Hafez · Ghazal 404 · A better glance than this
می‌فکن بر صف رندان نظری بهتر از اینبر در میکده می‌کن گذری بهتر از این
در حق من لبت این لطف که می‌فرمایدسخت خوب است ولیکن قدری بهتر از این
آن که فکرش گره از کار جهان بگشایدگو در این کار بفرما، نظری بهتر از این؟
ناصحم گفت که جز غم چه هنر دارد عشقبرو ای خواجه عاقل هنری بهتر از این؟!
دل بدان رود گرامی چه کنم گر ندهم؟مادر دهر ندارد پسری بهتر از این
من چو گویم که قدح نوش و لب ساقی بوسبشنو از من که نگوید دگری بهتر از این
کلک حافظ شکرین میوه نباتی‌ست، بچینکه در این باغ نبینی ثمری بهتر از این
Hafez speaks here with a smile and a gentle boldness: the kindness he has received is very fine, he says, but a little more would be better still. You are allowed to ask for more warmth, more attention, a kinder glance, without apology. When people tell you love brings only sorrow, Hafez answers that there is no finer art. Give your heart where it belongs, enjoy what is sweet, and trust the fruit of your own work. What you have grown may be sweeter than you think.
Cast a better glance than this upon the ranks of the rendan;
pass by the tavern door in a better way than this.
This kindness your lip shows towards me
is very fine, but it could be a little better than this.
The one whose thought unties the knot of the world's affairs,
ask him: in this matter, is there a better view than this?
My counsellor said: “What art does love have but sorrow?”
Go, wise sir: is there any art better than this?
I gave my heart to that dear child; what else could I do?
Mother Time has no son better than this.
When I say, “Drink the cup and kiss the saqi's lip,”
hear it from me, for no one will tell you better than this.
Hafez's pen is a cane bearing sugar fruit; gather it,
for in this garden you will see no fruit better than this.