The spirits which have escaped from their cages are the prophets, (those) worthy guides.
از برون آوازشان آید ز دین ** که ره رستن ترا این است این
From without comes their voice, (telling) of religion, (and crying), “This, this is the way of escape for thee.
ما به دین رستیم زین ننگین قفس ** جز که این ره نیست چاره‌‌ی این قفس
By this we escaped from this narrow cage: there is no means of escape from this cage but this way,
خویش را رنجور سازی زار زار ** تا ترا بیرون کنند از اشتهار1545
(That) thou shouldst make thyself ill, exceedingly wretched, in order that thou mayst be let out from (the cage of) reputation.”
که اشتهار خلق بند محکم است ** در ره این از بند آهن کی کم است
Worldly reputation is a strong chain: in the Way how is this less than a chain of iron?
قصه‌‌ی بازرگان که طوطی محبوس او او را پیغام داد به طوطیان هندوستان هنگام رفتن به تجارت
The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.
بود بازرگانی او را طوطیی ** در قفس محبوس زیبا طوطیی
There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.
چون که بازرگان سفر را ساز کرد ** سوی هندستان شدن آغاز کرد
When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,
هر غلام و هر کنیزک را ز جود ** گفت بهر تو چه آرم گوی زود
Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”
هر یکی از وی مرادی خواست کرد ** جمله را وعده بداد آن نیک مرد1550
Each one asked him for some object of desire: that good man gave his promise to them all.
گفت طوطی را چه خواهی ارمغان ** کارمت از خطه‌‌ی هندوستان
He said to the parrot, “What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”
گفتش آن طوطی که آن جا طوطیان ** چون ببینی کن ز حال من بیان
The parrot said to him, “When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),
کان فلان طوطی که مشتاق شماست ** از قضای آسمان در حبس ماست
‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you, is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.
بر شما کرد او سلام و داد خواست ** وز شما چاره و ره ارشاد خواست
She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn) from you the means and way of being rightly guided.
گفت می‌‌شاید که من در اشتیاق ** جان دهم اینجا بمیرم در فراق1555
She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you) should give up the ghost and die here in separation?
این روا باشد که من در بند سخت ** گه شما بر سبزه گاهی بر درخت
Is this right—(that) I (should be) in grievous bondage, while ye are now on green plants, now on trees?
این چنین باشد وفای دوستان ** من در این حبس و شما در بوستان
The faith kept by friends, is it like this?—I in this prison and ye in the rose-garden.
یاد آرید ای مهان زین مرغ زار ** یک صبوحی در میان مرغزار
O ye noble ones, call to mind this piteous bird, (and drink in memory of me) a morning-draught amongst the meadows!
یاد یاران یار را میمون بود ** خاصه کان لیلی و این مجنون بود
Happy it is for a friend to be remembered by friends, in particular when that (beloved) is Laylá and this (lover) Majnún.
ای حریفان بت موزون خود ** من قدحها می‌‌خورم پر خون خود1560
O ye who consort with your charming and adored one, am I to be drinking cups filled with my own blood?
یک قدح می نوش کن بر یاد من ** گر همی‌‌خواهی که بدهی داد من
(O thou who art my beloved), quaff one cup of wine in memory of me, if thou art unwilling to do me justice,
یا به یاد این فتاده‌‌ی خاک بیز ** چون که خوردی جرعه ای بر خاک ریز
Or (at least), when thou hast drunk, spill one draught on the earth in memory of this fallen one who sifts dust.
ای عجب آن عهد و آن سوگند کو ** وعده‌‌های آن لب چون قند کو
Oh, where, I wonder, is that covenant and oath? Where are the promises of that lip like candy?
گر فراق بنده از بد بندهگی است ** چون تو با بدبندگی پس فرق چیس
If thy having forsaken thy slave is because of (his) ill service (to thee)—when thou doest ill to the ill-doer, then what is the difference (between master and slave)?
ای بدی که تو کنی در خشم و جنگ ** با طرب تر از سماع و بانگ چنگ1565
Oh, the ill thou doest in wrath and quarrel is more delightful than music and the sound of the harp.