For without pleasure no part will grow; on the contrary, at every spasm (of pain) the part (affected) becomes thin (dwindles).
زانک بیلذت نروید هیچ جزو ** بلک لاغر گردد از هی پیچ جزو
The part remained (in being), but the pleasure vanished from memory; nay, it did not vanish, (though) it became concealed from the five (senses) and the seven (members of the body).
جزو ماند و آن خوشی از یاد رفت ** بل نرفت آن خفیه شد از پنج و هفت
(’Tis) like summer, from which cotton is born: the cotton remains, the summer is no more remembered;1800
همچو تابستان که از وی پنبهزاد ** ماند پنبه رفت تابستان ز یاد
Or like the ice which is born of winter: winter disappears, but the ice is with us.
یا مثال یخ که زاید از شتا ** شد شتا پنهان و آن یخ پیش ما
The ice is a souvenir of the hardships (of winter), and in December these fruits are a souvenir of summer.
هست آن یخ زان صعوبت یادگار ** یادگار صیف در دی این ثمار
Similarly, O youth, every single part in thy body is telling the story of a (past) bounty,
همچنان هر جزو جزوت ای فتی ** در تنت افسانه گوی نعمتی
As, (in the case of) a woman who has twenty children, each (child) is telling of a (past) delight.
چون زنی که بیست فرزندش بود ** هر یکی حاکی حال خوش بود
There is no pregnancy without (past) rapture and amorous sport: how should the orchard produce (fruit) without a Spring?1805
حمل نبود بی ز مستی و ز لاغ ** بی بهاری کی شود زاینده باغ
The pregnant (trees) and the children on their laps are evidence of dalliance with the Spring.
حاملان و بچگانشان بر کنار ** شد دلیل عشقبازی با بهار
Every tree (engaged) in suckling its children is impregnated, like Mary, by a King unseen.
هر درختی در رضاع کودکان ** همچو مریم حامل از شاهی نهان
Although in (boiling) water the heat of fire is concealed (from view), a hundred thousand bubbles froth upon it,
گرچه صد در آب آتشی پوشیده شد ** صد هزاران کف برو جوشیده شد
And though the fire works very secretly, the froth indicates (its presence) with ten fingers.
In like manner (all) the parts of those intoxicated with union are pregnant with the (ideal) forms of (ecstatic) feelings and words.1810
همچنین اجزای مستان وصال ** حامل از تمثالهای حال و قال
Their mouths remain gaping (in amazement) at the beauty of (that) ecstasy, (while) their eyes are absent (withdrawn) from the forms of this world.
در جمال حال وا مانده دهان ** چشم غایب گشته از نقش جهان
Those (spiritual) progenies are not (produced) by means of these four (elements); consequently they are not seen by these eyes.
آن موالید از زه این چار نیست ** لاجرم منظور این ابصار نیست
Those progenies are born of (Divine) illumination; consequently they are covered (from sight) by a pure veil.
آن موالید از تجلی زادهاند ** لاجرم مستور پردهی سادهاند
We said “born,” but in reality they are not born, and this expression is only (used) in order to guide (the understanding).
زاده گفتیم و حقیقت زاد نیست ** وین عبارت جز پی ارشاد نیست
Hark, be silent that the King of Say may speak: do not play the nightingale with a Rose of this kind.1815
هین خمش کن تا بگوید شاه قل ** بلبلی مفروش با این جنس گل
This eloquent Rose is full of song and cry: O nightingale, let thy tongue cease, be (all) ear!
این گل گویاست پر جوش و خروش ** بلبلا ترک زبان کن باش گوش
Both (these) kinds of pure ideal forms are valid (trustworthy) witnesses to the mystery of union.
هر دو گون تمثال پاکیزهمثال ** شاهد عدلاند بر سر وصال
Both (these) kinds of subtle and delectable beauty are witnesses to (spiritual) pregnancies and growing big (with child) in the past,
هر دو گون حسن لطیف مرتضی ** شاهد احبال و حشر ما مضی
Like ice that in the brilliant (month of) Tamúz is ever telling the story of winter
همچو یخ کاندر تموز مستجد ** هر دم افسانهی زمستان میکند
And recalling the cold winds and intense frost in those hard days and times;1820
ذکر آن اریاح سرد و زمهریر ** اندر آن ازمان و ایام عسیر
(Or) like fruit that in winter-time tells the story of God's lovingkindness
همچو آن میوه که در وقت شتا ** میکند افسانهی لطف خدا
And the tale of the season when the sun was smiling and embracing the brides of the orchard. [And the tale of the season when the sun was (enjoying) touching and copulating (with) the brides of the orchard.]
قصهی دور تبسمهای شمس ** وآن عروسان چمن را لمس و طمس