گر چه تفسیر زبان روشن‌‌گر است ** لیک عشق بی‌‌زبان روشن‌‌تر است
Although the commentary of the tongue makes (all) clear, yet tongueless love is clearer.
چون قلم اندر نوشتن می‌‌شتافت ** چون به عشق آمد قلم بر خود شکافت
Whilst the pen was making haste in writing, it split upon itself as soon as it came to Love.
عقل در شرحش چو خر در گل بخفت ** شرح عشق و عاشقی هم عشق گفت115
In expounding it (Love), the intellect lay down (helplessly) like an ass in the mire: it was Love (alone) that uttered the explanation of love and loverhood.
آفتاب آمد دلیل آفتاب ** گر دلیلت باید از وی رو متاب
The proof of the sun is the sun (himself): if thou require the proof, do not avert thy face from him!
از وی ار سایه نشانی می‌‌دهد ** شمس هر دم نور جانی می‌‌دهد
If the shadow gives an indication of him, the sun (himself) gives spiritual light every moment.
سایه خواب آرد ترا همچون سمر ** چون بر آید شمس انشق القمر
The shadow, like chat in the night-hours, brings sleep to thee; when the sun rises the moon is cloven asunder.
خود غریبی در جهان چون شمس نیست ** شمس جان باقیی کش امس نیست
There is nothing in the world so wondrous strange as the Sun, the everlasting spiritual Sun which hath no yesterday.
شمس در خارج اگر چه هست فرد ** می‌‌توان هم مثل او تصویر کرد120
Although the external sun is unique, still it is possible to imagine one resembling it;
شمس جان کاو خارج آمد از اثیر ** نبودش در ذهن و در خارج نظیر
But the Sun by which the aether was brought into existence hath no peer.
در تصور ذات او را گنج کو ** تا در آید در تصور مثل او
Where is room in the imagination for His essence, that the like of Him should come into the imagination?
چون حدیث روی شمس الدین رسید ** شمس چارم آسمان سر در کشید
When news arrived of the face of Shamsu’ddín (the Sun of the Religion), the sun of the fourth heaven drew in its head (hid itself for shame).
واجب آید چون که آمد نام او ** شرح کردن رمزی از انعام او
Since his name has come (to my lips), it behoves me to set forth some hint of his bounty.
این نفس جان دامنم بر تافته ست ** بوی پیراهان یوسف یافته ست125
At this moment my Soul has plucked my skirt: he has caught the perfume of Joseph's vest.
از برای حق صحبت سالها ** باز گو حالی از آن خوش حالها
(He said): “For the sake of our years of companionship, recount one of those sweet ecstasies,
تا زمین و آسمان خندان شود ** عقل و روح و دیده صد چندان شود
That earth and heaven may laugh (with joy), that intellect and spirit and eye may increase a hundredfold.”
لا تکلفنی فإنی فی الفنا ** کلت أفهامی فلا أحصی ثنا
(I said): “Do not lay tasks on me, for I have passed away from myself (faná); my apprehensions are blunted and I know not how to praise.
کل شی‌‌ء قاله غیر المفیق ** إن تکلف أو تصلف لا یلیق
Everything that is said by one who has not returned to consciousness, if he constrains himself or boastfully exaggerates, is unseemly.
من چه گویم یک رگم هشیار نیست ** شرح آن یاری که او را یار نیست130
How should I—not a vein of mine is sensible—describe that Friend who hath no peer?
شرح این هجران و این خون جگر ** این زمان بگذار تا وقت دگر
The description of this severance and this heart's blood do thou at present leave over till another time.”
قال أطعمنی فإنی جائع ** و اعتجل فالوقت سیف قاطع
He said: “Feed me, for I am hungry, and make haste, for Time is a cutting sword.
صوفی ابن الوقت باشد ای رفیق ** نیست فردا گفتن از شرط طریق
The Súfí is the son of the (present) time, O comrade: it is not the rule of the Way to say ‘To-morrow.’
تو مگر خود مرد صوفی نیستی ** هست را از نسیه خیزد نیستی
Art not thou indeed a Súfí, then? That which is (in hand) is reduced to naught by postponing the payment.”
گفتمش پوشیده خوشتر سر یار ** خود تو در ضمن حکایت گوش دار135
I said to him: “It is better that the secret of the Friend should be disguised: do thou hearken (to it as implied) in the contents of the tale.
خوشتر آن باشد که سر دلبران ** گفته آید در حدیث دیگران
It is better that the lovers' secret should be told in the talk of others.”
گفت مکشوف و برهنه گوی این ** آشکارا به که پنهان ذکر دین
He said: “Tell this openly and nakedly: talk of religion is better overt than covert.