پس کشیدندش به شه بی‌اختیار ** شست در مجلس ترش چون زهر و مار
So they brought him to the king, (for) he had no choice (power to resist): he sat down in the hall, (looking) sour as poison and snakes.
عرضه کردش می نپذرفت او به خشم ** از شه و ساقی بگردانید چشم
(When) he (the cup-bearer) offered him wine, he angrily refused it and averted his eyes from the king and the cup-bearer,
که به عمر خود نخوردستم شراب ** خوشتر آید از شرابم زهر ناب
Saying, “I have never drunk wine in my life: rank poison would please me better than wine.
هین به جای می به من زهری دهید ** تا من از خویش و شما زین وا رهید
Hey, give me some poison instead of the wine, that I may be delivered from myself and ye from this (impoliteness).”
می نخورده عربده آغاز کرد ** گشته در مجلس گران چون مرگ و درد 3920
Without having drunk wine, he began to make a row and became as disagreeable to the company as death and (its) pangs.
هم‌چو اهل نفس و اهل آب و گل ** در جهان بنشسته با اصحاب دل
(This is) like (the behaviour of) carnal earthly-minded people in the world when they sit (associate) with spiritual folk.
حق ندارد خاصگان را در کمون ** از می احرار جز در یشربون
God keeps His elect (ever) drinking secretly the wine of the free.
عرضه می‌دارند بر محجوب جام ** حس نمی‌یابد از آن غیر کلام
They offer the cup to one who is veiled (uninitiated), (but his) perception apprehends naught thereof except the (literal) words.
رو همی گرداند از ارشادشان ** که نمی‌بیند به دیده دادشان
He averts his face from their guidance because he does not see their gift with his eye.
گر ز گوشش تا به حلقش ره بدی ** سر نصح اندر درونشان در شدی 3925
If there were a passage from his ear to his throat, the hidden meaning of their admonition would have entered his inward parts.
چون همه نارست جانش نیست نور ** که افکند در نار سوزان جز قشور
Inasmuch as his spirit is wholly fire, not light, who would throw anything but husks into a blazing fire?
مغز بیرون ماند و قشر گفت رفت ** کی شود از قشر معده گرم و زفت
The kernel remains outside and the husk, (consisting of mere) words, goes (in): how should the stomach be made warm and stout by husks?
نار دوزخ جز که قشر افشار نیست ** نار را با هیچ مغزی کار نیست
The Fire of Hell torments only the husks: the Fire has nothing to do with any kernel;
ور بود بر مغز ناری شعله‌زن ** بهر پختن دان نه بهر سوختن
And if a fire should dart its flames at the kernel, know that ’tis in order to cook it, not to burn it.
تا که باشد حق حکیم این قاعده ** مستمر دان در گذشته و نامده 3930
So long as God is the Wise, know that this law is perpetual (both) in the past and in the time that has not (yet) come.
مغز نغز و قشرها مغفور ازو ** مغز را پس چون بسوزد دور ازو
The pure kernels and (also) the husks are pardoned by Him: how, then, should He burn the kernel? Far (be it) from Him!
از عنایت گر بکوبد بر سرش ** اشتها آید شراب احمرش
If in His grace He beat the head of him (who resembles the husk), he (such an one) will feel an eager desire for the red wine;
ور نکوبد ماند او بسته‌دهان ** چون فقیه از شرب و بزم این شهان
And if He do not beat him, he will remain, like the jurist, with his mouth closed against the potations and festivity of these (spiritual) kings.
گفت شه با ساقیش ای نیک‌پی ** چه خموشی ده به طبعش آر هی
The king said to his cup-bearer, “O well-conducted (youth), why art thou silent? Give (it him) and put him in good humour.”
هست پنهان حاکمی بر هر خرد ** هرکه را خواهد به فن از سر برد 3935
Over every mind there is a hidden Ruler, (who) cunningly diverts from his purpose whomsoever He will.
آفتاب مشرق و تنویر او ** چون اسیران بسته در زنجیر او
The sun in the East and his radiance are bound like captives in His chain.
چرخ را چرخ اندر آرد در زمن ** چون بخواند در دماغش نیم فن
He causes the (celestial) sphere to revolve immediately when He chants half of a cunning spell in its brain.
عقل کو عقل دگر را سخره کرد ** مهره زو دارد ویست استاد نرد
The mind which dominates another mind has (obtains) the dice (of victory) from Him: He is the Master-player.
چند سیلی بر سرش زد گفت گیر ** در کشید از بیم سیلی آن زحیر
He (the cup-bearer) gave him (the jurist) several cuffs on the head, saying, “Take (the cup)!” The tormented man drained it in dread of (receiving further) blows.
مست گشت و شاد و خندان شد چو باغ ** در ندیمی و مضاحک رفت و لاغ 3940
He became tipsy and merry and smiling (gay) as a garden: he began to act like a boon-companion and tell ridiculous stories and make jokes.