How should thy lofty spirit be satisfied with every loyalty? How should thy pureness choose (to accept) every sincerity?”
هر وفا را کی پسندد همتت ** هر صفا را کی گزیند صفوتت
Story of the Amír who bade his slave fetch some wine: the slave went off and was bringing a jug of wine, (when) an ascetic (who) was on the road admonished him that he should act righteously and threw a stone and smashed the jug; the Amír heard (of this) and resolved to punish the ascetic. That happened in the epoch of the religion of Jesus, on whom be peace, when wine had not yet been declared unlawful; but the ascetic was showing an abhorrence (for worldly pleasure) and preventing (others) from indulging themselves.
حکایت آن امیر کی غلام را گفت کی می بیار غلام رفت و سبوی می آورد در راه زاهدی بود امر معروف کرد زد سنگی و سبو را بشکست امیر بشنید و قصد گوشمال زاهد کرد و این قصد در عهد دین عیسی بود علیه‌السلام کی هنوز می حرام نشده بود ولیکن زاهد تقزیزی می‌کرد و از تنعم منع می‌کرد
There was an Amír of merry heart, exceedingly fond of wine: (he was) the refuge of every drunkard and every resourceless person.
بود امیری خوش دلی می‌باره‌ای ** کهف هر مخمور و هر بیچاره‌ای
(He was) a compassionate man, kind to the poor and just; a jewel (of bounty), gold-lavishing, ocean-hearted;3440
مشفقی مسکین‌نوازی عادلی ** جوهری زربخششی دریادلی
A king of men and commander of the Faithful; a keeper of the Way and a knower of secrets and a discerner of friends.
شاه مردان و امیرالمومنین ** راه‌بان و رازدان و دوست‌بین
’Twas the epoch of Jesus and the days of the Messiah: he (the Amír) was beloved of the people and unoppressive and agreeable.
دور عیسی بود و ایام مسیح ** خلق دلدار و کم‌آزار و ملیح
Suddenly one night, another Amír, a person of good principles (who was) congenial to him, came seeking his hospitality.
آمدش مهمان بناگاهان شبی ** هم امیری جنس او خوش‌مذهبی
They wanted wine in order to enjoy themselves: at that period wine was permissible and lawful;
باده می‌بایستشان در نظم حال ** باده بود آن وقت ماذون و حلال
(But) they had no wine, so he (the Amír) said to his slave, “Go, fill the jug and fetch us wine3445
باده‌شان کم بود و گفتا ای غلام ** رو سبو پر کن به ما آور مدام
From such-and-such a Christian ascetic who has choice wine, that the soul (in us) may win release from high and low.”
از فلان راهب که دارد خمر خاص ** تا ز خاص و عام یابد جان خلاص
One draught from the Christian ascetic's cup has the same effect as thousands of wine-jars and wine-cellars.
جرعه‌ای زان جام راهب آن کند ** که هزاران جره و خمدان کند
In that (Christian's) wine there is a hidden (spiritual) substance, even as (spiritual) sovereignty is (hidden) in the dervish-cloak.
اندر آن می مایه‌ی پنهانی است ** آنچنان که اندر عبا سلطانی است
Do not regard (merely) the tattered cloak, for they have put black on the outside of the gold.
تو بدلق پاره‌پاره کم نگر ** که سیه کردند از بیرون زر
On account of the evil eye he (the dervish) becomes (apparently) reprobate, and that (spiritual) ruby is tarnished with smoke on the outside.3450
از برای چشم بد مردود شد ** وز برون آن لعل دودآلود شد
When are treasures and jewels (exposed to view) in the rooms of a house? Treasures are always (hidden) in ruins.
گنج و گوهر کی میان خانه‌هاست ** گنجها پیوسته در ویرانه‌هاست
Since Adam's treasure was buried in a ruin, his clay became a bandage over the eye of the accursed (Iblís).
گنج آدم چون بویران بد دفین ** گشت طینش چشم‌بند آن لعین
He (Iblís) was regarding the clay with the utmost contempt, (but) the spirit (of Adam) was saying, “My clay is a barrier to thee.”
او نظر می‌کرد در طین سست سست ** جان همی‌گفتش که طینم سد تست
The slave took two jugs and ran with goodwill: (almost) immediately he arrived at the monastery of the Christian monks.
دو سبو بستد غلام و خوش دوید ** در زمان در دیر رهبانان رسید
He paid gold and purchased wine like gold: he gave stones and bought jewels in exchange.3455
زر بداد و باده‌ی چون زر خرید ** سنگ داد و در عوض گوهر خرید
(’Twas) a wine that would fly to the head of kings and put a golden tiara on the crown of the cupbearer's head.
باده‌ای که آن بر سر شاهان جهد ** تاج زر بر تارک ساقی نهد
(By it) troubles and commotions are aroused, slaves and emperors are mingled together;
فتنه‌ها و شورها انگیخته ** بندگان و خسروان آمیخته
Bones vanish and become spirit entirely; throne and bench at that moment become alike.
استخوانها رفته جمله جان شده ** تخت و تخته آن زمان یکسان شده
They (the drinkers), when sober, are as water and oil; when intoxicated, they are as the spirit in the body.
وقت هشیاری چو آب و روغنند ** وقت مستی هم‌چو جان اندر تنند
They become like a harísa: no difference exists there: there is no difference that is not submerged there.3460
چون هریسه گشته آنجا فرق نیست ** نیست فرقی کاندر آنجا غرق نیست
The slave was carrying a wine of this sort to the palace of the Amír of good renown,
این چنین باده همی‌برد آن غلام ** سوی قصر آن امیر نیک‌نام
(When) an ascetic met him, one who had suffered anguish, whose brain was dry, and who was (writhing) in the coils of affliction;
پیشش آمد زاهدی غم دیده‌ای ** خشک مغزی در بلا پیچیده‌ای