Hafez · Ghazal 387 · King of the boxwood-statured
شاه شمشادقدان، خسرو شیرین‌دهنانکه به مژگان شکند قلب همه صف‌شکنان
مست بگذشت و نظر بر من درویش انداختگفت: ای چشم و چراغ همه شیرین‌سخنان
تا کی از سیم و زرت کیسه تهی خواهد بود؟بنده من شو و برخور ز همه سیم‌تنان
کمتر از ذره نه‌ای، پست مشو، مهر بورزتا به خلوتگه خورشید رسی چرخ‌زنان
بر جهان تکیه مکن ور قدحی می داریشادی زهره‌جبینان خور و نازک‌بدنان
پیر پیمانه‌کش من که روانش خوش بادگفت: پرهیز کن از صحبت پیمان‌شکنان
دامن دوست به دست آر و ز دشمن بگسلمرد یزدان شو و فارغ گذر از اهرمنان
با صبا در چمن لاله سحر می‌گفتمکه شهیدان که‌اند این همه خونین‌کفنان
گفت: حافظ! من و تو محرم این راز نه‌ایماز می لعل حکایت کن و شیرین‌دهنان
This ghazal is full of good counsel, offered with a smile. You are no less than a mote of dust in sunlight, Hafez is told; do not think little of yourself, but practise love, and you will rise, whirling, to the sun's own chamber. Do not lean on the world. Hold fast to the friend and step away from those who break their promises. And when you meet mysteries too deep to solve, like the tulips in their red shrouds, do not torment yourself: some secrets are not ours to know. Speak instead of what is sweet.
King of the boxwood-statured, sovereign of the sweet-mouthed,
who with his lashes breaks the centre of every line-breaking army,
passed by drunk, cast a glance at me, a dervish,
and said: “O eye and lamp of all sweet speakers,
how long will your purse be empty of silver and gold?
Become my servant, and take your joy of all the silver-bodied.”
“You are no less than a mote of dust; do not sink low; practise love,
so that you reach the sun's private chamber, whirling.”
“Do not lean on the world; and if you have a cup of wine,
drink to the joy of the Venus-browed and the delicate of body.”
My cup-draining elder, may his soul be at peace,
said: “Beware the company of those who break their promises.”
“Take hold of the friend's hem and break with the enemy;
be a man of God, and pass the devils by untroubled.”
At dawn in the tulip meadow I was saying to the breeze:
“Who are these martyrs, all in bloodstained shrouds?”
It said: “Hafez, you and I are not trusted with this secret;
tell tales of ruby wine and of the sweet-mouthed.”