The Persian Literature Volume I Part 43

Though the two worlds ne'er bowed my head when elate, Favors as his have bent my neck with their weight.

Thine be the lote, but I Love's stature would reach.

High like his zeal ascends the fancy of each.

Yet who am I that sacred temple to tread?

Still let the East that portal guard in my stead!

Spots on my robe--shall they arouse my complaint?

Nay! the world knows that he at least has no taint.

My turn has come; behold! Majnun is no more;[26]

Five days shall fly, and each one's turn shall be o'er.

Love's ample realm, sweet joy, and all that is glad, Save for his bounty I should never have had.[27]

I and my heart--though both should sacrificed be, Grant my friend's weal, their loss were nothing to me.

Ne'er shall his form within my pupil be dim, For my eye's cell is but a chamber for him.

All the fresh blooms that on the greensward we view, Gain but from him their scent and beauty of hue.

Hafiz seems poor; But look within, for his breast, Shrining his love, With richest treasure is blest.

XXIII

p.r.o.ne at my friend's high gates, my Will its head lays still: Whate'er my head awaits is ordered by that will.

My friend resembles none; in vain I sought to trace, In glance of moon or sun, the radiance of that face.

Can morning's breeze make known what grief this heart doth hold, Which as a bud hath grown, compressed by fold on fold?

Not I first drained the jar where rev'lers pa.s.s away:[28]

Heads in this work-yard are nought else than wine-jars' clay.

Meseems thy comb has wreathed those locks which amber yield: The gale has civet breathed, and amber scents the field.

Flowers of verdant nooks be strewn before thy face: Let cypresses of brooks bear witness to thy grace!

When dumb grow tongues of men that on such love would dwell, Why should a tongue-cleft pen by babbling strive to tell?

Thy cheek is in my heart; no more will bliss delay; Glad omens e'er impart news of a gladder day.

Love's fire has dropped its spark In Hafiz' heart before: The wild-grown tulip's mark Branded of old its core.[29]

XXV

Breeze of the morn, if hence to the land thou fliest--Of my friend, Return with a musky breath from the lock so sweet Of my friend.

Yea, by that life, I swear I would lay down mine in content, If once I received through thee but a message sent Of my friend.

But--at that sacred court, if approach be wholly denied, Convey, for my eyes, the dust that the door supplied Of my friend.

I--but a beggar mean--can I hope for Union at last?

Ah! would that in sleep I saw but the shadow cast Of my friend.

Ever my pine-cone heart, as the aspen trembling and shy, Has yearned for the pine-like shape and the stature high Of my friend.

Not at the lowest price would my friend to purchase me care; Yet I, a whole world to win, would not sell one hair Of my friend.

How should this heart gain aught, Were its gyves of grief flung aside?

I, Hafiz, a bondsman, still Would the slave abide Of my friend.

XXIX

Who of a Heaven on earth can tell, pure as the cell--Of dervishes?

If in the highest state you'd dwell, be ever slaves Of dervishes.

The talisman of magic Might hid in some ruin's lonely site, Emerges from its ancient night at the wild glance Of dervishes.

When the proud sun has run his race, and he puts off his crown apace, He bows before the pomp and place which are the boast Of dervishes.

The palace portal of the sky, watched by Rizvan's unsleeping eye, All gazers can at once descry from the glad haunts Of dervishes.

When mortal hearts are black and cold, that which trans.m.u.tes them into gold Is the alchemic stone we hold from intercourse Of dervishes.

When tyranny, from pole to pole, sways o'er the earth with dire control, We see from first to last unroll the victor-flag Of dervishes.

There is a wealth which lasts elate, unfearful of decline from fate; Hear it with joy--this wealth so great, is in the hands Of dervishes.

Khosraus, the kiblahs of our prayer have weight to solace our despair,[30]

But they are potent by their care for the high rank Of dervishes.

O, vaunter of thy riches' pride! lay all thy vanity aside, And know that health and wealth abide but by the will Of dervishes.

Korah lost all his treasured store, which, cursed of Heaven, sinks daily more, (Hast thou not heard this tale of yore?) from disregard Of dervishes,[31]

The smiling face of joy unknown, yet sought by tenants of a throne, Is only in the mirror shown of the clear face Of dervishes.

Let but our asaf's eye request, I am the slave of his behest, For though his looks his rank attest, he has the mind Of dervishes.

Hafiz, if of the tide thou think, which makes immortal those who drink, Seek in the dust that fountain's brink, at the cell door Of dervishes.

Hafiz, while here on earth, be wise: He who to empire's rule would rise, Knows that his upward pathway lies Through his regard Of dervishes.