آن که در خلوت نظر بر دوخته ست ** آخر آن را هم ز یار آموخته ست
He who has fixed his gaze upon seclusion (and made it his object), after all ’tis from the friend (of God) that he has learned that (lesson).
خلوت از اغیار باید نه ز یار ** پوستین بهر دی آمد نه بهار25
One must seclude one's self from strangers, (but) not from the friend: the fur-coat is for winter, not for spring.
عقل با عقل دگر دو تا شود ** نور افزون گشت و ره پیدا شود
(If) the intellect is paired with another intellect, light increases and the way becomes plain;
نفس با نفس دگر خندان شود ** ظلمت افزون گشت و ره پنهان شود
(But if) the fleshly soul makes merry with another fleshly soul, darkness increases, the way becomes hidden.
یار چشم تست ای مرد شکار ** از خس و خاشاک او را پاک دار
The friend is thine eye, O huntsman: keep him pure from (unsoiled by) sticks and straws.
هین به جاروب زبان گردی مکن ** چشم را از خس ره آوردی مکن
Beware! Do not make a dust with thy tongue's broom, do not make a present of rubbish to thine eye.
چون که مومن آینهی مومن بود ** روی او ز آلودگی ایمن بود30
Since the true believer is a mirror for the true believer, his face is safe from defilement.
یار آیینه ست جان را در حزن ** در رخ آیینهای جان دم مزن
The friend is a mirror for the soul in sorrow: breathe not on the face of the mirror, O my soul!
تا نپوشد روی خود را در دمت ** دم فرو خوردن بباید هر دمت
Lest it cover its face to (conceal itself from) thee at once, thou must swallow (suppress) thy breath at every moment.
کم ز خاکی چون که خاکی یار یافت ** از بهاری صد هزار انوار یافت
Art thou less than earth? When a plot of earth finds a friend, that is, a springtide, it finds (gains) a hundred thousand flowers.
آن درختی کاو شود با یار جفت ** از هوای خوش ز سر تا پا شکفت
The tree that is united with a friend, that is, the sweet air (of spring), blossoms from head to foot;
در خزان چون دید او یار خلاف ** در کشید او رو و سر زیر لحاف35
In autumn, when it sees (meets with) a repugnant companion, it withdraws its face and head under the coverlet
گفت یار بد بلا آشفتن است ** چون که او آمد طریقم خفتن است
And says, “A bad comrade is (the means of) stirring up trouble: since he has come, my (best) course is to sleep.
پس بخسپم باشم اصحاب کهف ** به ز دقیانوس آن محبوس لهف
Therefore I will sleep, I will be (like) one of the Men of the Cave (the Seven Sleepers): that prisoner of woe (that sorely distressed one) is better than Decianus.”
یقظه شان مصروف دقیانوس بود ** خوابشان سرمایهی ناموس بود
Their time of waking was expended by (was at the disposal of) Decianus; their sleep was the capital (fundamental source) of their renown.
خواب بیداری ست چون با دانش است ** وای بیداری که با نادان نشست
Sleep, when it is accompanied by wisdom, is (spiritual) wakefulness; (but) alas for the man awake who consorts with the ignorant!
چون که زاغان خیمه بر بهمن زدند ** بلبلان پنهان شدند و تن زدند40
When the crows pitch their tents on Bahman (January), the nightingales hide themselves and are mute,