بر بزرگان شهد و بر طفلانست شیر ** او بهر کشتی بود من الاخیر
It (Love) is honey for the grown-up and milk for children: for every boat it is (like) the last bale (which causes the boat to founder).
غیر این دو بس ملوک بی‌شمار ** عشقشان از ملک بربود و تبار
Besides these two, many kings, (kings) beyond number, hath Love torn from their kingdoms and families.
جان این سه شه‌بچه هم گرد چین ** هم‌چو مرغان گشته هر سو دانه‌چین 4000
The souls of these three princes also were roaming around China in every direction, like birds picking up grain.
زهره نی تا لب گشایند از ضمیر ** زانک رازی با خطر بود و خطیر
They durst not open their lips to utter the thoughts hidden (in their hearts), because it was a perilous and grave secret.
صد هزاران سر بپولی آن زمان ** عشق خشم آلوده زه کرده کمان
A hundred thousand heads (go) for a farthing at the moment (when) Love strings his bow in anger.
عشق خود بی‌خشم در وقت خوشی ** خوی دارد دم به دم خیره‌کشی
Even without anger, at the time when he is well-pleased, Love is always accustomed to kill recklessly.
این بود آن لحظه کو خشنود شد ** من چه گویم چونک خشم‌آلود شد
This is (his habit) at the moment when he is contented: how shall I describe (what he does) when he is angered?
لیک مرج جان فدای شیر او ** کش کشد این عشق و این شمشیر او 4005
But may the soul's pasture be the ransom for his (Love's) lion who is killed by this Love and his scimitar!
کشتنی به از هزاران زندگی ** سلطنت‌ها مرده‌ی این بندگی
(’Tis) a killing better than a thousand lives: (all) sovereignties are mortally enamoured of this servitude.
با کنایت رازها با هم‌دگر ** پست گفتندی به صد خوف و حذر
They (the princes) were telling each other their secrets allusively in low tones with a hundred fears and precautions.
راز را غیر خدا محرم نبود ** آه را جز آسمان هم‌دم نبود
None but God was the confidant of their secret, their sighs were breathed to Heaven alone.
اصطلاحاتی میان هم‌دگر ** داشتندی بهر ایراد خبر
They were using certain mystical terms among themselves in order to convey information.
زین لسان الطیر عام آموختند ** طمطراق و سروری اندوختند 4010
The vulgar have learned this birds' language and (by means of it) have acquired prestige and authority.
صورت آواز مرغست آن کلام ** غافلست از حال مرغان مرد خام
That terminology is (only) the image (imitation) of the bird's voice: the uninitiated man is ignorant of the (inward) state of the birds.
کو سلیمانی که داند لحن طیر ** دیو گرچه ملک گیرد هست غیر
Where is the Solomon who knows the birds' song? The demon, though he seize the kingdom (of Solomon), is an alien.
دیو بر شبه سلیمان کرد ایست ** علم مکرش هست و علمناش نیست
The demon in the likeness of Solomon stood (in Solomon's place): he knows how to deceive, but he does not possess (the knowledge denoted by the words) we have been taught.
چون سلیمان از خدا بشاش بود ** منطق الطیری ز علمناش بود
Inasmuch as Solomon was rejoiced exceedingly by (the favour of) God, he had a birds' language (derived) from we have been taught.
تو از آن مرغ هوایی فهم کن ** که ندیدستی طیور من لدن 4015
Understand that you are a bird of the (common) air because you have not beheld the esoteric birds.
جای سیمرغان بود آن سوی قاف ** هر خیالی را نباشد دست‌باف
The home of the Símurghs is beyond (Mt) Qáf: it is not (like) a hand-loom (easily accessible) to any imagination,
جز خیالی را که دید آن اتفاق ** آنگهش بعدالعیان افتد فراق
But only to the imagination that beholds it by chance and then, after the vision, is parted (from it)—
نه فراق قطع بهر مصلحت ** که آمنست از هر فراق آن منقبت
Not a parting that involves severance, (but a parting) for a wise purpose; for that high estate is secure from every (real) parting.
بهر استبقاء آن روحی جسد ** آفتاب از برف یک‌دم درکشد
In order to preserve the spiritual body the (Divine) Sun for a time withdraws (His beams) from the snow.
بهر جان خویش جو زیشان صلاح ** هین مدزد از حرف ایشان اصطلاح 4020
Seek good for thy soul from them (who have attained unto God): beware, do not steal mystical expressions from their language.
آن زلیخا از سپندان تا به عود ** نام جمله چیز یوسف کرده بود
Zalíkhá had applied to Joseph the name of everything, from rue-seed to aloeswood.
نام او در نامها مکتوم کرد ** محرمان را سر آن معلوم کرد
She concealed his name in (all other) names and made the inner meaning thereof known to (none but her) confidants.
چون بگفتی موم ز آتش نرم شد ** این بدی کان یار با ما گرم شد
When she said, “The wax is softened by the fire,” this meant, “My beloved is very fond of me.”
ور بگفتی مه برآمد بنگرید ** ور بگفتی سبز شد آن شاخ بید
And if she said, “Look, the moon is risen”; or if she said, “The willow-bough is green (with new leaves)”;