The cat became intent on (watching) the (mouse)-hole because she had (formerly) provisioned herself from that hole.
گربه بر سوراخ زان شد معتکف ** که از آن سوراخ او شد معتلف
Another cat prowls on the roof because she (formerly) obtained food by preying on birds.
گربه‌ی دیگر همی‌گردد به بام ** کز شکار مرغ یابید او طعام
One man's qibla (object of attention) is the weaver's craft, while another is a guardsman for the sake of the (king's) allowance;
آن یکی را قبله شد جولاهگی ** وآن یکی حارس برای جامگی
And another is unemployed, his face (turned) towards (the world of) non-spatiality because Thou (formerly) gavest him spiritual food from that quarter.585
وان یکی بی‌کار و رو در لامکان ** که از آن سو دادیش تو قوت جان
He has the (real) work who has become desirous of God and for His work's sake has severed himself from every (other) work.
کار او دارد که حق را شد مرید ** بهر کار او ز هر کاری برید
The rest are like children playing, these few days, till the departure at nightfall.
دیگران چون کودکان این روز چند ** تا شب ترحال بازی می‌کنند
The drowsy one who awakes and springs up, him the nurse, evil suggestion, beguiles,
خوابناکی کو ز یقظت می‌جهد ** دایه‌ی وسواس عشوه‌ش می‌دهد
Saying, “Go to sleep, my darling, for I will not let any one arouse thee from (thy heedless) slumber.”
رو بخسپ ای جان که نگذاریم ما ** که کسی از خواب بجهاند ترا
You yourself (if you are wise) will tear up your slumber by the roots, like the thirsty man who heard the noise of the water.590
هم تو خود را بر کنی از بیخ خواب ** هم‌چو تشنه که شنود او بانک آب
(God says to you), “I am the noise of the water in the ears of the thirsty: I am coming like rain from heaven.
بانگ آبم من به گوش تشنگان ** هم‌چو باران می‌رسم از آسمان
Spring up, O lover, exhibit agitation: noise of water and (you) thirsty, and then to fall asleep!”
بر جه ای عاشق برآور اضطراب ** بانگ آب و تشنه و آنگاه خواب
Story of the lover who, in hope of the tryst promised (to him) by his beloved, came at night to the house that he had indicated. He waited (there) part of the night; (then) he was overcome by sleep. (When) his beloved came to fulfil his promise and found him asleep, he filled his lap with walnuts and left him sleeping and returned (home).
حکایت آن عاشق کی شب بیامد بر امید وعده‌ی معشوق بدان وثاقی کی اشارت کرده بود و بعضی از شب منتظر ماند و خوابش بربود معشوق آمد بهر انجاز وعده او را خفته یافت جیبش پر جوز کرد و او را خفته گذاشت و بازگشت
In the days of old there was a lover, one who kept troth in his time.
عاشقی بودست در ایام پیش ** پاسبان عهد اندر عهد خویش
For years (he had been) checkmated (irretrievably caught) in the toils of (seeking) his fair one's favour and mated by his king.
سالها در بند وصل ماه خود ** شاهمات و مات شاهنشاه خود
In the end the seeker is a finder, for from patience joy is born.595
عاقبت جوینده یابنده بود ** که فرج از صبر زاینده بود
One day his friend said, “Come to-night, for I have cooked haricot beans for thee.
گفت روزی یار او که امشب بیا ** که بپختم از پی تو لوبیا
Sit in such and such a room till midnight, that at midnight I may come unsought.”
در فلان حجره نشین تا نیم‌شب ** تا بیایم نیم‌شب من بی طلب
The man offered sacrifice and distributed loaves, since the moon (of good fortune) had appeared to him from beneath the dust (of ill-luck).
مرد قربان کرد و نانها بخش کرد ** چون پدید آمد مهش از زیر گرد
At night the passionate lover seated himself in the room in hope of the tryst promised by that loyal friend.
شب در آن حجره نشست آن گرمدار ** بر امید وعده‌ی آن یار غار
(Just) after midnight his friend, the charmer of his heart, arrived (punctually) like those who are true to their promise.600
بعد نصف اللیل آمد یار او ** صادق الوعدانه آن دلدار او
He found his lover lying asleep; (thereupon) he tore off a little piece of his (the lover's) sleeve
عاشق خود را فتاده خفته دید ** اندکی از آستین او درید
And put some walnuts in his lap, saying, “Thou art a child: take these and play a game of dice.”
گردگانی چندش اندر جیب کرد ** که تو طفلی گیر این می‌باز نرد
When at dawn the lover sprang up from sleep, he saw the (torn) sleeve and the walnuts.
چون سحر از خواب عاشق بر جهید ** آستین و گردگانها را بدید
He said, “Our king is entirely truth and loyalty: that (disgrace) which is coming upon us is from ourselves alone.”
گفت شاه ما همه صدق و وفاست ** آنچ بر ما می‌رسد آن هم ز ماست
O sleepless heart, we (true lovers) are secure from this: we, like guardsmen, are plying our rattles on the roof.605
ای دل بی‌خواب ما زین ایمنیم ** چون حرس بر بام چوبک می‌زنیم
Our walnuts are crushed in this mill: whatever we may tell of our anguish, ’tis (but) little.
گردگان ما درین مطحن شکست ** هر چه گوییم از غم خود اندکست