Ghazal 203: For years our book was in pawn for red wine

سال‌ها دفتر ما در گرو صهبا بود
رونق می‌کده از درس و دعای ما بود

نیکی پیر مغان بین که چو ما بدمستان
هر چه کردیم به چشم کرمش زیبا بود

دفتر دانش ما جمله بشویید به می
که فلک دیدم و در قصد دل دانا بود

از بتان آن طلب ار حسن شناسی ای دل
کاین کسی گفت که در علم نظر بینا بود

دل چو پرگار به هر سو دورانی می‌کرد
و اندر آن دایره سرگشتهٔ پابرجا بود

مطرب از درد محبت عملی می‌پرداخت
که حکیمان جهان را مژه خون پالا بود

می‌شکفتم ز طرب زان که چو گل بر لب جوی
بر سرم سایهٔ آن سرو سهی بالا بود

پیر گلرنگ من اندر حق ازرق‌پوشان
رخصت خبث نداد ار نه حکایت‌ها بود

قلب اندودهٔ حافظ بر او خرج نشد
کاین معامل به همه عیب نهان بینا بود

For years our book was in pawn for red wine;
the tavern drew its lustre from our lessons and our prayers.

See the goodness of the Magian elder: whatever we ill-mannered drunkards did
was beautiful in the eye of his generosity.

Wash our whole book of learning clean with wine,
for I have watched the sky, and it was set against the heart of the wise.

Seek that from the idols, O heart, if you are a judge of beauty,
for the one who said this had sight in the science of seeing.

The heart, like a compass, was turning in every direction,
and within that circle it was bewildered and yet stood firm.

The minstrel was playing an air out of the pain of love
that made the lashes of the sages of the world strain blood.

I was blossoming with joy, because like the rose at the stream's edge
the shade of that tall straight cypress lay upon my head.

My rose-coloured elder, concerning the wearers of blue,
gave no leave for malice; otherwise there were stories to tell.

The gilded false coin of Hafez's heart did not pass with him,
for this dealer could see every hidden flaw.