I went into the garden at dawn

رفتم به باغ صبحدمی تا چنم گلی

I went into the garden one dawn to pick a rose;

آمد به گوش ناگهم آواز بلبلی

suddenly a nightingale's voice came to my ear.

مسکین چو من به عشق گلی گشته مبتلا

Poor thing, like me, it was stricken with love for a rose,

و اندر چمن فکنده ز فریاد غلغلی

and had filled the meadow with the clamour of its cries.

می‌گشتم اندر آن چمن و باغ دم به دم

I wandered in that meadow and garden, moment by moment,

می‌کردم اندر آن گل و بلبل تاملی

reflecting on that rose and that nightingale.

گل یار حسن گشته و بلبل قرین عشق

The rose had become the companion of beauty, and the nightingale the partner of love;

آن را تفضلی نه و این را تبدلی

the one would grant no favour, and the other would not change.

چون کرد در دلم اثر آواز عندلیب

When the nightingale's song took hold of my heart,

گشتم چنان که هیچ نماندم تحملی

I became such that no patience remained in me.

بس گل شکفته می‌شود این باغ را ولی

Many a rose blooms in this garden, but

کس بی بلای خار نچیده‌ست از او گلی

no one has picked a rose from it without the trouble of the thorn.

حافظ مدار امید فرج از مدار چرخ

Hafez, do not hope for relief from the turning of the wheel;

دارد هزار عیب و ندارد تفضلی

it has a thousand faults and grants no favour.