Hafez · Ghazal 256 · I give you some advice
نصیحتی کنمت بشنو و بهانه مگیرهر آنچه ناصح مشفق بگویدت بپذیر
ز وصل روی جوانان تمتعی بردارکه در کمینگه عمر است مکر عالم پیر
نعیم هر دو جهان پیش عاشقان بجویکه این متاع قلیل است و آن عطای کثیر
معاشری خوش و رودی بساز می‌خواهمکه درد خویش بگویم به ناله بم و زیر
بر آن سرم که ننوشم می و گنه نکنماگر موافق تدبیر من شود تقدیر
چو قسمت ازلی بی‌حضور ما کردندگر اندکی نه به وفق رضاست خرده مگیر
چو لاله در قدحم ریز ساقیا می و مشککه نقش خال نگارم نمی‌رود ز ضمیر
بیار ساغر در خوشاب ای ساقیحسود گو کرم آصفی ببین و بمیر
به عزم توبه نهادم قدح ز کف صد بارولی کرشمه ساقی نمی‌کند تقصیر
می دوساله و محبوب چارده سالههمین بس است مرا صحبت صغیر و کبیر
دل رمیده ما را که پیش می‌گیرد؟خبر دهید به مجنون خسته از زنجیر
حدیث توبه در این بزمگه مگو حافظکه ساقیان کمان ابرویت زنند به تیر
This ghazal begins with an invitation to listen: accept the counsel of someone who truly cares for you, without making excuses. Its key line is about acceptance. Our portions in life were given before we arrived, so if a little of what you have is not quite to your liking, do not find fault. Make peace with your share. Hafez also reminds you that the world's goods are small beside the gift of love, and that time is short, so enjoy good company while you have it. Plans are good, but destiny has its say; hold yours lightly.
I give you some advice: listen, and do not make excuses;
accept whatever a caring adviser tells you.
Take some pleasure in the company of the young and fair,
for the old world's trickery lies in ambush for your life.
Seek the bounty of both worlds among the lovers,
for the one is meagre wares, the other a generous gift.
I want a pleasant companion and a well-tuned lute,
so that I may tell my pain in the lament of bass and treble.
I am resolved not to drink wine and not to sin,
if only destiny agrees with my plan.
Since the shares were allotted in pre-eternity without us present,
if a little is not to your liking, do not find fault.
Like the tulip, saqi, pour wine and musk into my cup,
for the image of my beloved's mole does not leave my mind.
Bring the cup of lustrous pearl, O saqi;
tell the envious: "See the generosity of Asaf, and die."
A hundred times I have put down the cup, resolved to repent,
but the saqi's glance never falls short.
Two-year-old wine and a beloved like the moon of the fourteenth night:
this is enough for me, the company of young and old.
Who will hold back our runaway heart?
Tell the weary Majnun he has slipped his chain.
Do not speak of repentance in this banquet, Hafez,
for the saqis with bow-shaped brows will shoot you with their arrows.