When the king of the east raised his banner

سحر چون خسرو خاور، علم بر کوهساران زد

At dawn, when the king of the east planted his banner on the mountains,

به دست مرحمت، یارم، در امیدواران زد

my beloved, with the hand of mercy, knocked at the door of the hopeful.

چو پیش صبح روشن شد که حال مهر گردون چیست

When it became clear to the morning what the heavens' love amounts to,

برآمد خنده‌ای خوش بر غرور کامگاران زد

it rose with a pleasant laugh and mocked the pride of the fortunate.

نگارم دوش در مجلس، به عزم رقص چون برخاست

Last night in the gathering, when my idol rose to dance,

گره بگشود از گیسو و بر دل‌های یاران زد

she loosened a knot from her tresses and cast it upon her friends' hearts.

من از رنگ صلاح آن دم، به خون دل بشستم دست

At that moment I washed my hands of the colour of righteousness in my heart's blood,

که چشم باده پیمایش صلا بر هوشیاران زد

when her wine-measuring eye called out to the sober.

کدام آهن‌دلش آموخت این آیین عیاری؟

Which iron-hearted one taught her this roguish custom,

کز اول چون برون آمد، ره شب‌زنده‌داران زد

that the moment she came out, she waylaid those who keep the night vigil?

خیال شهسواری پخت و شد ناگه دل مسکین

My poor heart dreamed of a champion rider, and suddenly,

خداوندا! نگه دارش که بر قلب سواران زد

O Lord, protect it, it charged at the centre of the horsemen.

در آب و رنگ رخسارش، چه جان دادیم و خون خوردیم

For the lustre and colour of her face, what lives we gave and what blood we drank!

چو نقشش دست داد اول، رقم بر جان‌سپاران زد

When her image first appeared, it set its mark on those who give their souls.

منش با خرقه پشمین، کجا اندر کمند آرم؟

How can I, in my woollen cloak, bring her into my lasso,

زره‌مویی که مژگانش ره خنجرگزاران زد

that one with chain-mail hair, whose lashes waylaid the dagger-wielders?

نظر بر قرعه توفیق و یمن دولت شاه است

My eye is on the lot of success and the blessed fortune of the king;

بده کام دل حافظ که فال بختیاران زد

grant Hafez his heart's desire, for he has cast the faal of the fortunate.

شهنشاه مظفر فر، شجاع ملک و دین منصور

The king of kings of victorious glory, Shoja, triumphant in kingdom and faith,

که جود بی‌دریغش خنده بر ابر بهاران زد

whose unstinting generosity laughed at the clouds of spring.

از آن ساعت که جام می به دست او مشرف شد

From the hour the wine-cup was honoured by his hand,

زمانه ساغر شادی به یاد می‌گساران زد

time has raised the goblet of joy in memory of the wine-drinkers.

ز شمشیر سرافشانش، ظفر آن روز بدرخشید

From his head-scattering sword victory shone on the day

که چون خورشید انجم‌سوز تنها بر هزاران زد

when, like the star-burning sun, he struck alone at thousands.

دوام عمر و ملک او، بخواه از لطف حق ای دل!

Ask God's grace, O heart, for the endurance of his life and kingdom,

که چرخ، این سکه دولت به دور روزگاران زد

for heaven has struck this coin of fortune for the course of the ages.