There must needs be fire and water (rain) for the fruit: clouds and lightning are necessary for this accomplishment.
آتش و آبی بباید میوه را ** واجب آید ابر و برق این شیوه را
Until there is the lightning of the heart and the rain-clouds of the two eyes, how shall the fire of (Divine) menace and wrath be allayed?1655
تا نباشد برق دل و ابر دو چشم ** کی نشیند آتش تهدید و خشم
How shall the herbage grow, (the herbage) of the delight of union (with God)? How shall the fountains of clear water gush forth?
کی بروید سبزهی ذوق وصال ** کی بجوشد چشمهها ز آب زلال
How shall the rose-beds tell their secret to the garden? How shall the violet make an engagement with the jasmine?
کی گلستان راز گوید با چمن ** کی بنفشه عهد بندد با سمن
How shall a plane-tree open its hands (spread its leaves) in prayer? How shall any tree toss its head in the air (of love-desire)?
کی چناری کف گشاید در دعا ** کی درختی سر فشاند در هوا
How shall the blossoms begin to shake out their sleeves full of largesse in the days of Spring?
کی شکوفه آستین پر نثار ** بر فشاندن گیرد ایام بهار
How shall the cheeks of the anemone flame like blood? How shall the rose bring gold out of its purse?1660
کی فروزد لاله را رخ همچو خون ** کی گل از کیسه بر آرد زر برون
How shall the nightingale come and smell the rose? How shall the dove say “coo, coo,” as one that seeks?
کی بیاید بلبل و گل بو کند ** کی چو طالب فاخته کوکو کند
How shall the stork utter with (all) its soul the cry lak, lak? What is (the meaning of) lak? (It means) “Thine is the kingdom, O Thou whose help is invoked.”
کی بگوید لکلک آن لک لک به جان ** لک چه باشد ملک تست ای مستعان
How shall the earth show forth the secrets of its inmost mind? How shall the garden become radiant without the sky?
کی نماید خاک اسرار ضمیر ** کی شود بیآسمان بستان منیر
Whence have they fetched those garments (fair qualities)? (They have derived) all of them from One who is Bounteous and Merciful.
از کجا آوردهاند آن حلهها ** من کریم من رحیم کلها
Those graces are the signs of a Witness: they are the footprints of a man devoted to (God's) service.1665
آن لطافتها نشان شاهدی است ** آن نشان پای مرد عابدی است
(None but) that person that has seen the King is gladdened by the sign; when one has not seen Him, there is no recognition.
آن شود شاد از نشان کاو دید شاه ** چون ندید او را نباشد انتباه
The spirit of that one who at the time of Am not I (your Lord)? saw his Lord and became beside himself and intoxicated—
روح آن کس کاو به هنگام أ لست ** دید رب خویش و شد بیخویش و مست
He (that spirit) knows the scent of the wine because he drank it (before); when he has not drunk it, how can he scent it?
او شناسد بوی می کاو می بخورد ** چون نخورد او می چه داند بوی کرد
For Wisdom is like a stray camel: like a go-between, it guides (those who find and recognise it) to (the presence of) kings.
ز انکه حکمت همچو ناقهی ضاله است ** همچو دلاله شهان را داله است
You behold in dream a person of pleasing countenance, who gives you a promise and a sign1670
تو ببینی خواب در یک خوش لقا ** کاو دهد وعده و نشانی مر ترا
That your desire will come to pass; here is the sign—such and such a person will meet you to-morrow.
که مراد تو شود اینک نشان ** که بپیش آید ترا فردا فلان
One sign is that he will be riding; one sign is that he will clasp you to his breast;
یک نشانی آن که او باشد سوار ** یک نشانی که ترا گیرد کنار
One sign is that he will smile before you; one sign is that he will fold his hands in your presence;
یک نشانی که بخندد پیش تو ** یک نشان که دست بندد پیش تو
One sign is that when the morrow comes you will not tell this dream to any one, though you would fain do so.
یک نشانی آن که این خواب از هوس ** چون شود فردا نگویی پیش کس
Concerning that (last-mentioned) sign, He (God) said to Zakariyyá (Zacharias), “Thou shalt not begin to speak at all till three days (have passed).1675
ز ان نشان با والد یحیی بگفت ** که نیایی تا سه روز اصلا به گفت
For three nights keep silence as to thy good and ill: this will be the sign that Yahyá will come (be born) to thee.
تا سه شب خامش کن از نیک و بدت ** این نشان باشد که یحیی آیدت
During three days do not breathe a word, for this silence is the sign of (the fulfilment) of thy purpose.
دم مزن سه روز اندر گفتوگو ** کاین سکوت است آیت مقصود تو
Beware! do not thou speak of this sign, and keep this matter hidden in thy heart.”
هین میاور این نشان را تو به گفت ** وین سخن را دار اندر دل نهفت