Although the commentary of the tongue makes (all) clear, yet tongueless love is clearer.
گر چه تفسیر زبان روشن‌‌گر است ** لیک عشق بی‌‌زبان روشن‌‌تر است
Whilst the pen was making haste in writing, it split upon itself as soon as it came to Love.
چون قلم اندر نوشتن می‌‌شتافت ** چون به عشق آمد قلم بر خود شکافت
In expounding it (Love), the intellect lay down (helplessly) like an ass in the mire: it was Love (alone) that uttered the explanation of love and loverhood.115
عقل در شرحش چو خر در گل بخفت ** شرح عشق و عاشقی هم عشق گفت
The proof of the sun is the sun (himself): if thou require the proof, do not avert thy face from him!
آفتاب آمد دلیل آفتاب ** گر دلیلت باید از وی رو متاب
If the shadow gives an indication of him, the sun (himself) gives spiritual light every moment.
از وی ار سایه نشانی می‌‌دهد ** شمس هر دم نور جانی می‌‌دهد
The shadow, like chat in the night-hours, brings sleep to thee; when the sun rises the moon is cloven asunder.
سایه خواب آرد ترا همچون سمر ** چون بر آید شمس انشق القمر
There is nothing in the world so wondrous strange as the Sun, the everlasting spiritual Sun which hath no yesterday.
خود غریبی در جهان چون شمس نیست ** شمس جان باقیی کش امس نیست
Although the external sun is unique, still it is possible to imagine one resembling it;120
شمس در خارج اگر چه هست فرد ** می‌‌توان هم مثل او تصویر کرد
But the Sun by which the aether was brought into existence hath no peer.
شمس جان کاو خارج آمد از اثیر ** نبودش در ذهن و در خارج نظیر
Where is room in the imagination for His essence, that the like of Him should come into the imagination?
در تصور ذات او را گنج کو ** تا در آید در تصور مثل او
When news arrived of the face of Shamsu’ddín (the Sun of the Religion), the sun of the fourth heaven drew in its head (hid itself for shame).
چون حدیث روی شمس الدین رسید ** شمس چارم آسمان سر در کشید
Since his name has come (to my lips), it behoves me to set forth some hint of his bounty.
واجب آید چون که آمد نام او ** شرح کردن رمزی از انعام او
At this moment my Soul has plucked my skirt: he has caught the perfume of Joseph's vest.125
این نفس جان دامنم بر تافته ست ** بوی پیراهان یوسف یافته ست
(He said): “For the sake of our years of companionship, recount one of those sweet ecstasies,
از برای حق صحبت سالها ** باز گو حالی از آن خوش حالها
That earth and heaven may laugh (with joy), that intellect and spirit and eye may increase a hundredfold.”
تا زمین و آسمان خندان شود ** عقل و روح و دیده صد چندان شود
(I said): “Do not lay tasks on me, for I have passed away from myself (faná); my apprehensions are blunted and I know not how to praise.
لا تکلفنی فإنی فی الفنا ** کلت أفهامی فلا أحصی ثنا
Everything that is said by one who has not returned to consciousness, if he constrains himself or boastfully exaggerates, is unseemly.
کل شی‌‌ء قاله غیر المفیق ** إن تکلف أو تصلف لا یلیق
How should I—not a vein of mine is sensible—describe that Friend who hath no peer?130
من چه گویم یک رگم هشیار نیست ** شرح آن یاری که او را یار نیست
The description of this severance and this heart's blood do thou at present leave over till another time.”
شرح این هجران و این خون جگر ** این زمان بگذار تا وقت دگر
He said: “Feed me, for I am hungry, and make haste, for Time is a cutting sword.
قال أطعمنی فإنی جائع ** و اعتجل فالوقت سیف قاطع
The Súfí is the son of the (present) time, O comrade: it is not the rule of the Way to say ‘To-morrow.’
صوفی ابن الوقت باشد ای رفیق ** نیست فردا گفتن از شرط طریق
Art not thou indeed a Súfí, then? That which is (in hand) is reduced to naught by postponing the payment.”
تو مگر خود مرد صوفی نیستی ** هست را از نسیه خیزد نیستی
I said to him: “It is better that the secret of the Friend should be disguised: do thou hearken (to it as implied) in the contents of the tale.135
گفتمش پوشیده خوشتر سر یار ** خود تو در ضمن حکایت گوش دار
It is better that the lovers' secret should be told in the talk of others.”
خوشتر آن باشد که سر دلبران ** گفته آید در حدیث دیگران
He said: “Tell this openly and nakedly: talk of religion is better overt than covert.
گفت مکشوف و برهنه گوی این ** آشکارا به که پنهان ذکر دین