Since a hare brings a lion to the well, how should not a fox lead an ass to the grass?
چونک خرگوشی برد شیری به چاه ** چون نیارد روبهی خر تا گیاه
Shut thine ear and do not swallow (beguiling) spells: (swallow naught) but the spell of the righteous saint—
گوش را بر بند و افسونها مخور ** جز فسون آن ولی دادگر
That spell of his, (which is) sweeter than halwá, that (spell) of whose feet a hundred halwá’s are (only) the dust.2520
آن فسون خوشتر از حلوای او ** آنک صد حلواست خاک پای او
The imperial jars full of the wine (of mystical knowledge) have drawn their stock from the wine of his lips.
خنبهای خسروانی پر ز می ** مایه برده از می لبهای وی
(Only) that alien soul which has never seen the wine of his ruby lips is a lover of the wine (of conventional knowledge).
عاشق می باشد آن جان بعید ** کو می لبهای لعلش را ندید
Since the blind bird does not see the sweet water, how should not it circle round the brackish water?
آب شیرین چون نبیند مرغ کور ** چون نگردد گرد چشمهی آب شور
The spiritual Moses makes the breast a Sinai: he makes the blind parrots able to see.
موسی جان سینه را سینا کند ** طوطیان کور را بینا کند
The Khusraw (who is the lover) of the spiritual Shírín has beaten the drum (of sovereignty); consequently sugar has become cheap in the city.2525
خسرو شیرین جان نوبت زدست ** لاجرم در شهر قند ارزان شدست
The Josephs of the unseen world are marching: they are bringing bales of candy and sugar.
یوسفان غیب لشکر میکشند ** تنگهای قند و شکر میکشند
The faces of the camels of Egypt are (turned) towards us: hearken, O parrots, to the sound of the (camel-)bell.
اشتران مصر را رو سوی ما ** بشنوید ای طوطیان بانگ درا
To-morrow our city will be filled with sugar; sugar is cheap (to-day): (tomorrow) it will be cheaper.
شهر ما فردا پر از شکر شود ** شکر ارزانست ارزانتر شود
O confectioners, wallow in sugar, like the parrot, in despite of the bilious ones.
در شکر غلطید ای حلواییان ** همچو طوطی کوری صفراییان
Pound the sugar-cane: this is the only work (of importance); lavish your souls (on him): this is the only Beloved.2530
نیشکر کوبید کار اینست و بس ** جان بر افشانید یار اینست و بس
Now not a single sour one is left in our city, since Shírín has seated the Khusraws on the throne (of Love).
یک ترش در شهر ما اکنون نماند ** چونکه شیرین خسروان را بر نشاند
’Tis dessert on dessert and wine on wine! Ho, go up on the minaret and proclaim that all are welcome (to the feast).
نقل بر نقلست و می بر می هلا ** بر مناره رو بزن بانگ صلا
The nine years old vinegar is becoming sweet; the stone and marble are becoming ruby(-like) and golden.
سرکهی نه ساله شیرین میشود ** سنگ و مرمر لعل و زرین میشود
The sun in heaven is clapping his hands: the motes are dancing like lovers.
آفتاب اندر فلک دستکزنان ** ذرهها چون عاشقان بازیکنان
(All) eyes are intoxicated with the orchard abounding in greenery, (where) the blossoms are budding on the boughs.2535
چشمها مخمور شد از سبزهزار ** گل شکوفه میکند بر شاخسار
The eye of blessedness works absolute magic: the spirit is made victorious (mansúr), crying “I am God.”
چشم دولت سحر مطلق میکند ** روح شد منصور انا الحق میزند
If the fox is seducing an ass, let him seduce (him)! Do not thou be an ass, and be not troubled.
گر خری را میبرد روبه ز سر ** گو ببر تو خر مباش و غم مخور
Story of the person who rushed into a house in terror, with cheeks yellow (pale) as saffron, lips blue as indigo, and hands trembling like the leaves of a tree. The master of the house asked, “Is all well (with you)? What is the matter?” He replied, “Outside they are taking asses by force.” “Bless you!” cried the other; “they are taking asses, (but) you are not an ass: what are you afraid of?” He said, “They are taking (them) in a great hurry: (all) discrimination has ceased. To-day I am afraid they will take me for an ass.”
حکایت آن شخص کی از ترس خویشتن را در خانهای انداخت رخها زرد چون زعفران لبها کبود چون نیل دست لرزان چون برگ درخت خداوند خانه پرسید کی خیرست چه واقعه است گفت بیرون خر میگیرند به سخره گفت مبارک خر میگیرند تو خر نیستی چه میترسی گفت خر به جد میگیرند تمییز برخاسته است امروز ترسم کی مرا خر گیرند
A certain man took refuge in a house: his face was yellow, his lips blue, and his colour had ebbed away.
آن یکی در خانهای در میگریخت ** زرد رو و لب کبود و رنگ ریخت
The master of the house said to him, “Is it well (with you)? for your hand is trembling like (that of) an old man.
صاحب خانه بگفتش خیر هست ** که همی لرزد ترا چون پیر دست
What has happened? Why have you taken refuge (here)? How have you lost the colour of your face so (entirely)?”2540
واقعه چونست چون بگریختی ** رنگ رخساره چنین چون ریختی
“To-day,” said he, “they are seizing asses outside (in the streets) to do forced labour for the tyrannical king.”
گفت بهر سخرهی شاه حرون ** خر همیگیرند امروز از برون
He (the householder) replied, “O beloved of your uncle, they are taking it because it is an ass: since you are not an ass, go (your way): why are you troubled at this?”
گفت میگیرند کو خر جان عم ** چون نهای خر رو ترا زین چیست غم