Hafez · Ghazal 484 · Sit by the water's edge
تو مگر بر لب آبی به هوس بنشینیور نه هر فتنه که بینی همه از خود بینی
به خدایی که تویی بنده بگزیده اوکه بر این چاکر دیرینه کسی نگزینی
گر امانت به سلامت ببرم باکی نیستبی‌دلی سهل بود گر نبود بی‌دینی
ادب و شرم تو را خسرو مه‌رویان کردآفرین بر تو که شایسته صد چندینی
عجب از لطف تو ای گل که نشستی با خارظاهرا مصلحت وقت در آن می‌بینی
صبر بر جور رقیبت چه کنم گر نکنم؟عاشقان را نبود چاره به جز مسکینی
باد صبحی به هوایت ز گلستان برخاستکه تو خوش‌تر ز گل و تازه‌تر از نسرینی
شیشه‌بازی سرشکم نگری از چپ و راستگر بر این منظر بینش نفسی بنشینی
سخنی بی‌غرض از بنده مخلص بشنوای که منظور بزرگان حقیقت بینی
نازنینی چو تو پاکیزه‌دل و پاک‌نهادبهتر آن است که با مردم بد ننشینی
سیل این اشک روان صبر و دل حافظ بردبلغ الطاقة یا مقلة عینی بیني
تو بدین نازکی و سرکشی ای شمع چگللایق بندگی خواجه جلال‌الدینی
Hafez begins by asking the beloved to look into the water and see their own reflection, and this is good counsel for you too. Take a quiet moment to look honestly at yourself, your gifts and your part in what is happening around you. He praises courtesy and modesty as the truest crown, and he offers a sincere piece of advice: someone with a pure heart should choose their company with care. Keep faith with what you hold dear, stay humble and kind, and surround yourself with people who honour your goodness.
Sit for your pleasure by the water's edge and look,
and you will see that every turmoil you see comes from you.
By the God whose chosen servant you are,
do not choose anyone over this old servant of yours.
If I carry the trust away safely, I have no fear;
losing the heart is easy, so long as one does not lose the faith.
Your courtesy and modesty made you king of the moon-faced;
bravo, for you are worthy of a hundred times as much.
I wonder at your grace, O rose, that you sat down with the thorn;
it seems you see in that the wisdom of the moment.
What can I do but bear your guardian's cruelty with patience?
Lovers have no remedy but humility.
A morning wind rose from the rose garden in longing for you,
for you are lovelier than the rose and fresher than the eglantine.
You would see my tears juggling glass to left and right
if for a moment you sat at this window of my sight.
Hear a disinterested word from your sincere servant,
O you who are chosen by the great who see the truth:
one as lovely as you, pure-hearted and pure-natured,
had better not sit with bad people.
The flood of these flowing tears has carried off Hafez's patience and heart;
my strength has reached its limit; O apple of my eye, depart.
With such delicacy and spirit, O candle of Chigil,
you are fit to serve Khwaja Jalal al-Din.