آنچنان نامی که اشیا را سزد ** نه چنانک حیز را خواند اسد
(It was bestowing) such a name as fits the things (named), not so as to call a catamite a lion (hero).
نوح نهصد سال در راه سوی ** بود هر روزیش تذکیر نوی
Nine hundred years Noah (walked) in the straight way, and every day he had a new sermon to preach.
لعل او گویا ز یاقوت القلوب ** نه رساله خوانده نه قوت القلوب
His ruby (lip) drew its eloquence from the corundum (precious jewel) in the hearts (of prophets): he had not read (mystical books like) the Risála or the Qútu ’l-qulúb.
وعظ را ناموخته هیچ از شروح ** بلک ینبوع کشوف و شرح روح
He had never learned to preach from (studying) commentaries; nay, (he learned) from the fountain of revelations and from the exposition (set forth) by the spirit—
زان میی کان می چو نوشیده شود ** آب نطق از گنگ جوشیده شود 2655
From the wine that (is so potent that) when it is quaffed the water of speech gushes from (the mouth of) the dumb,
طفل نوزاده شود حبر فصیح ** حکمت بالغ بخواند چون مسیح
And the new-born child becomes an eloquent divine and, like the Messiah (Christ), recites (words of) mature wisdom.
از کهی که یافت زان می خوش‌لبی ** صد غزل آموخت داود نبی
The prophet David learned a hundred odes (melodies) from the mountain that gained from that wine (the gift of) sweet song.
جمله مرغان ترک کرده چیک چیک ** هم‌زبان و یار داود ملیک
All the birds left off chirping and joined their voices with King David as accompanists.
چه عجب که مرغ گردد مست او ** هم شنود آهن ندای دست او
What wonder that a bird should be enraptured by him, since (even) iron obeyed the call of his hand?
صرصری بر عاد قتالی شده ** مر سلیمان را چو حمالی شده 2660
A roaring wind became murderous to (the people of) ‘Ád, (but) to Solomon it became (serviceable) as a carrier.
صرصری می‌برد بر سر تخت شاه ** هر صباح و هر مسا یک ماهه راه
A roaring wind carried on its head the throne of the king (Solomon) a month's journey every morn and eve.
هم شده حمال و هم جاسوس او ** گفت غایب را کنان محسوس او
It became both a carrier and a spy for him, making the talk of the absent to be apprehended by him.
باد دم که گفت غایب یافتی ** سوی گوش آن ملک بشتافتی
The waft of air that caught the words of the absent would hasten to the ear of the king,
که فلانی این چنین گفت این زمان ** ای سلیمان مه صاحب‌قران
Saying, “Such-and-such an one said so-and-so just now, O mighty Solomon of auspicious fortune!”
تدبیر کردن موش به چغز کی من نمی‌توانم بر تو آمدن به وقت حاجت در آب میان ما وصلتی باید کی چون من بر لب جو آیم ترا توانم خبر کردن و تو چون بر سر سوراخ موش‌خانه آیی مرا توانی خبر کردن الی آخره
How the mouse made an arrangement with the frog, saying, “I cannot come to you in the water when I want (to see you). There must be some means of communication between us, so that when I come to the river-bank I may be able to let you know, and when you come to the mouse-hole you may be able to let me know, etc.”
این سخن پایان ندارد گفت موش ** چغز را روزی کای مصباح هوش 2665
This topic is endless. One day the mouse said to the frog, “O lamp of intelligence,
وقتها خواهم که گویم با تو راز ** تو درون آب داری ترک‌تاز
At times I wish to talk with you in secret, and you are gambolling in the water.
بر لب جو من ترا نعره‌زنان ** نشنوی در آب ناله‌ی عاشقان
I am on the river-bank, crying aloud for you, (but) you in the water do not hear the wailing of lovers.
من بدین وقت معین ای دلیر ** می‌نگردم از محاکات تو سیر
(When we meet) at this appointed time, O brave (frog), I never become weary of conversing with you.”
پنج وقت آمد نماز و رهنمون ** عاشقان را فی صلاة دائمون
The (ritual) prayer is five times (daily), but the guide for lovers is (the Verse), (they who are) in prayer continually.
نه به پنج آرام گیرد آن خمار ** که در آن سرهاست نی پانصد هزار 2670
The wine-headache that is in those heads is not relieved by five (times) nor by five hundred thousand.
نیست زر غبا وظیفه‌ی عاشقان ** سخت مستسقیست جان صادقان
“Visit once a week” is not the ration for lovers; the soul of the sincere (lovers) has an intense craving to drink.
“Visit once a week” is not the ration for (those) fishes, since they feel no spiritual joy without the Sea.
آب این دریا که هایل بقعه‌ایست ** با خمار ماهیان خود جرعه‌ایست
Notwithstanding the crop-sickness of the fishes, the water of this Sea, which is a tremendous place, is but a single draught (too little to satisfy them).
یک دم هجران بر عاشق چو سال ** وصل سالی متصل پیشش خیال
To the lover one moment of separation is as a year; to him a (whole) year's uninterrupted union is a (fleeting) fancy.
عشق مستسقیست مستسقی‌طلب ** در پی هم این و آن چون روز و شب 2675
Love craves to drink and seeks him who craves to drink: this (Love) and that (lover) are at each other's heels, like Day and Night.