این سخن شیر است در پستان جان ** بی‌‌کشنده خوش نمی‌‌گردد روان
This discourse is milk in the teat of the soul: it will not flow well without some one to suck (the teat).
مستمع چون تشنه و جوینده شد ** واعظ ار مرده بود گوینده شد
When the hearer has become thirsty and craving, the preacher, (even) if he be (as good as) dead, becomes eloquent.
مستمع چون تازه آمد بی‌‌ملال ** صد زبان گردد به گفتن گنگ و لال2380
When the hearer is fresh and without fatigue (not bored), the dumb and mute will find a hundred tongues to speak withal.
چون که نامحرم در آید از درم ** پرده در پنهان شوند اهل حرم
When a stranger comes in at my door, the women of the harem hide themselves in the veil,
ور در آید محرمی دور از گزند ** بر گشایند آن ستیران روی‌‌بند
But if a harmless relative should come in, those covered ones will lift up their face-veils.
هر چه را خوب و خوش و زیبا کنند ** از برای دیده‌‌ی بینا کنند
Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made (so) for the eye of him that sees.
کی بود آواز چنگ و زیر و بم ** از برای گوش بی‌‌حس اصم
How should the sound of the harp and treble and bass be (made) for the insentient ear of one who is deaf?
مشک را بی‌‌هوده حق خوش دم نکرد ** بهر حس کرد او پی اخشم نکرد2385
Not in vain did God make musk fragrant: He made it (so) for the sense (of smell), He did not make it for one whose nostrils are stopped (by disease).
حق زمین و آسمان بر ساخته ست ** در میان بس نار و نور افراخته ست
God hath fashioned the earth and the sky, He hath raised in the midst much fire and light.
این زمین را از برای خاکیان ** آسمان را مسکن افلاکیان
(He made) this earth for those (created) of clay, (He made) heaven to be the abode of the celestials.
مرد سفلی دشمن بالا بود ** مشتری هر مکان پیدا بود
The low (base) man is the enemy of what is high: the purchaser (seeker) of each place (Heaven or Hell) is manifest (made known by his actions).
ای ستیره هیچ تو برخاستی ** خویشتن را بهر کور آراستی
O chaste woman, hast thou ever risen up and decked thyself for the sake of him that is blind?
گر جهان را پر در مکنون کنم ** روزی تو چون نباشد چون کنم2390
If I should fill the world with hidden pearls (of wisdom), how should I fare (what good would it do me), since they are not thy portion (since thou art unfit to receive them)?
ترک جنگ و ره زنی ای زن بگو ** ور نمی‌‌گویی به ترک من بگو
O wife, take leave of quarrelling and waylaying, and if thou wilt not, (then) take leave of me!
مر مرا چه جای جنگ نیک و بد ** کاین دلم از صلحها هم می‌‌رمد
What room have I for quarrelling with the good or the bad? —for this heart of mine is recoiling (even) from acts of peace.
گر خمش کردی و گرنه آن کنم ** که همین دم ترک خان و مان کنم
If thou keep silence, (’tis well), and if not, I will so do that at this very moment I will leave my house and home.”
مراعات کردن زن شوهر را و استغفار کردن از گفته‌‌ی خویش
How the wife paid regard to her husband and begged God to forgive her for what she had said.
زن چو دید او را که تند و توسن است ** گشت گریان گریه خود دام زن است
When the wife saw that he was fierce and unmanageable, she began to weep: tears in sooth are a woman's lure.
گفت از تو کی چنین پنداشتم ** از تو من اومید دیگر داشتم2395
She said, “When did I imagine such (words) from thee? I hoped of thee something different.”
زن در آمد از طریق نیستی ** گفت من خاک شمایم نه ستی
The wife approached by the way of self-naughting (self-abasement). “I am thy dust,” said she, “not (worthy to be) thy lady-wife.
جسم و جان و هر چه هستم آن تست ** حکم و فرمان جملگی فرمان تست
Body and soul and all I am is thine: the entire authority and command belongs to thee.
گر ز درویشی دلم از صبر جست ** بهر خویشم نیست آن بهر تو است
If because of poverty my heart has lost patience, it is not for my own sake, but for thine.
تو مرا در دردها بودی دوا ** من نمی‌‌خواهم که باشی بی‌‌نوا
Thou hast been my remedy in afflictions: I am unwilling that thou shouldst be penniless.
جان تو کز بهر خویشم نیست این ** از برای تستم این ناله و حنین2400
By thy soul, this is not for my own sake: this wailing and moaning of mine is on account of thee.
خویش من و الله که بهر خویش تو ** هر نفس خواهد که میرد پیش تو
(I swear) by God that at every moment my self would fain die for thy self before thee.
کاش جانت کش روان من فدی ** از ضمیر جان من واقف بدی
Would that thy soul, to which my soul is devoted, were aware of my soul's inmost thoughts!