For years our book lay in pledge for wine

سال‌ها دفتر ما در گرو صهبا بود

For years our book lay in pledge for red wine;

رونق می‌کده از درس و دعای ما بود

the tavern's lustre came from our lessons and our prayers.

نیکی پیر مغان بین که چو ما بدمستان

See the goodness of the Magian elder: for bad drunkards like us,

هر چه کردیم به چشم کرمش زیبا بود

whatever we did was beautiful in the eye of his generosity.

دفتر دانش ما جمله بشویید به می

Wash our whole book of learning in wine,

که فلک دیدم و در قصد دل دانا بود

for I saw that the heavens were set against the wise heart.

از بتان آن طلب ار حسن شناسی ای دل

O heart, if you know beauty, seek that certain something in the fair,

کاین کسی گفت که در علم نظر بینا بود

for one who said this saw clearly in the science of gazing.

دل چو پرگار به هر سو دورانی می‌کرد

The heart, like a compass, went circling in every direction,

و اندر آن دایره سرگشته پابرجا بود

and within that circle it was bewildered, yet stood firm.

مطرب از درد محبت عملی می‌پرداخت

The minstrel, from the pain of love, was playing a melody

که حکیمان جهان را مژه خون پالا بود

that made the lashes of the world's sages strain blood.

می‌شکفتم ز طرب زان که چو گل بر لب جوی

I was blooming with joy, for like a rose beside the stream

بر سرم سایه آن سرو سهی بالا بود

the shade of that tall, straight cypress was over my head.

پیر گلرنگ من اندر حق ازرق‌پوشان

My rose-coloured elder, regarding the blue-robed ones,

رخصت خبث نداد ار نه حکایت‌ها بود

gave no leave to speak ill; otherwise there were tales to tell.

قلب اندوده حافظ بر او خرج نشد

Hafez's gilded counterfeit coin did not pass with him,

کاین معامل به همه عیب نهان بینا بود

for this trader could see every hidden fault.