He's gone to the tavern of the Magi and taken a drink, Ghazal 421 by Hafez

He's gone to the tavern of the Magi and taken a drink, Ghazal 421 by Hafez

By @hamed on October 11, 2024

He's gone to the tavern of the Magi and taken a drink, Ghazal 421 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez paints a vivid picture of a mystical and sensual gathering at a tavern, where divine and earthly pleasures intertwine. The poet uses rich imagery and symbolism to convey his message.

Key Themes:

Mystical union: The tavern is a metaphor for spiritual union with the divine.
Sensory pleasures: The poem is full of references to wine, beauty, and sensual experiences.
Divine love: The poet suggests that the ultimate goal is union with the divine, which can be achieved through love and devotion.


English Translation for Ghazal

He's gone to the tavern of the Magi and taken a drink
An old, pious man, seated, has struck a pose with the young and old


The wine-bearers have all girded their loins in his service
But from abandoning his turban, he's struck a pose with the clouds

The radiance of the cup and goblet has eclipsed the moon's light
The cheeks of the wine-dark maidens have struck a pose with the sunlight

The bride of fortune in that bridal chamber, with a thousand coquetries
Has broken her vow and sprinkled rosewater on the rose leaves

The angel of mercy has taken the cup of pleasure
And sprinkled rosewater on the faces of the houris and peris

From the fervor and clamor of the sweet-working witnesses
The sugar has shattered, the saffron has scattered, the lute has been struck

I greeted him and with a smiling face he said to me
"O you, the impoverished drunkard, struck by wine"

"Who would do what you've done with such weakness of heart and mind?"
"From the treasury of wealth, you've pitched a tent in ruins"

"I fear the union of fortune will not awaken you"
"For you are asleep in the embrace of slumbering fortune"

"Come to the tavern, Hafez, so that I may offer you"
"A thousand rows of answered prayers"

"The sky is the whip-lash of the victorious king Nasr al-Din"
"Come see, his servants have their hands on the stirrups"

"Wisdom, which is inspired by the unseen, for the sake of attaining honor"
"Has kissed the hem of his robe a hundred times from the roof of the celestial throne"

Ghazal in Persian

در سرای مغان رفته بود و آب زده

نشسته پیر و صلایی به شیخ و شاب زده

 

سبوکشان همه در بندگیش بسته کمر

ولی ز ترک کله چتر بر سحاب زده

 

شعاع جام و قدح نور ماه پوشیده

عذار مغبچگان راه آفتاب زده

 

عروس بخت در آن حجله با هزاران ناز

شکسته کسمه و بر برگ گل گلاب زده

 

گرفته ساغر عشرت فرشتهٔ رحمت

ز جرعه بر رخ حور و پری گلاب زده

 

ز شور و عربدهٔ شاهدان شیرین کار

شکر شکسته سمن ریخته رباب زده

 

سلام کردم و با من به روی خندان گفت

که ای خمارکش مفلس شراب زده

 

که این کند که تو کردی به ضعف همت و رای

ز گنج خانه شده خیمه بر خراب زده

 

وصال دولت بیدار ترسمت ندهند

که خفته‌ای تو در آغوش بخت خواب زده

 

بیا به میکده حافظ که بر تو عرضه کنم

هزار صف ز دعاهای مستجاب زده

 

فلک جنیبه کش شاه نصرت الدین است

بیا ببین ملکش دست در رکاب زده

 

خرد که ملهم غیب است بهر کسب شرف

ز بام عرش صدش بوسه بر جناب زده


hamed
@hamed Oct. 11, 2024, 12:41 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

مغان: Magi (a reference to ancient Persian priests and wise men)
سبوکشان: wine-bearers
عروس بخت: bride of fortune
حور و پری: houris and peris (beautiful maidens in Islamic paradise)
نصرت الدین: a common name, but in this context, it could refer to a king or a powerful figure

Some of the nuances that are difficult to fully capture in translation include:

The intricate use of imagery: Hafez often uses multiple layers of symbolism and metaphor to convey his meaning.
The musicality of the Persian language: The sounds and rhythms of the Persian language contribute significantly to the emotional impact of the poem.
Sufi concepts: The poem is rich in Sufi symbolism and concepts, which can be challenging to convey in a different cultural context.