هم‌چنان چون شاه فرمود اصبروا ** رغبتی باید کزان تابی تو رو

Similarly, since the King (God) has given the command ‘Refrain yourselves,’ there must be some desire from which thou shouldst avert thy face.

پس کلوا از بهر دام شهوتست ** بعد از آن لاتسرفوا آن عفتست

Hence (the command) ‘Eat ye’ is for the sake of the snare (temptation) of appetite; after that (comes) ‘Do not exceed’: that is temperance.

چونک محمول به نبود لدیه ** نیست ممکن بود محمول علیه

When there is no ‘predicate’ (relative quality) in him (any one), the existence of the ‘subject’ (the correlative term) is impossible.

چونک رنج صبر نبود مر ترا ** شرط نبود پس فرو ناید جزا

When thou hast not the pain of self-restraint, there is no protasis: therefore the apodosis (recompense) does not follow.

حبذا آن شرط و شادا آن جزا ** آن جزای دل‌نواز جان‌فزا 585

How admirable is that protasis and how joyful is that apodosis (recompense), a recompense that charms the heart and increases the life of the spirit!

در بیان آنک ثواب عمل عاشق از حق هم حق است

Explaining that God (Himself) is the reward bestowed by Him for the (devotional) work of the lover.

عاشقان را شادمانی و غم اوست ** دست‌مزد و اجرت خدمت هم اوست

For (His) lovers He (alone) is (all their) joy and sorrow; He (alone) is their wages and hire for service.

غیر معشوق ار تماشایی بود ** عشق نبود هرزه سودایی بود

If there be any spectacle (object of regard for them) except the Beloved, ’tis not love: ’tis an idle passion.

عشق آن شعله‌ست کو چون بر فروخت ** هرچه جز معشوق باقی جمله سوخت

Love is that flame which, when it blazes up, consumes everything else but the Beloved.

تیغ لا در قتل غیر حق براند ** در نگر زان پس که بعد لا چه ماند

He (the lover) drives home the sword of Not in order to kill all other than God: thereupon consider what remains after Not.

ماند الا الله باقی جمله رفت ** شاد باش ای عشق شرکت‌سوز زفت 590

There remains except God: all the rest is gone. Hail, O mighty Love, destroyer of polytheism!