Hafez · Ghazal 156 · No one equals our friend
به حسن و خلق و وفا کس به یار ما نرسدتو را در این سخن، انکار کار ما نرسد
اگرچه حسن‌فروشان به جلوه آمده‌اندکسی به حسن و ملاحت به یار ما نرسد
به حق صحبت دیرین که هیچ محرم رازبه یار یک جهت حق‌گزار ما نرسد
هزار نقش برآید ز کلک صنع و یکیبه دلپذیری نقش نگار ما نرسد
هزار نقد به بازار کائنات آرندیکی به سکه صاحب عیار ما نرسد
دریغ قافله عمر کآنچنان رفتندکه گردشان به هوای دیار ما نرسد
دلا ز رنج حسودان مرنج و واثق باشکه بد به خاطر امیدوار ما نرسد
چنان بزی که اگر خاک ره شوی کس راغبار خاطری از رهگذار ما نرسد
بسوخت حافظ و ترسم که شرح قصه اوبه سمع پادشه کامگار ما نرسد
Here Hafez praises a friend no one can equal, true in beauty, in character and in faithfulness. The verse asks you to value such a person, or such a bond, above all the bright things on display in the market. It also gives two counsels to keep. Do not let envious people trouble you; a hopeful mind is well protected. And live so gently that, even when you are only dust on the road, no one carries a grain of resentment from your passing.
In beauty, character and faithfulness no one equals our friend;
your denial of this cannot touch our cause.
Though the sellers of beauty have come out to show themselves,
no one equals our friend in beauty and grace.
By the right of our old companionship, no confidant of secrets
equals our single-hearted friend, who honours what is due.
A thousand images rise from the pen of creation, and not one
equals the image of our beloved in charm.
They bring a thousand coins to the market of existence;
not one equals the stamp of our true assayer.
Alas for the caravan of life, those who went in such a way
that their dust does not reach the air of our homeland.
O heart, do not be hurt by the hurt the envious cause, and be confident
that no harm will reach our hopeful mind.
Live so that, even if you become the dust of the road,
no dust of resentment from your passing reaches anyone's heart.
Hafez has burned, and I fear the telling of his story
will not reach the ear of our fortunate king.