With thee a prison would be a rose-garden (1)

A damsel said to her lover, “O fond youth,
You have visited many cities in your travels;
Which of those cities seem most delightful to you?”
He made answers, “The city wherein my love dwells.
In whatever nook my queen alights.
Though it be as the eye of a needle, tis a wide plain;
Wherever her Yusuf-like face shines as a moon,
Though it be the bottom of a well, tis Paradise.
With thee, my love, hell itself were heaven,
With thee a prison would be a rose-garden.
With thee hell would be a mansion of delight,
Without thee lilies and roses would be as flames of fire”.

* * * * *

Si perawan berkata kepada kasihnya, “O jejaka,
Tuan telah kembara ke pelbagai kota;
Kota manakah yang paling indah?”
Jawabnya, “Kota tempat tinggal kasih saya.
Di setiap ceruk permaisuri saya berpijak.
Biar ia hanya di lubang jarum, luasnya bagai dataran;
Di mana jua wajah Yusuf-nya bersinar laksana bulan,
Biar ia di dasar perigi, ia adalah Syurga.
Dengan tuan, kasih, neraka adalah syurga,
Dengan tuan, penjara adalah sekebun mawar.
Dengan tuan, neraka adalah istana keseronokan,
Tanpa tuan, seroja dan mawar menjadi lidah api”.

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(1) Masnavi, op.cit., Book III, pg., 231