پیش شاهان گر خطر باشد به جان ** لیک نشکیبد از او با همتان
If in the presence of kings there be danger to life, yet they that aspire cannot refrain from (presence with) Him.
شاه چون شیرینتر از شکر بود ** جان به شیرینی رود خوشتر بود
Since the King is sweeter than sugar, ’tis better that life should go (as a sacrifice) to (that) sweetness.
ای ملامت گر سلامت مر ترا ** ای سلامت جو تویی واهی العری1375
O blamer (of lovers), safety be thine! O seeker of safety, thou art infirm.
جان من کوره ست با آتش خوش است ** کوره را این بس که خانهی آتش است
My soul is a furnace: it is happy with the fire: ’tis enough for the furnace that it is the fire's house.
همچو کوره عشق را سوزیدنی است ** هر که او زین کور باشد کوره نیست
For Love, as (for) the furnace, there is something to be burned: any one that is blind to this is not a furnace.
برگ بیبرگی ترا چون برگ شد ** جان باقی یافتی و مرگ شد
When the provision of unprovidedness has become your provision, you have gained life everlasting, and death is gone.
چون ترا غم شادی افزودن گرفت ** روضهی جانت گل و سوسن گرفت
When the pain (of love) has begun to increase your (spiritual) joy, roses and lilies have taken possession of the garden of your soul.
آن چه خوف دیگران آن امن تست ** بط قوی از بحر و مرغ خانه سست1380
That which is the dread of others is your safety (safeguard): the duck is (made) strong by the river, the domestic fowl weak.
باز دیوانه شدم من ای طبیب ** باز سودایی شدم من ای حبیب
Once more have I become mad, O Physician! Once more have I become frenzied, O Beloved!
حلقههای سلسلهی تو ذو فنون ** هر یکی حلقه دهد دیگر جنون
The rings (links) of Thy chain are multiform: every single ring gives a different madness.
داد هر حلقه فنونی دیگر است ** پس مرا هر دم جنونی دیگر است
The gift of every ring is (consists in) different forms: therefore I have a different madness at every moment.
پس فنون باشد جنون این شد مثل ** خاصه در زنجیر این میر اجل
So “Madness is of different forms”—this has become a proverb; especially (is it true) as regards the chain of this most glorious Prince.
آن چنان دیوانگی بگسست بند ** که همه دیوانگان پندم دهند1385
Such a madness has broken the bonds (of my reason) that all madmen would give me admonition.
آمدن دوستان به بیمارستان جهت پرسش ذو النون مصری
How friends came to the madhouse for Dhu ’l-Nún—may God sanctify his honoured spirit!
این چنین ذو النون مصری را فتاد ** کاندر او شور و جنونی نو بزاد
It so happened to Dhu ’l-Nún the Egyptian that a new agitation and madness was born within him.
شور چندان شد که تا فوق فلک ** میرسید از وی جگرها را نمک
His agitation became so great that salt (bitterness) from it was reaching (all) hearts up to above the sky.
هین منه تو شور خود ای شوره خاک ** پهلوی شور خداوندان پاک
Beware, O (thou of) salty soil, do not put thy agitation beside (in comparison with) the agitation of the holy lords (saints).
خلق را تاب جنون او نبود ** آتش او ریشهاشان میربود
The people could not endure his madness: his fire was carrying off their beards.
چون که در ریش عوام آتش فتاد ** بند کردندش به زندانی نهاد1390
When (that) fire fell on the beards of the vulgar, they bound him and put him in a prison.
نیست امکان واکشیدن این لگام ** گر چه زین ره تنگ میآیند عام
There is no possibility of pulling back this rein, though the vulgar be distressed by this way.
دیده این شاهان ز عامه خوف جان ** کاین گره کورند و شاهان بینشان
These (spiritual) kings have seen (themselves in) danger of their lives from the vulgar; for this multitude are blind, and the kings (are) without (a visible) mark.
چون که حکم اندر کف رندان بود ** لاجرم ذو النون در زندان بود
When authority is in the hands of profligates, (a) Dhu ’l-Nún is inevitably in prison.
یک سواره میرود شاه عظیم ** در کف طفلان چنین در یتیم
The great king rides alone! Such a unique pearl in the hands of children!
در چه دریا نهان در قطرهای ** آفتابی مخفی اندر ذرهای1395
What pearl? (Nay), the Sea hidden in a drop, a Sun concealed in a mote.
آفتابی خویش را ذره نمود ** و اندک اندک روی خود را بر گشود
A Sun showed itself as a mote, and little by little uncovered its face.
جملهی ذرات در وی محو شد ** عالم از وی مست گشت و صحو شد
All motes vanished in it; the (whole) world became intoxicated by it and (then) became sober.