اشکم خالی بود زندان دیو ** کش غم نان مانعست از مکر و ریو
An empty belly is the Devil's prison, because anxiety for bread prevents him from plotting and deceiving.
اشکم پر لوت دان بازار دیو ** تاجران دیو را در وی غریو
Know that a belly full of viands is the Devil's market, where the Devil's merchants raise a clamour:
تاجران ساحر لاشی‌فروش ** عقل‌ها را تیره کرده از خروش
Merchants who practise sorcery and sell worthless goods and obfuscate (men's) wits by vociferation.
خم روان کرده ز سحری چون فرس ** کرده کرباسی ز مهتاب و غلس 4730
By a (trick of) sorcery they cause a vat to run like a horse and make a piece of linen out of moonshine and twilight.
چون بریشم خاک را برمی‌تنند ** خاک در چشم ممیز می‌زنند
They weave earth like silk and throw earth (dust) in the eyes of the discerning.
چندلی را رنگ عودی می‌دهند ** بر کلوخیمان حسودی می‌دهند
They give to a bit of (fragrant) sandal-wood the appearance of a piece of (common) wood; they put in us the envious desire for a clod.
پاک آنک خاک را رنگی دهد ** هم‌چو کودکمان بر آن جنگی دهد
(But) holy is He who giveth (mere) earth a (specious) colour and causes us to quarrel over it like children.
دامنی پر خاک ما چون طفلکان ** در نظرمان خاک هم‌چون زر کان
(The world is) a skirtful of earth, and we are like little children: in our sight the earth is as gold of the mine.
طفل را با بالغان نبود مجال ** طفل را حق کی نشاند با رجال 4735
There is no room for a child beside (grown-up) men: how should God let a child sit with men?
میوه گر کهنه شود تا هست خام ** پخته نبود غوره گویندش به نام
If fruit become old, (yet) so long as it is immature and not ripe it is called ghúra (unripe grapes).
گر شود صدساله آن خام ترش ** طفل و غوره‌ست او بر هر تیزهش
Though (one resembling) immature and sour (fruit) reach the age of a hundred years, he is (still) a child and unripe (ghúra) in the opinion of every sagacious person.
گرچه باشد مو و ریش او سپید ** هم در آن طفلی خوفست و امید
Though his hair and beard be white, he is still in the childish state of fear and hope,
که رسم یا نارسیده مانده‌ام ** ای عجب با من کند کرم آن کرم
Saying, “Shall I attain (to maturity), or am I (to be) left immature? Oh, I wonder, will the Vine bestow that bounty on me?
با چنین ناقابلی و دوریی ** بخشد این غوره‌ی مرا انگوریی 4740
Notwithstanding such an incapacity and remoteness (from God), will He confer on these unripe grapes (ghúra) of mine a perfection like that of the ripe grape (angúr)?
نیستم اومیدوار از هیچ سو ** وان کرم می‌گویدم لا تیاسوا
I have no hopes from any quarter, but that (Divine) Bounty is saying to me, ‘Do not ye despair!’”
دایما خاقان ما کردست طو ** گوشمان را می‌کشد لا تقنطوا
Our Kháqán (Emperor) has made a perpetual feast (for us): He is always pulling our ears (drawing us thither and saying), “Do not lose hope!”
گرچه ما زین ناامیدی در گویم ** چون صلا زد دست اندازان رویم
Although we are in the ditch (and overwhelmed) by this despair, let us go dancing along since He has invited us.
دست اندازیم چون اسپان سیس ** در دویدن سوی مرعای انیس
Let us dance (along) like mettlesome horses galloping towards the familiar pasturage.
گام اندازیم و آنجا گام نی ** جام پردازیم و آنجا جام نی 4745
Let us toss our feet, though no foot is there; let us drain the cup, though no cup is there,
زانک آنجا جمله اشیا جانیست ** معنی اندر معنی اندر معنیست
Because all things there are spiritual: ’tis reality on reality on reality.
هست صورت سایه معنی آفتاب ** نور بی‌سایه بود اندر خراب
Form is the shadow, reality is the sun: the shadowless light is (only to be found) in the ruin.
چونک آنجا خشت بر خشتی نماند ** نور مه را سایه‌ی زشتی نماند
When not a brick is left (resting) on a brick there, no ugly shadow remains in the moonlight.
خشت اگر زرین بود بر کندنیست ** چون بهای خشت وحی و روشنیست
(Even) if the brick be of gold it must be torn away, since (the removal of) the brick is the price paid for inspiration and light.
کوه بهر دفع سایه مندکست ** پاره گشتن بهر این نور اندکست 4750
In order to remove the shadow (of materiality) the mountain (Sinai) is rased to the ground: ’tis a small matter to fall to pieces for the sake of this light.
بر برون که چو زد نور صمد ** پاره شد تا در درونش هم زند
When the light of the Lord struck on the surface of the mountain, it (the mountain) fell to pieces in order that it (the light) should penetrate its interior too.