The fire is (like) flowers and sweet basils and roses to (one like) Khalíl (Abraham); to those like Nimrod, on the contrary, it is death and anguish.
با خلیل آتش گل و ریحان و ورد ** باز بر نمرودیان مرگست و درد
We have said this many a time, O Hasan: I will never be weary of setting it forth.
بارها گفتیم این را ای حسن ** مینگردم از بیانش سیر من
Many a time have you eaten bread to prevent (yourself from) getting thin: ’tis the same bread: why are not you surfeited?
بارها خوردی تو نان دفع ذبول ** این همان نانست چون نبوی ملول
(Because), in normal health, a new hunger comes to you, by which indigestion and satiety are consumed.
در تو جوعی میرسد تو ز اعتلال ** که همیسوزد ازو تخمه و ملال
When one actually feels the pangs of hunger, a (sense of) refreshment is associated with every part (of the body).4295
هرکه را درد مجاعت نقد شد ** نو شدن با جزو جزوش عقد شد
The pleasure (of eating) is (derived) from hunger, not from new dessert (viands): hunger makes barley-bread more delicious than sugar.
لذت از جوعست نه از نقل نو ** با مجاعت از شکر به نان جو
That weariness, then, is caused by lack of hunger (ardour) and complete (spiritual) indigestion, not by repetition of the discourse.
پس ز بیجوعیست وز تخمهی تمام ** آن ملالت نه ز تکرار کلام
How is it that you are not weary of your shop and of haggling and disputing in order to cheat people?
چون ز دکان و مکاس و قیل و قال ** در فریب مردمت ناید ملال
How is it that you have not been surfeited by speaking ill of men in their absence and backbiting them for sixty years?
چون ز غیبت و اکل لحم مردمان ** شصت سالت سیریی نامد از آن
Time after time, without wearying, you have gaily spoken false words of flattery in pursuit of a vile woman; [Time after time, without wearying, you have gaily spoken false words of flattery in pursuit of a ruptured (deflowered) vulva;]4300
عشوهها در صید شلهی کفته تو ** بی ملولی بارها خوش گفته تو
And the last time you utter them with fire and energy, a hundred times more ardently than the first time.
بار آخر گوییش سوزان و چست ** گرمتر صد بار از بار نخست
Passion makes the old medicine new; passion lops every bough of weariness.
درد داروی کهن را نو کند ** درد هر شاخ ملولی خو کند
Passion is the elixir that makes (things) new: how (can there be) weariness where passion has arisen?
کیمیای نو کننده دردهاست ** کو ملولی آن طرف که درد خاست
Oh, do not sigh heavily from weariness: seek passion, seek passion, passion, passion!
هین مزن تو از ملولی آه سرد ** درد جو و درد جو و درد درد
Vain remedies (only) beguile (true) passion: they are (like) brigands and those who extort money in the form of tolls.4305
خادع دردند درمانهای ژاژ ** رهزنند و زرستانان رسم باژ
A briny water is no remedy for thirst: (even) if it seem cold and delicious at the moment of drinking,
آب شوری نیست در مان عطش ** وقت خوردن گر نماید سرد و خوش
Yet it beguiles (you) and prevents (you) from seeking the sweet water by which a hundred plants are made to grow.
لیک خادع گشته و مانع شد ز جست ** ز آب شیرینی کزو صد سبزه رست
Likewise every piece of spurious gold prevents (you) from recognising the good (genuine) gold wherever it is (to be found).
همچنین هر زر قلبی مانعست ** از شناس زر خوش هرجا که هست
It (the spurious gold) cuts off your feet and (clips) your wings by imposture, saying, “I am what you seek: take me, O seeker.”
پا و پرت را به تزویری برید ** که مراد تو منم گیر ای مرید
It says, “I will remove thy passion,” (but) in truth it is (worthless as) dregs: it is (really) checkmate (defeat) though it is victory in appearance.4310
گفت دردت چینم او خود درد بود ** مات بود ار چه به ظاهر برد بود
Go, always be fleeing from the false remedy, in order that thy passion may be successful and rich in perfume.
رو ز درمان دروغین میگریز ** تا شود دردت مصیب و مشکبیز
He (the night-patrol) said, “You are not a thief and you are not a reprobate: you are a good man, but you are foolish and silly.
گفت نه دزدی تو و نه فاسقی ** مرد نیکی لیک گول و احمقی
You make such a long journey, (relying) on a phantasy and (mere) dream: your intelligence has not the least spark of brightness.
بر خیال و خواب چندین ره کنی ** نیست عقلت را تسوی روشنی
I have dreamed many times, continuously, that there is a concealed treasure at Baghdád,
بارها من خواب دیدم مستمر ** که به بغدادست گنجی مستتر
Buried in such-and-such a quarter and such-and-such a street” —the name, in fact, was that of the street where this sorrowful man lived.4315
در فلان سوی و فلان کویی دفین ** بود آن خود نام کوی این حزین