At dawn, with harp and lute

سحرگاهان، که مخمور شبانه

At dawn, still heavy with the night's wine,

گرفتم باده با چنگ و چغانه

I took up the cup with the harp and the lute.

نهادم عقل را ره ‌توشه از می،

I gave reason wine as provision for the road

ز شهر هستی‌اش کردم روانه

and sent it off from the city of being.

نگار می‌فروشم عشوه‌ای داد،

My wine-selling beloved gave me a glance

که ایمن گشتم از مکر زمانه

that made me safe from the cunning of the age.

ز ساقی کمان ‌ابرو شنیدم؛

I heard the bow-browed saqi say,

که ای تیر ملامت را نشانه!

"O you, the target of the arrow of blame,

نبندی زان میان طرفی، کمروار،

like a belt, you will win nothing from that waist

اگر خود را ببینی در میانه

if you see yourself in the middle.

برو، این دام بر مرغی دگر نه

Go, set this snare for some other bird,

که عنقا را بلند است آشیانه!

for the nest of the Simurgh is high."

که بندد طرف وصل از حسن شاهی؟

Who can win union with the beauty of a king

که با خود عشق بازد جاودانه‌؟

who plays at love with himself forever?

ندیم و مطرب و ساقی، همه اوست؛

Companion, minstrel and saqi: all of them are He;

خیال آب و گل در ره، بهانه

the fancy of water and clay along the way is a pretext.

بده کشتی می تا خوش برانیم،

Give us the ship of wine so that we may sail happily

از این دریای ناپیداکرانه

across this sea whose shores cannot be seen.

وجود ما معمایی‌ست، حافظ؛

Our existence is a riddle, Hafez,

که تحقیقش، فسون است و فسانه

and to probe it is only charm and fable.