When the weary seek and have no strength, Ghazal 208 by Hafez

By @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

خستگان را چو طلب باشد و قُوَّت نَبُوَد

گر تو بیداد کنی شرطِ مُروَّت نَبُوَد

***

ما جفا از تو ندیدیم و تو خود نَپْسَندی

آنچه در مذهبِ اربابِ طریقت نبود

***

خیره آن دیده که آبش نَبَرَد گریهٔ عشق

تیره آن دل که در او شمعِ محبت نبود

***

دولت از مرغِ همایون طلب و سایهٔ او

زان که با زاغ و زَغَن شَهپَرِ دولت نبود

***

گر مدد خواستم از پیرِ مُغان عیب مکن

شیخ ما گفت که در صومعه همّت نبود

***

چون طهارت نَبُوَد کعبه و بتخانه یکیست

نَبُوَد خیر در آن خانه که عصمت نبود

***

حافظا علم و ادب ورز که در مجلسِ شاه

هر که را نیست ادب لایقِ صحبت نبود

***

Description:

English Translation:

When the weary seek and have no strength,
If you are unjust, it is not the condition of a gentleman.

We have not seen injustice from you, and you yourself would not approve
Of what is not in the religion of the masters of the path.

Blessed is that eye whose tears of love are not washed away by water,
Dark is that heart in which the candle of love is not burning.

Seek fortune from the auspicious bird of good fortune and its shadow,
For with crows and ravens, there is no wing of fortune.

If I sought help from the old Magi, do not blame me,
Our sheikh said that there was no ambition in the monastery.

When there is no purity, the Kaaba and the idol temple are one,
There is no good in a house where there is no chastity.

Hafez, seek knowledge and good manners, for at the king's court,
Whoever does not have good manners is not worthy of conversation.