مانده‌اند ** انبیا را ساحر و کژ خوانده‌اند
And those base Amírs, (who were) forgers of falsehood, conceived this evil thought about the chamber of Ayáz,
وآن امیران خسیس قلب‌ساز ** این گمان بردند بر حجره‌ی ایاز
(Supposing) that he kept there a buried hoard and treasure. Do not look at others in the mirror of thyself!
کو دفینه دارد و گنج اندر آن ** ز آینه‌ی خود منگر اندر دیگران
The King, indeed, knew his innocence: (only) on their account was he making that investigation,1985
شاه می‌دانست خود پاکی او ** بهر ایشان کرد او آن جست و جو
Saying, “O Amír, open the door of the chamber at midnight, when he (Ayáz) will be unaware of it,
کای امیر آن حجره را بگشای در ** نیم شب که باشد او زان بی‌خبر
In order that his (secret) thoughts may come to light: afterwards it rests with me to punish him.
تا پدید آید سگالشهای او ** بعد از آن بر ماست مالشهای او
I bestow the gold and jewels upon you: of those riches I desire naught but the information (concerning them).”
مر شما را دادم آن زر و گهر ** من از آن زرها نخواهم جز خبر
Thus he spoke, while his heart was throbbing on account of the incomparable Ayáz,
این همی‌گفت و دل او می‌طپید ** از برای آن ایاز بی ندید
(Thinking), “Is it I who am uttering this (command)? How (grieved) he will be if he hear of this injustice!”1990
که منم کین بر زبانم می‌رود ** این جفاگر بشنود او چون شود
Again he says (to himself), “By the truth of his religion, (I vow) that his constancy is too great
باز می‌گوید به حق دین او ** که ازین افزون بود تمکین او
For him to be annoyed by my foul aspersion and heedless of my purpose and meaning.
کی به قذف زشت من طیره شود ** وز غرض وز سر من غافل بود
When an afflicted person has perceived the (true) interpretations (reasons) of his pain, he sees the victory: how should he be vanquished by the pain?
مبتلی چون دید تاویلات رنج ** برد بیند کی شود او مات رنج
The (true) interpreter (of suffering) is (like) the patient Ayáz, for he is contemplating the ocean of ends (ultimate consequences).
صاحب تاویل ایاز صابرست ** کو به بحر عاقبتها ناظرست
To him, as to Joseph, the interpretation of the dream of these prisoners (in the world) is evident.1995
هم‌چو یوسف خواب این زندانیان ** هست تعبیرش به پیش او عیان
How should the goodly man who is aware of the meaning of the dreams of others be ignorant of (the meaning of) his own dream?
خواب خود را چون نداند مرد خیر ** کو بود واقف ز سر خواب غیر