بخش 74 - قصهٔ ایاز و حجره داشتن او جهت چارق و پوستین و گمان آمدن خواجه تاشانش را کی او را در آن حجره دفینه است به سبب محکمی در و گرانی قفل

Impelled by sagacity, Ayáz hung up his sheepskin jacket and rustic shoon.

Every day he would go into the private chamber, (saying to himself), “These are thy shoon: do not regard thy (present) eminence.”

They (his rivals) said to the King (Mahmúd), “He has a chamber, and in it there is gold and silver and a jar (of treasure).

He admits no one into it: he always keeps the door locked.”

The King said, “Oh, I wonder what in sooth that servant (of mine) has that is hidden and concealed from me.”

Then he gave orders to a certain Amír, saying, “Go at midnight and open (the door) and enter the room.

Whatever you find is yours: plunder him, expose his secret to the courtiers.

Notwithstanding such innumerable kindnesses and favours (as I have bestowed upon him), does he meanly hide silver and gold (from me)?

He professes loyalty and love and enthusiasm—and then (after all) he is one who shows wheat and sells barley!

To any one who finds life in love, aught but (devoted) service would seem infidelity.”

At midnight the Amír with thirty trusted (officers) set out to open his chamber,

And all these valiant men, carrying torches, moved joyfully in that direction,

Saying, “’Tis the Sultan's command: let us raid the room and each of us pocket a purse of gold.”

“Hey!” cried one of them, “why trouble about gold?” Talk (rather) of cornelians and rubies and (all sorts of) jewels.

He is the most privileged (keeper) of the Sultan's treasury: nay, he is now (as dear) to the King (as) life itself.”

What worth should rubies and corundums and emeralds or cornelians possess in the eyes of this man (so) beloved (of the King)?

The King had no evil thoughts of him: he was (only) making a mock (of the courtiers) by way of trial.

He knew him to be free from all deceitfulness and guile; (yet) again his heart was shaken with misgiving,

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.

He has not done this thing; and if he has, ’tis right: let him do whatever he will, (for) he is my beloved.

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?”

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.

(That) this (should proceed) from Ayáz is absurd and incredible, for he is an ocean whereof none can see the bottom.”

The Seven Seas are (but) a drop in it: the whole of existence is (but) a driblet of its waves.

All purities are fetched from that ocean: its drops, every one, are alchemists.

He is the King of kings; nay, he is the King-maker, though on account of the evil eye his name is “Ayáz.”

Even the good eyes are evil to him in respect of (their) jealousy, for his beauty is infinite.

I want a mouth as broad as heaven to describe the qualities of him who is envied by the angels;

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.

(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).

Since I have seen my heart's phial (to be) fragile, I have rent many a mantle in order to allay (my pain).

Beyond doubt, O worshipful one, I must become mad for three days at the beginning of every month.

Hark, to-day is the first of the triduum: ’tis the day of triumph (pírúz), not (the day of) the turquoise (pírúza).

Every heart that is in love with the King, for it (for that heart) ’tis always the beginning of the month.

Since I have become mad, the story of Mahmúd and the description of Ayáz are now out of order.