These two kings went to distant lands: not once (only) has Love committed this crime.
تا بلاد دور رفتند این دو شه ** عشق یک کرت نکردست این گنه
It (Love) is honey for the grown-up and milk for children: for every boat it is (like) the last bale (which causes the boat to founder).
بر بزرگان شهد و بر طفلانست شیر ** او بهر کشتی بود من الاخیر
Besides these two, many kings, (kings) beyond number, hath Love torn from their kingdoms and families.
غیر این دو بس ملوک بی‌شمار ** عشقشان از ملک بربود و تبار
The souls of these three princes also were roaming around China in every direction, like birds picking up grain.4000
جان این سه شه‌بچه هم گرد چین ** هم‌چو مرغان گشته هر سو دانه‌چین
They durst not open their lips to utter the thoughts hidden (in their hearts), because it was a perilous and grave secret.
زهره نی تا لب گشایند از ضمیر ** زانک رازی با خطر بود و خطیر
A hundred thousand heads (go) for a farthing at the moment (when) Love strings his bow in anger.
صد هزاران سر بپولی آن زمان ** عشق خشم آلوده زه کرده کمان
Even without anger, at the time when he is well-pleased, Love is always accustomed to kill recklessly.
عشق خود بی‌خشم در وقت خوشی ** خوی دارد دم به دم خیره‌کشی
This is (his habit) at the moment when he is contented: how shall I describe (what he does) when he is angered?
این بود آن لحظه کو خشنود شد ** من چه گویم چونک خشم‌آلود شد
But may the soul's pasture be the ransom for his (Love's) lion who is killed by this Love and his scimitar!4005
لیک مرج جان فدای شیر او ** کش کشد این عشق و این شمشیر او
(’Tis) a killing better than a thousand lives: (all) sovereignties are mortally enamoured of this servitude.
کشتنی به از هزاران زندگی ** سلطنت‌ها مرده‌ی این بندگی
They (the princes) were telling each other their secrets allusively in low tones with a hundred fears and precautions.
با کنایت رازها با هم‌دگر ** پست گفتندی به صد خوف و حذر
None but God was the confidant of their secret, their sighs were breathed to Heaven alone.
راز را غیر خدا محرم نبود ** آه را جز آسمان هم‌دم نبود
They were using certain mystical terms among themselves in order to convey information.
اصطلاحاتی میان هم‌دگر ** داشتندی بهر ایراد خبر
The vulgar have learned this birds' language and (by means of it) have acquired prestige and authority.4010
زین لسان الطیر عام آموختند ** طمطراق و سروری اندوختند
That terminology is (only) the image (imitation) of the bird's voice: the uninitiated man is ignorant of the (inward) state of the birds.
صورت آواز مرغست آن کلام ** غافلست از حال مرغان مرد خام
Where is the Solomon who knows the birds' song? The demon, though he seize the kingdom (of Solomon), is an alien.
کو سلیمانی که داند لحن طیر ** دیو گرچه ملک گیرد هست غیر
The demon in the likeness of Solomon stood (in Solomon's place): he knows how to deceive, but he does not possess (the knowledge denoted by the words) we have been taught.
دیو بر شبه سلیمان کرد ایست ** علم مکرش هست و علمناش نیست
Inasmuch as Solomon was rejoiced exceedingly by (the favour of) God, he had a birds' language (derived) from we have been taught.
چون سلیمان از خدا بشاش بود ** منطق الطیری ز علمناش بود
Understand that you are a bird of the (common) air because you have not beheld the esoteric birds.4015
تو از آن مرغ هوایی فهم کن ** که ندیدستی طیور من لدن
The home of the Símurghs is beyond (Mt) Qáf: it is not (like) a hand-loom (easily accessible) to any imagination,
جای سیمرغان بود آن سوی قاف ** هر خیالی را نباشد دست‌باف
But only to the imagination that beholds it by chance and then, after the vision, is parted (from it)—
جز خیالی را که دید آن اتفاق ** آنگهش بعدالعیان افتد فراق
Not a parting that involves severance, (but a parting) for a wise purpose; for that high estate is secure from every (real) parting.
نه فراق قطع بهر مصلحت ** که آمنست از هر فراق آن منقبت
In order to preserve the spiritual body the (Divine) Sun for a time withdraws (His beams) from the snow.
