Rumi's Masnavi - Were I joined to the lip of one in accord with me, I too, like the reed, would tell all that may be told;

Were I joined to the lip of one in accord with me, I too, like the reed, would tell all that may be told;

با لب دمساز خود گر جفتمی ** همچو نی من گفتنیها گفتمی‌‌

(But) whoever is parted from one who speaks his language becomes dumb, though he have a hundred songs.

هر که او از هم زبانی شد جدا ** بی‌‌زبان شد گر چه دارد صد نوا

When the rose is gone and the garden faded, thou wilt hear no more the nightingale's story.

چون که گل رفت و گلستان در گذشت ** نشنوی ز ان پس ز بلبل سر گذشت‌‌

The Beloved is all and the lover (but) a veil; the Beloved is living and the lover a dead thing. 30

جمله معشوق است و عاشق پرده‌‌ای ** زنده معشوق است و عاشق مرده‌‌ای‌‌

When Love hath no care for him, he is left as a bird without wings. Alas for him then!

چون نباشد عشق را پروای او ** او چو مرغی ماند بی‌‌پر، وای او

How should I have consciousness (of aught) before or behind when the light of my Beloved is not before me and behind?

من چگونه هوش دارم پیش و پس ** چون نباشد نور یارم پیش و پس‌‌

Love wills that this Word should be shown forth: if the mirror does not reflect, how is that?

عشق خواهد کاین سخن بیرون بود ** آینه غماز نبود چون بود

Dost thou know why the mirror (of thy soul) reflects nothing? Because the rust is not cleared from its face.

آینه‌‌ت دانی چرا غماز نیست ** ز انکه زنگار از رخش ممتاز نیست‌‌

How the king fell in love with the sick handmaiden and made plans to restore her health.

عاشق شدن پادشاه بر کنیزک رنجور و تدبیر کردن در صحت او

O my friends, hearken to this tale: in truth it is the very marrow of our inward state. 35

بشنوید ای دوستان این داستان ** خود حقیقت نقد حال ماست آن‌‌

In olden time there was a king to whom belonged the power temporal and also the power spiritual.

بود شاهی در زمانی پیش از این ** ملک دنیا بودش و هم ملک دین‌‌