Since thou hast such a (mighty) jealousy, O my soul and heart, close thy mouth and leave off speaking.695
چون چنین رشکیستت ای جان و دل ** پس دهان بر بند و گفتن را بهل
(Reason says), “If I keep silence, I fear that that Sun will rend the veil and (display Himself) from another quarter.”
ترسم ار خامش کنم آن آفتاب ** از سوی دیگر بدراند حجاب
In (keeping) silence our (inward) speaking (of Him) is (only) made more evident, since the desire (for manifestation) is increased by suppression.
در خموشی گفت ما اظهر شود ** که ز منع آن میل افزون‌تر شود
If the Sea roar, its roaring turns to foam and becomes the surge of “I desired to be known.”
گر بغرد بحر غره‌ش کف شود ** جوش احببت بان اعرف شود
To utter words (concerning Him) is to shut the window (through which He reveals Himself): the very act of expression is the concealment (of Him).
حرف گفتن بستن آن روزنست ** عین اظهار سخن پوشیدنست
Sing, like nightingales, in the presence of the Rose, in order that you may divert them from the scent of the Rose,700
بلبلانه نعره زن در روی گل ** تا کنی مشغولشان از بوی گل
So that their ears will be engaged in (listening to) the song, and their attention will not fly to the face of the Rose.
تا به قل مغشول گردد گوششان ** سوی روی گل نپرد هوششان
Before this Sun, which is exceedingly radiant, every guide is in reality a highway robber.
پیش این خورشید کو بس روشنیست ** در حقیقت هر دلیلی ره‌زنیست
Story of the minstrel who began to sing this ode at the banquet of the Turkish Amír: “Art Thou a rose or a lily or a cypress or a man? I know not. What dost Thou desire from this bewildered one who has lost his heart? I know not”— and how the Turk shouted at him, “Tell of that which you know!”—and the minstrel's reply to the Amír.
حکایت آن مطرب کی در بزم امیر ترک این غزل آغاز کرد گلی یا سوسنی یا سرو یا ماهی نمی‌دانم ازین آشفته‌ی بی‌دل چه می‌خواهی نمی‌دانم و بانگ بر زدن ترک کی آن بگو کی می‌دانی و جواب مطرب امیر را
In the presence of the drunken Turk the minstrel began (to sing of) the mysteries of Alast under the veil of melody—
مطرب آغازید پیش ترک مست ** در حجاب نغمه اسرار الست
“I know not whether Thou art a moon or an idol, I know not what Thou desirest of me.
من ندانم که تو ماهی یا وثن ** من ندانم تا چه می‌خواهی ز من
I know not what service I shall pay Thee, whether I shall keep silence or express Thee in words.705
می‌ندانم که چه خدمت آرمت ** تن زنم یا در عبارت آرمت
’Tis marvellous that Thou art not separate from me, (and yet) where am I, and where Thou, I know not.
این عجب که نیستی از من جدا ** می‌ندانم من کجاام تو کجا
I know not how Thou art drawing me: Thou drawest me now into Thy bosom, now into blood.”
می‌ندانم که مرا چون می‌کشی ** گاه در بر گاه در خون می‌کشی
In this fashion he opened his lips (only) to say “I know not”: he made a tune of “I know not, I know not.”
هم‌چنین لب در ندانم باز کرد ** می‌ندانم می‌ندانم ساز کرد
When (the refrain) “I know not” passed beyond bounds, our Turk was amazed and his heart became sick of this ditty.
چون ز حد شد می‌ندانم از شگفت ** ترک ما را زین حراره دل گرفت
The Turk leaped up and fetched an iron mace to smite the minstrel's head with it on the spot;710
برجهید آن ترک و دبوسی کشید ** تا علیها بر سر مطرب رسید
(But) an officer seized the mace with his hand, saying, “Nay; ’tis wicked to kill the minstrel at this moment.”
گرز را بگرفت سرهنگی بدست ** گفت نه مطرب کشی این دم بدست
He (the Turk) replied, “This endless and countless repetition of his has pounded my nerves: I will pound his head.
گفت این تکرار بی حد و مرش ** کوفت طبعم را بکوبم من سرش
O cuckold, (if) you don't know, don't talk nonsense; and if you do know, play (a tune) to the purpose.
قلتبانا می‌ندانی گه مخور ** ور همی‌دانی بزن مقصود بر
Tell of that which you know, O crazy fool: don't draw out (repeat continually) ‘I know not, I know not.’
آن بگو ای گیج که می‌دانیش ** می‌ندانم می‌ندانم در مکش
(Suppose) I ask, ‘Where do you come from, hypocrite, eh?’ you will say, ‘Not from Balkh, and not from Herát,715
من بپرسم کز کجایی هی مری ** تو بگویی نه ز بلخ و نه از هری
Not from Baghdád and not from Mosul and not from Tiráz’: you will draw out a long journey in (saying) ‘not’ and ‘not.’
نه ز بغداد و نه موصل نه طراز ** در کشی در نی و نی راه دراز
Just say where you come from and escape (from further discussion): in this case it is folly to elaborate the point at issue.
خود بگو من از کجاام باز ره ** هست تنقیح مناط اینجا بله
Or (suppose) I asked, ‘What had you for breakfast?’ you would say, ‘Not wine and not roast-meat,
یا بپرسیدم چه خوردی ناشتاب ** تو بگویی نه شراب و نه کباب
Not qadíd and not tharíd and not lentils’: tell me what you did eat, only (that) and no more.
نه قدید و نه ثرید و نه عدس ** آنچ خوردی آن بگو تنها و بس