مدت شش ماه و افزون پادشاه ** تیر می‌انداخت و برمی‌کند چاه
For six long months and more the king shot arrows and dug pits (where the arrows fell).
هرکجا سخته کمانی بود چست ** تیر داد انداخت و هر سو گنج جست
Wherever an energetic drawer of the strongbow was (to be found), he (the king) gave (him) arrows to shoot and searched for the treasure in every direction.
غیر تشویش و غم و طامات نی ** هم‌چو عنقا نام فاش و ذات نی
(The result was) nothing but vexation and grief and futilities: as (in the case of) the ‘Anqá, the name (of the treasure) was known to all, but the essence (reality) was non-existent.
نومید شدن آن پادشاه از یافتن آن گنج و ملول شدن او از طلب آن
How the king despaired of finding the treasure and became weary of searching for it.
چونک تعویق آمد اندر عرض و طول ** شاه شد زان گنج دل سیر و ملول
When he met with obstacles (to success) in (all) the breadth and length (of his enterprise), the king became sick at heart and weary.
دشتها را گز گز آن شه چاه کند ** رقعه را از خشم پیش او فکند 1960
(After) the king (had) dug pits in the deserts, yard by yard, he threw the scroll wrathfully before him (the fakir).
گفت گیر این رقعه کش آثار نیست ** تو بدین اولیتری کت کار نیست
“Take this scroll,” said he, “which has no (good) effects; you are the fittest (owner) for it, since you have no work.
نیست این کار کسی کش هست کار ** که بسوزد گل بگردد گرد خار
It is no use for one who has work (to do) that he should burn the rose and go about (busy himself with) the thorn.
نادر افتد اهل این ماخولیا ** منتظر که روید از آهن گیا
’Tis singular (how) the victims of this melancholy madness expect grass to grow from iron.
سخت جانی باید این فن را چو تو ** تو که داری جان سخت این را بجو
This specialty needs a man of stout heart like you: do you, who have a stout heart, search for this (treasure).
گر نیابی نبودت هرگز ملال ** ور بیابی آن به تو کردم حلال 1965
If you cannot find it, you will never weary (of seeking); and if you find it, I grant you the right of possession.”
عقل راه ناامیدی کی رود ** عشق باشد کان طرف بر سر دود
How should Reason wend the way of despair? ’Tis Love that runs on its head in that direction.
لاابالی عشق باشد نی خرد ** عقل آن جوید کز آن سودی برد
Love is reckless, not Reason: Reason seeks that from which it may get some profit.
ترک‌تاز و تن‌گداز و بی‌حیا ** در بلا چون سنگ زیر آسیا
(The lover is) fierce in onset and body-consuming and unabashed: in tribulation, like the nether millstone;
سخت‌رویی که ندارد هیچ پشت ** بهره‌جویی را درون خویش کشت
A hard-faced one that has no back: he has killed in himself the seeking of self-interest.
پاک می‌بازد نباشد مزدجو ** آنچنان که پاک می‌گیرد ز هو 1970
He gambles (everything) clean away, he seeks no reward, even as he receives (everything) clean (as a free gift) from Him (God).
می‌دهد حق هستیش بی‌علتی ** می‌سپارد باز بی‌علت فتی
God gives him his existence without any cause: the devoted (lover) yields it up again without cause;
که فتوت دادن بی علتست ** پاک‌بازی خارج هر ملتست
For devotion consists in giving without cause: gambling (one's self) clean away (pure self-sacrifice) is outside of (transcends) every religion.
زانک ملت فضل جوید یا خلاص ** پاک بازانند قربانان خاص
Forasmuch as religion seeks (Divine) grace or salvation, those who gamble (everything) clean away are (God's) chosen favourites.
نی خدا را امتحانی می‌کنند ** نی در سود و زیانی می‌زنند
Neither do they put God to any test, nor do they knock at the door of any profit or loss.
باز دادن شاه گنج‌نامه را به آن فقیر کی بگیر ما از سر این برخاستیم
How the king gave back the treasure-scroll to the fakir, saying, “Take it: we are quit of it.”
چونک رقعه‌ی گنج پر آشوب را ** شه مسلم داشت آن مکروب را 1975
When the king handed over to that grief-stricken man the treasure-scroll (which was) fraught with commotion,
گشت آمن او ز خصمان و ز نیش ** رفت و می‌پیچید در سودای خویش
He (the fakir) became secure from rivals and annoyance, (so) he went and wrapped himself in his melancholy madness.
یار کرد او عشق درداندیش را ** کلب لیسد خویش ریش خویش را
He made sad-thoughted Love his friend: a dog licks his own sore himself.
عشق را در پیچش خود یار نیست ** محرمش در ده یکی دیار نیست
Love hath none to help him in his torment: there is not in the village one inhabitant familiar with him.
نیست از عاشق کسی دیوانه‌تر ** عقل از سودای او کورست و کر
None is more mad than the lover, (yet) Reason is blind and deaf to his melancholia,
زآنک این دیوانگی عام نیست ** طب را ارشاد این احکام نیست 1980
Because this is no common madness: in these cases Medicine cannot give right guidance.