حنظل از معشوق خرما می‌شود ** خانه از همخانه صحرا می‌شود
Colocynth turns into dates (when it comes) from the beloved; the (narrow) house is made (like) spacious fields by the house-mate.
ای بسا از نازنینان خارکش ** بر امید گل‌عذار ماه‌وش540
Oh, (there is) many a dainty youth that suffers thorns (of anguish) in the hope of (winning) a rose-cheeked moon-like (sweetheart).
ای بسا حمال گشته پشت‌ریش ** از برای دلبر مه‌روی خویش
Oh, (there is) many a porter, his back torn with wounds for the sake of the moon-faced one to whom he has lost his heart.
کرده آهنگر جمال خود سیاه ** تا که شب آید ببوسد روی ماه
The ironsmith has blackened his beauty, that (when) night comes he may kissthe face of (a beloved like) the moon.
خواجه تا شب بر دکانی چار میخ ** زانک سروی در دلش کردست بیخ
The merchant (sits), racked, on a bench (in his shop) till nightfall, because (some one tall and slender as) a cypress has taken root in his heart.
تاجری دریا و خشکی می‌رود ** آن بمهر خانه‌شینی می‌دود
A trader is faring over sea and land: he runs (makes those swift journeys) for live of one who sits at home.
هر که را با مرده سودایی بود ** بر امید زنده‌سیمایی بود545
Whoever has a passion for that which is dead, ‘tis in hope of (gaining) one who has the features of the living.
آن دروگر روی آورده به چوب ** بر امید خدمت مه‌روی خوب
The carpenter turns his face (attention) to wood, in the hope of rendering service to a fair one whose face is like the moon.
بر امید زنده‌ای کن اجتهاد ** کو نگردد بعد روزی دو جماد
Do thou exert thyself in hope of the Living One who does not become lifeless after a day or two!
مونسی مگزین خسی را از خسی ** عاریت باشد درو آن مونسی
Do not from meanness choose a mean person as thy friend: that friendship in him is borrowed (unessential).
انس تو با مادر و بابا کجاست ** گر بجز حق مونسانت را وفاست
If thy friends other than God possess constancy (permanence), where is thy friendship with the mother and father?
انس تو با دایه و لالا چه شد ** گر کسی شاید بغیر حق عضد550
If any one but God is worthy to be relied upon, what has become of thy friendship with thy nurse and tutor?
انس تو با شیر و با پستان نماند ** نفرت تو از دبیرستان نماند
Thy friendship with the milk and the teat did not endure, thy shyness of (going to) school did not endure.
آن شعاعی بود بر دیوارشان ** جانب خورشید وا رفت آن نشان
That (friendship) was a radiance (cast) upon their wall: that sign (of the Sun) went back towards the Sun.
بر هر آن چیزی که افتد آن شعاع ** تو بر آن هم عاشق آیی ای شجاع
On whatsoever thing that radiance may fall, thou becomest in love with that (thing), O brave man.
عشق تو بر هر چه آن موجود بود ** آن ز وصف حق زر اندود بود
On whatsoever existent thing thy love (is bestowed), that (thing) is gilded with Divine qualities.
چون زری با اصل رفت و مس بماند ** طبع سیر آمد طلاق او براند555
When the goldenness has gone to its original source and (only) the copper remains, (thy) nature is surfeited and proceeds to divorce (discard) it.
از زر اندود صفاتش پا بکش ** از جهالت قلب را کم گوی خوش
Withdraw thy foot from that which is gilded by His qualities, do not from ignorance call the base alloy beautiful;
کان خوشی در قلبها عاریتست ** زیر زینت مایه‌ی بی زینتست
For in base coin the beauty is borrowed: beneath the comeliness is the substance uncomely.
زر ز روی قلب در کان می‌رود ** سوی آن کان رو تو هم کان می‌رود
The gold is going from the face of the false coin into the mine (whence it came): do thou too go towards the Mine to which it is going.
نور از دیوار تا خور می‌رود ** تو بدان خور رو که در خور می‌رود
The light is going from the wall up to the sun: do thou go to that Sun which ever goes (moves) in proportion (with eternal right and justice).
زین سپس پستان تو آب از آسمان ** چون ندیدی تو وفا در ناودان560
Henceforth take thou the water (that comes) from Heaven, forasmuch as thou hast not found faithfulness in the aqueduct.
معدن دنبه نباشد دام گرگ ** کی شناسد معدن آن گرگ سترگ
The lure to catch the wolf is (the sheep’s tail; it is) not the place (shop) where the sheep’s tail came from: how should that fierce wolf know the place of provenance?
زر گمان بردند بسته در گره ** می‌شتابیدند مغروران به ده
They (the Khwaja and his family) imagined (that they would be) gold tied in knots, (so) the deluded (party) were making haste to (reach) the countryside.
همچنین خندان و رقصان می‌شدند ** سوی آن دولاب چرخی می‌زدند
Thus were they going alone, laughing and dancing and caracoling towards the water-wheel.