گربه بر سوراخ زان شد معتکف ** که از آن سوراخ او شد معتلف
The cat became intent on (watching) the (mouse)-hole because she had (formerly) provisioned herself from that hole.
گربه‌ی دیگر همی‌گردد به بام ** کز شکار مرغ یابید او طعام
Another cat prowls on the roof because she (formerly) obtained food by preying on birds.
آن یکی را قبله شد جولاهگی ** وآن یکی حارس برای جامگی
One man's qibla (object of attention) is the weaver's craft, while another is a guardsman for the sake of the (king's) allowance;
وان یکی بی‌کار و رو در لامکان ** که از آن سو دادیش تو قوت جان 585
And another is unemployed, his face (turned) towards (the world of) non-spatiality because Thou (formerly) gavest him spiritual food from that quarter.
کار او دارد که حق را شد مرید ** بهر کار او ز هر کاری برید
He has the (real) work who has become desirous of God and for His work's sake has severed himself from every (other) work.
دیگران چون کودکان این روز چند ** تا شب ترحال بازی می‌کنند
The rest are like children playing, these few days, till the departure at nightfall.
خوابناکی کو ز یقظت می‌جهد ** دایه‌ی وسواس عشوه‌ش می‌دهد
The drowsy one who awakes and springs up, him the nurse, evil suggestion, beguiles,
رو بخسپ ای جان که نگذاریم ما ** که کسی از خواب بجهاند ترا
Saying, “Go to sleep, my darling, for I will not let any one arouse thee from (thy heedless) slumber.”
هم تو خود را بر کنی از بیخ خواب ** هم‌چو تشنه که شنود او بانک آب 590
You yourself (if you are wise) will tear up your slumber by the roots, like the thirsty man who heard the noise of the water.
بانگ آبم من به گوش تشنگان ** هم‌چو باران می‌رسم از آسمان
(God says to you), “I am the noise of the water in the ears of the thirsty: I am coming like rain from heaven.
بر جه ای عاشق برآور اضطراب ** بانگ آب و تشنه و آنگاه خواب
Spring up, O lover, exhibit agitation: noise of water and (you) thirsty, and then to fall asleep!”
حکایت آن عاشق کی شب بیامد بر امید وعده‌ی معشوق بدان وثاقی کی اشارت کرده بود و بعضی از شب منتظر ماند و خوابش بربود معشوق آمد بهر انجاز وعده او را خفته یافت جیبش پر جوز کرد و او را خفته گذاشت و بازگشت
Story of the lover who, in hope of the tryst promised (to him) by his beloved, came at night to the house that he had indicated. He waited (there) part of the night; (then) he was overcome by sleep. (When) his beloved came to fulfil his promise and found him asleep, he filled his lap with walnuts and left him sleeping and returned (home).
عاشقی بودست در ایام پیش ** پاسبان عهد اندر عهد خویش
In the days of old there was a lover, one who kept troth in his time.
سالها در بند وصل ماه خود ** شاهمات و مات شاهنشاه خود
For years (he had been) checkmated (irretrievably caught) in the toils of (seeking) his fair one's favour and mated by his king.
عاقبت جوینده یابنده بود ** که فرج از صبر زاینده بود 595
In the end the seeker is a finder, for from patience joy is born.
گفت روزی یار او که امشب بیا ** که بپختم از پی تو لوبیا
One day his friend said, “Come to-night, for I have cooked haricot beans for thee.
در فلان حجره نشین تا نیم‌شب ** تا بیایم نیم‌شب من بی طلب
Sit in such and such a room till midnight, that at midnight I may come unsought.”
مرد قربان کرد و نانها بخش کرد ** چون پدید آمد مهش از زیر گرد
The man offered sacrifice and distributed loaves, since the moon (of good fortune) had appeared to him from beneath the dust (of ill-luck).
شب در آن حجره نشست آن گرمدار ** بر امید وعده‌ی آن یار غار
At night the passionate lover seated himself in the room in hope of the tryst promised by that loyal friend.
بعد نصف اللیل آمد یار او ** صادق الوعدانه آن دلدار او 600
(Just) after midnight his friend, the charmer of his heart, arrived (punctually) like those who are true to their promise.
عاشق خود را فتاده خفته دید ** اندکی از آستین او درید
He found his lover lying asleep; (thereupon) he tore off a little piece of his (the lover's) sleeve
گردگانی چندش اندر جیب کرد ** که تو طفلی گیر این می‌باز نرد
And put some walnuts in his lap, saying, “Thou art a child: take these and play a game of dice.”
چون سحر از خواب عاشق بر جهید ** آستین و گردگانها را بدید
When at dawn the lover sprang up from sleep, he saw the (torn) sleeve and the walnuts.
گفت شاه ما همه صدق و وفاست ** آنچ بر ما می‌رسد آن هم ز ماست
He said, “Our king is entirely truth and loyalty: that (disgrace) which is coming upon us is from ourselves alone.”
ای دل بی‌خواب ما زین ایمنیم ** چون حرس بر بام چوبک می‌زنیم 605
O sleepless heart, we (true lovers) are secure from this: we, like guardsmen, are plying our rattles on the roof.
گردگان ما درین مطحن شکست ** هر چه گوییم از غم خود اندکست
Our walnuts are crushed in this mill: whatever we may tell of our anguish, ’tis (but) little.