How should I deem it allowable that a priceless pearl like this should go to waste?”
چون روا دارم که مثل این گهر ** که نیاید در بها گردد هدر
“Well said!” exclaimed the King and presented him with a dress of honour; the generous King took the pearl from him,4040
گفت شاباش و بدادش خلعتی ** گوهر از وی بستد آن شاه و فتی
(But) the munificent monarch bestowed on the Vizier every garment and robe that he wore.
کرد ایثار وزیر آن شاه جود ** هر لباس و حله کو پوشیده بود
For a while he engaged them (the courtiers) in conversation concerning new event and old mystery.
ساعتیشان کرد مشغول سخن ** از قضیه تازه و راز کهن
Afterwards he put it (the pearl) into the hand of a chamberlain, saying, "What is it worth to a would-be purchaser?"
بعد از آن دادش به دست حاجبی ** که چه ارزد این به پیش طالبی
He replied, “It is worth half a kingdom: may God preserve it from destruction!”
گفت ارزد این به نیمه‌ی مملکت ** کش نگهدارا خدا از مهلکت
“Break it,” said he. “O thou whose sword is like the sun he replied, “alas, ‘tis a great pity to break it.4045
گفت بشکن گفت ای خورشیدتیغ ** بس دریغست این شکستن را دریغ
Let alone its value, mark its splendour and brilliancies: this (shining) daylight has become second to it.
قیمتش بگذار بین تاب و لمع ** که شدست این نور روز او را تبع
How should my hand make a movement to break it? How should I be an enemy to the King’s treasure-house?”
دست کی جنبد مرا در کسر او ** که خزینه‌ی شاه را باشم عدو
The King gave him a robe of honour and increased his stipend, and then opened his mouth in praise of his (the chamberlain’s) intelligence;
شاه خلعت داد ادرارش فزود ** پس دهان در مدح عقل او گشود
After a short time he who was making the trial again handed the pearl to the Minister of Justice (Mir-i dád).
بعد یک ساعت به دست میر داد ** در را آن امتحان کن باز داد
He said the same, and all the (other) Amirs said the same: he (the King) bestowed a costly robe of honour on every one (of them). .4050
او همین گفت و همه میران همین ** هر یکی را خلعتی داد او ثمین
The King was raising their salaries, (but in truth) he brought those base wretches from the Way (of salvation) to the pit (of perdition).
جامگیهاشان همی‌افزود شاه ** آن خسیسان را ببرد از ره به جاه
All the fifty or sixty Amirs, one by one, spoke like this in imitation of the Vizier.
این چنین گفتند پنجه شصت امیر ** جمله یک یک هم به تقلید وزیر
Though imitation is the pillar of the (present) world, (yet) every imitator is disgraced on being put to the trial.
گرچه تقلدست استون جهان ** هست رسوا هر مقلد ز امتحان
How the pearl, (passing) from hand to hand, came round at last to Ayáz; and (concerning) the sagacity of Ayáz, and how he did not act in conformity with them and was not beguiled by the King’s giving them goods and riches and increasing their robes of honour and salaries and praising the intelligence of those erring men; for one ought not to regard the imitator as a Moslem: he may be a Moslem, but it rarely happens that he holds fast to his faith and comes off safely from the trials (to which he is exposed)—for he lacks the steadfastness of the clairvoyant——except (in the case of) those whom God preserves; because the Truth is one, and its contrary is very deceptive and like unto it (in appearance). Since the imitator does not know the contrary (so as to distinguish it from the Truth), on that account he cannot have known the Truth; but when, notwithstanding his ignorance, God preserves him by favour, that ignorance does him no harm.
رسیدن گوهر از دست به دست آخر دور به ایاز و کیاست ایاز و مقلد ناشدن او ایشان را و مغرور ناشدن او به گال و مال دادن شاه و خلعتها و جامگیها افزون کردن و مدح عقل مخطان کردن به مکر و امتحان که کی روا باشد مقلد را مسلمان داشتن مسلمان باشد اما نادر باشد کی مقلد ازین امتحانها به سلامت بیرون آید کی ثبات بینایان ندارد الا من عصم الله زیرا حق یکیست و آن را ضد بسیار غلط‌افکن و مشابه حق مقلد چون آن ضد را نشناسد از آن رو حق را نشناخته باشد اما حق با آن ناشناخت او چو او را به عنایت نگاه دارد آن ناشناخت او را زیان ندارد
“Now, O Ayáz, wilt not thou say how much a pearl of this splendour and excellence is worth?”
ای ایاز اکنون نگویی کین گهر ** چند می‌ارزد بدین تاب و هنر
He replied, “More than I am able to say.” He (the King) said, “Now break it immediately into small fragments.”4055
گفت افزون زانچ تانم گفت من ** گفت اکنون زود خردش در شکن
He (Ayáz)’had (two) stones in his sleeve: he quickly reduced it to dust, (for) that seemed to him the right course.
سنگها در آستین بودش شتاب ** خرد کردش پیش او بود آن صواب
Or (perhaps) that entirely sincere man had dreamed of this and put the two stones under his arm,
یا به خواب این دیده بود آن پر صفا ** کرده بود اندر بغل دو سنگ را
Like Joseph to whom at the bottom of the well his ultimate fortunes was revealed by God.
هم‌چو یوسف که درون قعر چاه ** کشف شد پایان کارش از اله
To whomsoever He (God) has announced victory and triumph —to him success and unsuccess are one.
هر که را فتح و ظفر پیغام داد ** پیش او یک شد مراد و بی‌مراد
To whomsoever the favour of the Friend has become a surety —what fear should he have of defeat and (painful) combat4060
هر که پایندان وی شد وصل یار ** او چه ترسد از شکست و کارزار
When it has become certain to him that he will checkmate (his Opponent), the loss of his horse (knight) and elephant (bishop) is a trifle to him
چون یقین گشتش که خواهد کرد مات ** فوت اسپ و پیل هستش ترهات
If his horse be taken by any one who desires to take the horse, let the horse go; (for) is not he (by God’s help), the winner?
گر برد اسپش هر آنک اسپ‌جوست ** اسپ رو گو نه که پیش آهنگ اوست
How should there be an affinity between a man and a horse? His love for the horse is (only) for the purpose of getting in front (of others).
مرد را با اسپ کی خویشی بود ** عشق اسپش از پی پیشی بود