کی شکوفه آستین پر نثار ** بر فشاندن گیرد ایام بهار
How shall the blossoms begin to shake out their sleeves full of largesse in the days of Spring?
کی فروزد لاله را رخ همچو خون ** کی گل از کیسه بر آرد زر برون1660
How shall the cheeks of the anemone flame like blood? How shall the rose bring gold out of its purse?
کی بیاید بلبل و گل بو کند ** کی چو طالب فاخته کوکو کند
How shall the nightingale come and smell the rose? How shall the dove say “coo, coo,” as one that seeks?
کی بگوید لکلک آن لک لک به جان ** لک چه باشد ملک تست ای مستعان
How shall the stork utter with (all) its soul the cry lak, lak? What is (the meaning of) lak? (It means) “Thine is the kingdom, O Thou whose help is invoked.”
کی نماید خاک اسرار ضمیر ** کی شود بیآسمان بستان منیر
How shall the earth show forth the secrets of its inmost mind? How shall the garden become radiant without the sky?
از کجا آوردهاند آن حلهها ** من کریم من رحیم کلها
Whence have they fetched those garments (fair qualities)? (They have derived) all of them from One who is Bounteous and Merciful.
آن لطافتها نشان شاهدی است ** آن نشان پای مرد عابدی است1665
Those graces are the signs of a Witness: they are the footprints of a man devoted to (God's) service.
آن شود شاد از نشان کاو دید شاه ** چون ندید او را نباشد انتباه
(None but) that person that has seen the King is gladdened by the sign; when one has not seen Him, there is no recognition.
روح آن کس کاو به هنگام أ لست ** دید رب خویش و شد بیخویش و مست
The spirit of that one who at the time of Am not I (your Lord)? saw his Lord and became beside himself and intoxicated—
او شناسد بوی می کاو می بخورد ** چون نخورد او می چه داند بوی کرد
He (that spirit) knows the scent of the wine because he drank it (before); when he has not drunk it, how can he scent it?
ز انکه حکمت همچو ناقهی ضاله است ** همچو دلاله شهان را داله است
For Wisdom is like a stray camel: like a go-between, it guides (those who find and recognise it) to (the presence of) kings.
تو ببینی خواب در یک خوش لقا ** کاو دهد وعده و نشانی مر ترا1670
You behold in dream a person of pleasing countenance, who gives you a promise and a sign
که مراد تو شود اینک نشان ** که بپیش آید ترا فردا فلان
That your desire will come to pass; here is the sign—such and such a person will meet you to-morrow.
یک نشانی آن که او باشد سوار ** یک نشانی که ترا گیرد کنار
One sign is that he will be riding; one sign is that he will clasp you to his breast;
یک نشانی که بخندد پیش تو ** یک نشان که دست بندد پیش تو
One sign is that he will smile before you; one sign is that he will fold his hands in your presence;
یک نشانی آن که این خواب از هوس ** چون شود فردا نگویی پیش کس
One sign is that when the morrow comes you will not tell this dream to any one, though you would fain do so.
ز ان نشان با والد یحیی بگفت ** که نیایی تا سه روز اصلا به گفت1675
Concerning that (last-mentioned) sign, He (God) said to Zakariyyá (Zacharias), “Thou shalt not begin to speak at all till three days (have passed).
تا سه شب خامش کن از نیک و بدت ** این نشان باشد که یحیی آیدت
For three nights keep silence as to thy good and ill: this will be the sign that Yahyá will come (be born) to thee.
دم مزن سه روز اندر گفتوگو ** کاین سکوت است آیت مقصود تو
During three days do not breathe a word, for this silence is the sign of (the fulfilment) of thy purpose.
هین میاور این نشان را تو به گفت ** وین سخن را دار اندر دل نهفت
Beware! do not thou speak of this sign, and keep this matter hidden in thy heart.”
این نشانها گویدش همچون شکر ** این چه باشد صد نشانی دگر
He (the person dreamed of) will sweetly tell these signs to him (the dreamer). What are these signs (alone)? (He will tell him) a hundred signs besides.
این نشان آن بود کان ملک و جاه ** که همیجویی بیابی از اله1680
This (which follows) is the sign that you will gain from God the (spiritual) kingdom and power that you are seeking—
آن که میگریی به شبهای دراز ** و انکه میسوزی سحرگه در نیاز
That you weep continually in the long nights, and that you are always ardent in supplication at the hour of dawn;
آن که بیآن روز تو تاریک شد ** همچو دوکی گردنت باریک شد
That, in the absence of that (which you seek), your day has become dark; (that) your neck has become thin as a spindle;
و آن چه دادی هر چه داری در زکات ** چون زکات پاک بازان رختهات
And what you have given in alms (is) all that you possess, (so that) your belongings (are entirely bestowed in charity) like the alms of those who gamble all away;