The cup of Jamshid was within

سال‌ها دل طلب جام جم از ما می کرد

For years my heart begged the cup of Jamshid from me,

وان چه خود داشت ز بیگانه تمنا می کرد

and what it already held, it craved from strangers.

گوهری کز صدف کون و مکان بیرون است

A pearl that lies outside the shell of time and place

طلب از گمشدگان لب دریا می کرد

it was seeking from those lost upon the seashore.

مشکل خویش بر پیر مغان بردم دوش

Last night I took my problem to the pir-e moghan,

کو به تأیید نظر حل معما می کرد

who, with the strength of his gaze, would solve the riddle.

دیدمش خرم و خندان قدح باده به دست

I found him glad and laughing, a cup of wine in hand,

و اندر آن آینه صد گونه تماشا می کرد

and in that mirror he was watching a hundred kinds of sights.

گفتم این جام جهان بین به تو کی داد حکیم

I said, "When did the Sage give you this world-seeing cup?"

گفت آن روز که این گنبد مینا می کرد

He said, "On the day He was making this azure dome."

بی دلی در همه احوال خدا با او بود

A man without a heart: in every state God was with him;

او نمی دیدش و از دور خدا را می کرد

he did not see Him, and from afar kept crying, "O God!"

این همه شعبده خویش که می کرد این جا

All this conjuring that was being worked here

سامری پیش عصا و ید بیضا می کرد

was Samiri's, played before the staff and the shining hand.

گفت آن یار کز او گشت سر دار بلند

He said, "That friend through whom the gallows' head was raised —

جرمش این بود که اسرار هویدا می کرد

his crime was this: he made the secrets plain."

فیض روح القدس ار باز مدد فرماید

If the grace of the Holy Spirit lends its help again,

دیگران هم بکنند آن چه مسیحا می کرد

others too may do what the Messiah did.

گفتمش سلسله زلف بتان از پی چیست

I asked him, "What is the chain of the idols' curls for?"

گفت حافظ گله ای از دل شیدا می کرد

He said, "Hafez was complaining of his frenzied heart."