In the reign of a forgiving king

در عهد پادشاه خطابخش جرم پوش

In the reign of a king who pardons errors and covers faults,

حافظ قرابه کش شد و مفتی پیاله نوش

Hafez became a carrier of flagons, and the mufti a drinker of cups.

صوفی ز کنج صومعه با پای خم نشست

The Sufi left the corner of his cell and sat at the foot of the jar

تا دید محتسب که سبو می‌کشد به دوش

once he saw the inspector carrying a wine-jug on his shoulder.

احوال شیخ و قاضی و شرب الیهودشان

About the sheikh and the judge, and their drinking in secret,

کردم سؤال صبحدم از پیر می فروش

I asked the old wine-seller at dawn.

گفتا نه گفتنیست سخن گرچه محرمی

He said: "These are not things to be told, though you are a confidant:

درکش زبان و پرده نگه دار و می بنوش

hold your tongue, keep the veil, and drink your wine."

ساقی بهار می‌رسد و وجه می نماند

Saqi, spring is coming and nothing is left to buy wine;

فکری بکن که خون دل آمد ز غم به جوش

think of something, for the heart's blood is boiling with grief.

عشق است و مفلسی و جوانی و نوبهار

It is love, and poverty, and youth, and early spring:

عذرم پذیر و جرم به ذیل کرم بپوش

accept my excuse, and cover my fault with the hem of your generosity.

تا چند همچو شمع زبان آوری کنی؟

How long will you go on talking like the candle?

پروانه مراد رسید ای محب خموش

The moth of your desire has come, O lover: be silent.

ای پادشاه صورت و معنی که مثل تو

O king of outer form and inner meaning, whose like

نادیده هیچ دیده و نشنیده هیچ گوش

no eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard:

چندان بمان که خرقه ازرق کند قبول

Stay so long that your young fortune

بخت جوانت از فلک پیر ژنده پوش

receives the blue cloak from the old, ragged-robed sky.