بعد تو مرگیست با درد و نکال ** خاصه بعدی که بود بعد الوصال
Absence from Thee is a grievous and tormenting death, especially the absence that comes after enjoyment of Thy favour.
آنک دیدستت مکن نادیده‌اش ** آب زن بر سبزه‌ی بالیده‌اش 2895
Do not put him that hath seen Thee in the position of one that hath not seen (Thee): sprinkle water on his verdure that has sprung up.
من نکردم لا ابالی در روش ** تو مکن هم لاابالی در خلش
I have not acted recklessly (heedlessly) while faring (on Thy Way): do not Thou either act recklessly (ruthlessly) in pricking (inflicting pain upon me).
هین مران از روی خود او را بعید ** آنک او یک‌باره آن روی تو دید
Oh, do not drive far from Thy face him who once beheld Thy face!
دید روی جز تو شد غل گلو ** کل شیء ما سوی الله باطل
To behold the face of any one but Thee is (like the torture of) an iron collar for the throat: everything except God is vain.
باطل‌اند و می‌نمایندم رشد ** زانک باطل باطلان را می‌کشد
They are vain, but they show me the right way because vanity attracts (only) the vain.
ذره ذره کاندرین ارض و سماست ** جنس خود را هر یکی چون کهرباست 2900
Each one of the atoms on atoms which exist in this earth and heaven is like amber (a magnet) for its congener.
معده نان را می‌کشد تا مستقر ** می‌کشد مر آب را تف جگر
The belly attracts bread to its resting-place; the heat of the liver attracts water.
The eye is an attractor of beautiful persons from these (different) quarters of the town; the brain (nose) is seeking (to attract) scents from the rose-garden,
زانک حس چشم آمد رنگ کش ** مغز و بینی می‌کشد بوهای خوش
Because the sense peculiar to the eye is an attractor of colour, while the brain and nose attract sweet perfumes.
زین کششها ای خدای رازدان ** تو به جذب لطف خودمان ده امان
O Lord who knowest the secret, do Thou preserve us from these attractions by the attraction of Thy grace!
غالبی بر جاذبان ای مشتری ** شاید ار درماندگان را وا خری 2905
Thou, O Purchaser, art dominant over (all) attractors: it would be fitting if Thou redeem the helpless.”
رو به شه آورد چون تشنه به ابر ** آنک بود اندر شب قدر آن بدر
He turned his face to the King as a thirsty man to a cloud— he who on the Night of Power was the Full-moon's own.
چون لسان وجان او بود آن او ** آن او با او بود گستاخ‌گو
Since his tongue and his spirit were His (the King's), (he was not afraid, for) he who is His may converse with Him boldly.
گفت ما گشتیم چون جان بند طین ** آفتاب جان توی در یوم دین
He said, “We have been bound (in chains) like the spirit in its prison of clay: Thou art the Sun (illuminator) of the spirit on the Day of Judgement.
وقت آن شد ای شه مکتوم‌سیر ** کز کرم ریشی بجنبانی به خیر
O King whose course is concealed (from view), the time is come for Thee graciously to make a movement (sign) with Thy beard in clemency.
هر یکی خاصیت خود را نمود ** آن هنرها جمله بدبختی فزود 2910
Each one (of us) has displayed his specialty: all those talents have (only) increased (our) ill-fortune.
آن هنرها گردن ما را ببست ** زان مناصب سرنگوساریم و پست
Those talents have bound our necks, by those high attainments we are (thrown) headlong and (laid) low.
آن هنر فی جیدنا حبل مسد ** روز مردن نیست زان فنها مدد
(Our) talent is a cord of palm-fibre on our neck: there is no help (to be gained) from those accomplishments on the day of death.”
جز همان خاصیت آن خوش‌حواس ** که به شب بد چشم او سلطان‌شناس
(None of them avails) save only the specialty of that man endowed with goodly perceptions whose eye was recognising the Sultan in the (darkness of) night.
آن هنرها جمله غول راه بود ** غیر چشمی کو ز شه آگاه بود
All those talents were (as) ghouls (waylaying travellers) on the road, except (that of) the eye which was aware of the King.
شاه را شرم از وی آمد روز بار ** که به شب بر روی شه بودش نظار 2915
On the day of audience the King was ashamed (to refuse the petition) of him whose gaze was (fixed) on the King's face at night.
وان سگ آگاه از شاه وداد ** خود سگ کهفش لقب باید نهاد
And the dog that is acquainted with the loving King—even him you must entitle “the Dog of the Cave.”
خاصیت در گوش هم نیکو بود ** کو به بانگ سگ ز شیر آگه شود
Excellent, too, is the specialty (residing) in the ear; for he (who possesses it) by (hearing) the bark of a dog is made aware of the Lion.