گر بگویم فوت می‌گردد بکا ** ور نگویم چون کنم شکر و ثنا4710
If I speak, the weeping will be lost; and if I weep, how shall I render thanks and praise?
می‌فتد از دیده خون دل شها ** بین چه افتادست از دیده مرا
Heart’s blood is falling from mine eye, O King: see what has befallen me from mine eye!”
این بگفت و گریه در شد آن نحیف ** که برو بگریست هم دون هم شریف
The emaciated man said this and began to weep (so violently) that both base and noble wept for him.
از دلش چندان بر آمد های هوی ** حلقه کرد اهل بخارا گرد اوی
So many ecstatic cries came up from his heart (that) the people of Bukhárá made a ring around him.
خیره گویان خیره گریان خیره‌خند ** مرد و زن خرد و کلان حیران شدند
(He was) speaking crazily, weeping crazily, laughing crazily: men and women, small and great were bewildered.
شهر هم هم‌رنگ او شد اشک ریز ** مرد و زن درهم شده چون رستخیز4715
The (whole) city, too, shed tears in conformity with him: men and women were gathered together as (at) the Resurrection.
آسمان می‌گفت آن دم با زمین ** گر قیامت را ندیدستی ببین
At that moment the heaven was saying to the earth, “If thou hast never seen the Resurrection, behold it (now)!”
عقل حیران که چه عشق است و چه حال ** تا فراق او عجب‌تر یا وصال
The intellect (was) bewildered, saying, "What is love and what is ecstasy? (I know not) whether separation from Him or union with Him is the more marvellous."
چرخ بر خوانده قیامت‌نامه را ** تا مجره بر دریده جامه را
The sky read the letter (announcement) of Resurrection (and was so distraught that) it rent its garment up to the Milky Way.
با دو عالم عشق را بیگانگی ** اندرو هفتاد و دو دیوانگی
Love bath estrangement with (is a stranger to) the two worlds: in it are two-and-seventy madnesses.
سخت پنهانست و پیدا حیرتش ** جان سلطانان جان در حسرتش4720
It is exceedingly hidden, and (only) its bewilderment is manifest the soul of the spiritual sultans is pining for it
غیر هفتاد و دو ملت کیش او ** تخت شاهان تخته‌بندی پیش او
Its religion is other than (that of) the two-and-seventy sects: beside it the throne of Kings is (but) a splint-bandage.
مطرب عشق این زند وقت سماع ** بندگی بند و خداوندی صداع
At the time of the samá’ Love’s minstrel strikes up this (strain): “Servitude is chains and lordship headache.”
پس چه باشد عشق دریای عدم ** در شکسته عقل را آنجا قدم
Then what is Love? The Sea of Not-being: there the foot of the intellect is shattered.
بندگی و سلطنت معلوم شد ** زین دو پرده عاشقی مکتوم شد
Servitude and sovereignty are known: loverhood is concealed by these two veils.
کاشکی هستی زبانی داشتی ** تا ز هستان پرده‌ها برداشتی4725
Would that Being had a tongue; that it might remove the veils from existent beings!
هر چه گویی ای دم هستی از آن ** پرده‌ی دیگر برو بستی بدان
O breath of (phenomenal) existence, whatsoever words thou mayest utter, know that thereby thou hast bound another veil upon it (the mystery).
آفت ادراک آن قالست و حال ** خون بخون شستن محالست و محال
That utterance and (that) state (of existence) are the bane of (spiritual) perception: to wash away blood with blood is absurd, absurd.
من چو با سوداییانش محرمم ** روز و شب اندر قفص در می‌دمم
Since I am familiar with His frenzied ones, day and night I am breathing forth (the secrets of Love) in the cage (of phenomenal existence).
سخت مست و بی‌خود و آشفته‌ای ** دوش ای جان بر چه پهلو خفته‌ای
Thou art mightily drunken and senseless and distraught: yesternight on which side hast thou slept, O (my) soul?
هان و هان هش دار بر ناری دمی ** اولا بر جه طلب کن محرمی4730
Beware, beware! Take heed lest thou utter a breath! First spring up and seek a trusted friend.
عاشق و مستی و بگشاده زبان ** الله الله اشتری بر ناودان
Thou art a lover and intoxicated, and thy tongue (is) loosed! —God! God! thou art (like) the camel on the water-spout!
چون ز راز و ناز او گوید زبان ** یا جمیل الستر خواند آسمان
When the tongue tells of His mystery and coquetry, Heaven chants (the prayer), “O Thou that art goodly in covering!”
ستر چه در پشم و پنبه آذرست ** تا همی‌پوشیش او پیداترست
What covering (can there be)? The fire is in the wool cotton whilst thou art covering it up, it is (all the) more manifest.
چون بکوشم تا سرش پنهان کنم ** سر بر آرد چون علم کاینک منم
When I endeavour to hide His (Love’s) secret, He lifts up His head, like a banner, saying, “Look, here am I!”