Hafez · Ghazal 403 · Drink the ruby wine
شراب لعل‌کش و روی مه‌جبینان بینخلاف مذهب آنان جمال اینان بین
به زیر دلق ملمع کمندها دارنددرازدستی این کوته‌آستینان بین
به خرمن دو جهان سر فرونمی‌آرنددماغ و کبر گدایان و خوشه‌چینان بین
بهای نیم کرشمه هزار جان طلبندنیاز اهل دل و ناز نازنینان بین
حقوق صحبت ما را به باد داد و برفتوفای صحبت یاران و همنشینان بین
اسیر عشق شدن چاره خلاص من استضمیر عاقبت‌اندیش پیش‌بینان بین
کدورت از دل حافظ ببرد صحبت دوستصفای همت پاکان و پاک‌دینان بین
This ghazal teaches you to look beneath appearances. Hafez sees hypocrites hiding lassoes under patched cloaks, and humble gleaners holding their heads higher than kings. He has known a friend's disloyalty too. Yet he arrives at a paradox: becoming love's captive is the way to freedom. If you have been let down, do not close your heart. Seek the company of those whose intentions are clean; Hafez says such company washes the dust from the heart. Choose sincerity, and you will see clearly.
Drink the ruby wine and look at the faces of the moon-browed;
against the creed of those men, look at the beauty of these.
Under their patched, many-coloured cloaks they carry lassoes;
see the long reach of these short-sleeved ones.
They do not bow their heads to the harvest of both worlds;
see the pride and haughtiness of the beggars and the gleaners.
For half a glance they ask the price of a thousand lives;
see the need of the people of heart and the disdain of the darlings.
He threw the rights of our companionship to the wind and left;
see the faithfulness of friends and companions!
To become love's captive is the way of my release;
see the far-seeing minds of those who think ahead.
The friend's company has taken the dust from Hafez's heart;
see the purity of resolve of the pure and the pure in faith.