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
The King, (speaking) with a purpose, said, “What has happened? for your arms are empty of gold and purses;2080
شاه قاصد گفت هین احوال چیست ** که بغلتان از زر و همیان تهیست
And if ye have concealed the pounds and pence, (then) where is the brightness of joy (that should appear) on cheeks and countenance?
ور نهان کردید دینار و تسو ** فر شادی در رخ و رخسار کو
Although the roots of every rooty (tree) are hidden, (yet) the leaves—their marks (upon) their faces—are green.
Lo, the lofty bough is proclaiming what the root has imbibed, whether it be poison or sugar.
آنچ خورد آن بیخ از زهر و ز قند ** نک منادی میکند شاخ بلند
If the root is leafless and without sap, what (then) are (signify) the green leaves on the bough?
بیخ اگر بیبرگ و از مایه تهیست ** برگهای سبز اندر شاخ چیست
The earth lays a seal on the root's tongue, (but) the bough, its hand and foot, is bearing witness.”2085
بر زبان بیخ گل مهری نهد ** شاخ دست و پا گواهی میدهد
All those trusted (officers) began to excuse themselves: they fell prostrate, like a shadow in the presence of the moon.
آن امینان جمله در عذر آمدند ** همچو سایه پیش مه ساجد شدند
In excuse for that heat (hot-headedness) and boasting and egoism they went to the King with sword and winding-sheet,
عذر آن گرمی و لاف و ما و من ** پیش شه رفتند با تیغ و کفن
All of them biting their fingers from shame, and every one saying, “O King of the world,
از خجالت جمله انگشتان گزان ** هر یکی میگفت کای شاه جهان
If thou shed (our) blood, ’tis lawful, lawful (for thee to do so); and if thou forgive, ’tis (an act of) grace and bounty.
گر بریزی خون حلالستت حلال ** ور ببخشی هست انعام و نوال
We have done those deeds that were worthy of us: consider what thou wilt command, O glorious King.2090
کردهایم آنها که از ما میسزید ** تا چه فرمایی تو ای شاه مجید
If thou forgive our crime, O thou who makest the heart radiant, the night will have shown the qualities of night, and the day (those of) day.
گر ببخشی جرم ما ای دلفروز ** شب شبیها کرده باشد روز روز
If thou forgive, despair will be removed; and if not, may a hundred like us be a sacrifice to the King!”
گر ببخشی یافت نومیدی گشاد ** ورنه صد چون ما فدای شاه باد
The King replied, “Nay, I will not show this clemency or deal this punishment: that (right) belongs to Ayáz.
گفت شه نه این نواز و این گداز ** من نخواهم کرد هست آن ایاز
[How the King referred to Ayáz the question of accepting the repentance of the ploiters who had opened his chamber or of punishing them, because he judged that the offence had been committed against his honour.]
حواله کردن پادشاه قبول و توبهی نمامان و حجره گشایان و سزا دادن ایشان با ایاز کی یعنی این جنایت بر عرض او رفته است
This is an offence against his person and honour: the blow is (inflicted) on the veins of that man of goodly ways.
این جنایت بر تن و عرض ویست ** زخم بر رگهای آن نیکوپیست
Although we are spiritually one, formally I am far from (I am unaffected by) this profit and loss.”2095
گرچه نفس واحدیم از روی جان ** ظاهرا دورم ازین سود و زیان
An accusation against a (guilty) servant is no disgrace to the King: it is only (a means of) increasing (His) forbearance and (the servant's) reliance (on His protection).
تهمتی بر بنده شه را عار نیست ** جز مزید حلم و استظهار نیست
Inasmuch as the King makes one who is accused (rich as) Qárún (Korah), consider how He will act towards one who is innocent.
متهم را شاه چون قارون کند ** بیگنه را تو نظر کن چون کند
Deem not the King to be ignorant of any one's actions: ’tis only His forbearance that prevents it (the evil action) from being brought to light.
شاه را غافل مدان از کار کس ** مانع اظهار آن حلمست و بس
Here who shall recklessly intercede with His knowledge— (who) except His forbearance?
من هنا یشفع به پیش علم او ** لا ابالیوار الا حلم او
The sin arises at first from His forbearance; otherwise, how should His awful majesty give (any) room for it (to arise)?2100
آن گنه اول ز حلمش میجهد ** ورنه هیبت آن مجالش کی دهد
(Payment of) the blood-price for the crime of the murderous carnal soul falls on His forbearance: the blood-wit is (an obligation) on the (murderer's) kin.
خونبهای جرم نفس قاتله ** هست بر حلمش دیت بر عاقله
Our carnal soul was intoxicated and made beside itself by that forbearance: during its intoxication the Devil snatched away its cap.
مست و بیخود نفس ما زان حلم بود ** دیو در مستی کلاه از وی ربود
Unless the Sáqí, Forbearance, had poured (the intoxicating) wine, how should the Devil have quarrelled with Adam?
At the time of (his being in possession of) knowledge, who was Adam in relation to the angels? (He was) the teacher of knowledge and the assayer of (its) coins.
گاه علم آدم ملایک را کی بود ** اوستاد علم و نقاد نقود
After he had drunk the wine of (God's) forbearance in Paradise, he was confounded by a single trick of Satan.2105
چونک در جنت شراب حلم خورد ** شد ز یک بازی شیطان روی زرد
The doses of anacardium, (namely), the lessons (given to him) by the Loving One, had made him sagacious and wise and clever;
آن بلادرهای تعلیم ودود ** زیرک و دانا و چستش کرده بود
(But) afterwards the potent opium of His forbearance brought the Thief to (carry away) his (Adam's) property.