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 نکرد 2385

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 کنم‌‌ 2390

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 داشتم‌‌ 2395

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 حنین‌‌ 2400

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!

چون تو با من این چنین بودی به ظن ** هم ز جان بیزار گشتم هم ز تن‌‌

Inasmuch as thou hast such (an ill) opinion of me, I am grown weary both of soul and of body.

خاک را بر سیم و زر کردیم چون ** تو چنینی با من ای جان را سکون‌‌

I cast earth on (renounce) silver and gold, since thou behavest thus to me, O comfort of my soul.

تو که در جان و دلم جا می‌‌کنی ** زین قدر از من تبرا می‌‌کنی‌‌ 2405

Thou who dwellest in my soul and heart, wilt thou declare thyself to be quit of me for this (small) amount (of offence)?

تو تبرا کن که هستت دستگاه ** ای تبرای ترا جان عذر خواه‌‌

Be quit (then)! for thou hast the power, (but) oh, my soul pleads against thy making this declaration.

یاد می‌‌کن آن زمانی را که من ** چون صنم بودم تو بودی چون شمن‌‌

Remember the time when I was (beautiful) as the idol, and thou (adoring) as the idolater.

بنده بر وفق تو دل افروخته ست ** هر چه گویی پخت گوید سوخته ست‌‌

Thy slave has kindled her heart (in eagerness) to comply with thee: whatever thou callest ‘cooked,’ she says it is ‘burnt.’