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
He (the person dreamed of) will sweetly tell these signs to him (the dreamer). What are these signs (alone)? (He will tell him) a hundred signs besides.
این نشانها گویدش همچون شکر ** این چه باشد صد نشانی دگر
This (which follows) is the sign that you will gain from God the (spiritual) kingdom and power that you are seeking—1680
این نشان آن بود کان ملک و جاه ** که همیجویی بیابی از اله
That you weep continually in the long nights, and that you are always ardent in supplication at the hour of dawn;
آن که میگریی به شبهای دراز ** و انکه میسوزی سحرگه در نیاز
That, in the absence of that (which you seek), your day has become dark; (that) your neck has become thin as a spindle;
آن که بیآن روز تو تاریک شد ** همچو دوکی گردنت باریک شد
And what you have given in alms (is) all that you possess, (so that) your belongings (are entirely bestowed in charity) like the alms of those who gamble all away;
و آن چه دادی هر چه داری در زکات ** چون زکات پاک بازان رختهات
(That) you have given up your belongings and sleep and the (healthy) colour of your face, and sacrificed your head (life) and become as (thin as) a hair;
رختها دادی و خواب و رنگ رو ** سر فدا کردی و گشتی همچو مو
(That) you have sat—how often!—in the fire, like aloes-wood; that you have gone—how often!—to meet the sword, like a helmet.1685
چند در آتش نشستی همچو عود ** چند پیش تیغ رفتی همچو خود
A hundred thousand such acts of helplessness are habitual to lovers (of God), and (their number) cannot be reckoned.
زین چنین بیچارگیها صد هزار ** خوی عشاق است و ناید در شمار
After you have had this dream at night, the day breaks; through hope thereof your day becomes triumphant.
چون که شب این خواب دیدی روز شد ** از امیدش روز تو پیروز شد
You have turned your eye to left and right, (wondering) where is that sign and those tokens.
چشم گردان کردهای بر چپ و راست ** کان نشان و آن علامتها کجاست
You are trembling like a leaf (and saying), “Alas, if the day depart and the sign come not to pass!”
بر مثال برگ میلرزی که وای ** گر رود روز و نشان ناید به جای
You are running in street and market and into houses, like one that should lose a calf.1690
میدوی در کوی و بازار و سرا ** چون کسی کاو گم کند گوساله را
(Somebody asks), “Is it good (news), Sir? Why are you running to and fro? Who belonging to you is it that you have lost here?”
خواجه خیر است این دوادو چیستت ** گم شده اینجا که داری کیستت
“It is good (news),” you tell him, “but none may know my good (news) except myself.
گوییاش خیر است لیکن خیر من ** کس نشاید که بداند غیر من