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
When his wind (idle self-conceit) is broken by imprisonment in the trap,the rebuking soul gets the upper hand over him.
چون ز بند دام باد او شکست ** نفس لوامه برو یابید دست
Until his head comes against the wall of affliction, his deaf ear will not listen to the counsel of his heart.
تا به دیوار بلا ناید سرش ** نشنود پند دل آن گوش کرش
Greed for walnut-cake and sugar makes the ears of children deaf to admonitions;
کودکان را حرص گوزینه و شکر ** از نصیحتها کند دو گوش کر
(Only) when the pain of his abscess begins do his (the child's) ears become open to good advice.2065
چونک دردت دنبلش آغاز شد ** در نصیحت هر دو گوشش باز شد
Then the party (of searchers), with cupidity and a hundred kinds of vain desire, opened the chamber.
حجره را با حرص و صدگونه هوس ** باز کردند آن زمان آن چند کس
They swarmed in through the doorway, jostling each other, like vermin (falling) on fetid buttermilk.
اندر افتادند از در ز ازدحام ** همچو اندر دوغ گندیده هوام
They (the insects) fall on it triumphantly, like lovers, (but) there is no possibility of drinking, and both wings are stuck.
عاشقانه در فتد با کر و فر ** خورد امکان نی و بسته هر دو پر
They (the officers) looked to the left and to the right: there was (only) a torn pair of shoon and a sheepskin jacket.
بنگریدند از یسار و از یمین ** چارقی بدریده بود و پوستین
After (having looked), they said (to one another), “This place is not without balm: the shoon are only (displayed) here as a blind.2070
باز گفتند این مکان بینوش نیست ** چارق اینجا جز پی روپوش نیست
Hey, bring sharp picks: try excavation and tunnelling.”
هین بیاور سیخهای تیز را ** امتحان کن حفره و کاریز را
The (searching) party dug and searched in every direction: they dug holes and deep cavities.
هر طرف کندند و جستند آن فریق ** حفرهها کردند و گوهای عمیق
Thereupon the holes were (virtually) crying out to them, “We are empty holes, O ye stinkers!”
حفرههاشان بانگ میداد آن زمان ** کندههای خالییم ای کندگان
Accordingly they (the officers) were ashamed of that (evil) thought (concerning Ayáz) and filled up the holes again.
زان سگالش شرم هم میداشتند ** کندهها را باز میانباشتند
In every breast were innumerable (sighs of) lá hawl: the bird, their greed, was left without any food to peck.2075
بیعدد لا حول در هر سینهای ** مانده مرغ حرصشان بیچینهای
The holes in the walls and in the door were informers against them (giving intelligence) of their futile aberrations.
زان ضلالتهای یاوهتازشان ** حفرهی دیوار و در غمازشان
The wall could not possibly be plastered (repaired): there was no possibility of denying before Ayáz (what they had done);
ممکن اندای آن دیوار نی ** با ایاز امکان هیچ انکار نی
(For) if they make a pretence of being innocent, the wall and floor will bear witness (against them).
گر خداع بیگناهی میدهند ** حایط و عرصه گواهی میدهند
(With such reflections) they were returning to the King, covered with dust and pale-faced and ashamed.
باز میگشتند سوی شهریار ** پر ز گرد و روی زرد و شرمسار
How the plotters returned from the chamber of Ayáz to the King with empty bags and overcome by shame, as those who thought ill of the prophets, on whom be peace, (shall be confounded) at the time when their (the prophets') innocence and holiness shall be made manifest; for (God hath said), “on the Day when (some) faces shall be white and (some) faces shall be black,” and He hath said, “and thou shalt see those who lied against God, their faces blackened.”
بازگشتن نمامان از حجرهی ایاز به سوی شاه توبره تهی و خجل همچون بدگمانان در حق انبیا علیهمالسلام بر وقت ظهور برائت و پاکی ایشان کی یوم تبیض وجوه و تسود وجوه و قوله تری الذین کذبوا علی الله وجوههم مسودة