Although He used (the word) Spend absolutely, (yet) read (it as meaning) ‘Earn, then spend.’580
گر چه آورد انفقوا را مطلق او ** تو بخوان که اکسبوا ثم انفقوا
Similarly, since the King (God) has given the command ‘Refrain yourselves,’ there must be some desire from which thou shouldst avert thy face.
هم‌چنان چون شاه فرمود اصبروا ** رغبتی باید کزان تابی تو رو
Hence (the command) ‘Eat ye’ is for the sake of the snare (temptation) of appetite; after that (comes) ‘Do not exceed’: that is temperance.
پس کلوا از بهر دام شهوتست ** بعد از آن لاتسرفوا آن عفتست
When there is no ‘predicate’ (relative quality) in him (any one), the existence of the ‘subject’ (the correlative term) is impossible.
چونک محمول به نبود لدیه ** نیست ممکن بود محمول علیه
When thou hast not the pain of self-restraint, there is no protasis: therefore the apodosis (recompense) does not follow.
چونک رنج صبر نبود مر ترا ** شرط نبود پس فرو ناید جزا
How admirable is that protasis and how joyful is that apodosis (recompense), a recompense that charms the heart and increases the life of the spirit!585
حبذا آن شرط و شادا آن جزا ** آن جزای دل‌نواز جان‌فزا
Explaining that God (Himself) is the reward bestowed by Him for the (devotional) work of the lover.
در بیان آنک ثواب عمل عاشق از حق هم حق است
For (His) lovers He (alone) is (all their) joy and sorrow; He (alone) is their wages and hire for service.
عاشقان را شادمانی و غم اوست ** دست‌مزد و اجرت خدمت هم اوست
If there be any spectacle (object of regard for them) except the Beloved, ’tis not love: ’tis an idle passion.
غیر معشوق ار تماشایی بود ** عشق نبود هرزه سودایی بود
Love is that flame which, when it blazes up, consumes everything else but the Beloved.
عشق آن شعله‌ست کو چون بر فروخت ** هرچه جز معشوق باقی جمله سوخت
He (the lover) drives home the sword of Not in order to kill all other than God: thereupon consider what remains after Not.
تیغ لا در قتل غیر حق براند ** در نگر زان پس که بعد لا چه ماند