بهر استبقاء آن روحی جسد ** آفتاب از برف یک‌دم درکشد
Seek good for thy soul from them (who have attained unto God): beware, do not steal mystical expressions from their language.4020
بهر جان خویش جو زیشان صلاح ** هین مدزد از حرف ایشان اصطلاح
Zalíkhá had applied to Joseph the name of everything, from rue-seed to aloeswood.
آن زلیخا از سپندان تا به عود ** نام جمله چیز یوسف کرده بود
She concealed his name in (all other) names and made the inner meaning thereof known to (none but her) confidants.
نام او در نامها مکتوم کرد ** محرمان را سر آن معلوم کرد
When she said, “The wax is softened by the fire,” this meant, “My beloved is very fond of me.”
چون بگفتی موم ز آتش نرم شد ** این بدی کان یار با ما گرم شد
And if she said, “Look, the moon is risen”; or if she said, “The willow-bough is green (with new leaves)”;
ور بگفتی مه برآمد بنگرید ** ور بگفتی سبز شد آن شاخ بید
Or if she said, “The leaves are quivering mightily”; or if she said, “The rue-seed is burning merrily”;4025
Or if she said, “My head aches”; or if she said, “My headache is better”—
ور بگفتی که به درد آمد سرم ** ور بگفتی درد سر شد خوشترم
If she praised, ’twas his (Joseph's) caresses (that she meant); and if she blamed, ’twas separation from him (that she meant).
گر ستودی اعتناق او بدی ** ور نکوهیدی فراق او بدی
If she piled up a hundred thousand names, her meaning and intention was always Joseph.
صد هزاران نام گر بر هم زدی ** قصد او و خواه او یوسف بدی
Were she hungry, as soon as she spoke his name she would be filled (with spiritual food) and intoxicated by his cup.
گرسنه بودی چو گفتی نام او ** می‌شدی او سیر و مست جام او
Her thirst would be quenched by his name: the name of Joseph was a sherbet to her soul;4035
تشنگیش از نام او ساکن شدی ** نام یوسف شربت باطن شدی
And if she were in pain, her pain would immediately be turned into profit by that exalted name.
ور بدی دردیش زان نام بلند ** درد او در حال گشتی سودمند
In cold weather it was a fur to her. This, this (is what) the Beloved's name can do (when one is) in love.
وقت سرما بودی او را پوستین ** این کند در عشق نام دوست این
The vulgar are always pronouncing the Holy Name, (but) it does not do this work (for them) since they are not endowed with (true) love.
عام می‌خوانند هر دم نام پاک ** این عمل نکند چو نبود عشقناک
That (miracle) which Jesus had wrought by (pronouncing) the Name of Hú (God) was manifested to her through the name of him (Joseph).
آنچ عیسی کرده بود از نام هو ** می‌شدی پیدا ورا از نام او
When the soul has been united with God, to speak of that (God) is (to speak of) this (soul), and to speak of this (soul) is (to speak of) that (God).4040
چونک با حق متصل گردید جان ** ذکر آن اینست و ذکر اینست آن
She was empty of self and filled with love for her friend (Joseph), and (as the proverb says), “A pot drips what is in it.”
خالی از خود بود و پر از عشق دوست ** پس ز کوزه آن تلابد که دروست
The scent of the saffron of union produces (happy) laughter; the smell of the onion of absence (produces) tears.
خنده بوی زعفران وصل داد ** گریه بوهای پیاز آن بعاد
Every (other) one has in his heart a hundred objects of desire, (but) this is not the way of love and fondness.
هر یکی را هست در دل صد مراد ** این نباشد مذهب عشق و وداد
Love's sun in the day-time is the (Face of the) Beloved: the sun is as a veil over that Face.
یار آمد عشق را روز آفتاب ** آفتاب آن روی را هم‌چون نقاب
He that does not know (distinguish) the veil from the Face of the Beloved is a sun-worshipper: keep thy hand off (keep thyself aloof) from him.4045
آنک نشناسد نقاب از روی یار ** عابد الشمس است دست از وی بدار
He is both the lover's day and daily bread, He is both the lover's heart and heart-burning.
روز او و روزی عاشق هم او ** دل همو دلسوزی عاشق هم او