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2
3160-3209

  • روبهی اشکار خود را باد داد ** بهر طبلی همچو خیک پر ز باد 3160
  • A fox abandoned his prey for the sake of a drum like a wind-filled leathern bag,

  • چون ندید اندر دهل او فربهی ** گفت خوکی به ازین خیک تهی‏
  • (But) when he found no (real) fatness in the drum, he said, “A hog is better than this empty bag.”

  • روبهان ترسند ز آواز دهل ** عاقلش چندان زند که لا تقل‏
  • Foxes are afraid of the noise of the drum; (but) the wise man beats it ever so much, saying, “Speak not!”

  • قصه‏ی تیر اندازی و ترسیدن او از سواری که در بیشه می‏رفت‏
  • The story of an archer and his fear of a horseman who was riding in a forest.

  • یک سواری با سلاح و بس مهیب ** می‏شد اندر بیشه بر اسبی نجیب‏
  • A horseman, armed and very terrible (in appearance), was riding in the forest on a high-bred horse.

  • تیر اندازی به حکم او را بدید ** پس ز خوف او کمان را در کشید
  • An expert archer espied him, and then from fear of him drew his bow,

  • تا زند تیری سوارش بانگ زد ** من ضعیفم گر چه زفت استم جسد 3165
  • To shoot an arrow. The horseman shouted to him, “I am a weakling, though my body is big.

  • هان و هان منگر تو در زفتی من ** که کمم در وقت جنگ از پیر زن‏
  • Take heed! Take heed! Do not regard my bigness, for in the hour of battle I am less than an old woman.”

  • گفت رو که نیک گفتی ور نه نیش ** بر تو می‏انداختم از ترس خویش‏
  • “Pass on,” said he; “thou hast spoken well, else by reason of my fear I should have shot a barb at thee.”

  • بس کسان را کالت پیکار کشت ** بی‏رجولیت چنان تیغی به مشت‏
  • Many are they whom implements of war have slain, (since they held) such a sword in their hands, without the manhood (to use it).

  • گر بپوشی تو سلاح رستمان ** رفت جانت چون نباشی مرد آن‏
  • If you don the armour of Rustams, your soul goes (your life is lost) when you are not the man for it.

  • جان سپر کن تیغ بگذار ای پسر ** هر که بی‏سر بود از این شه برد سر 3170
  • Make your soul a shield and drop the sword, O son: whoever is headless (selfless) saves his head from this King.

  • آن سلاحت حیله و مکر تو است ** هم ز تو زایید و هم جان تو خست‏
  • Those weapons of yours are your (selfish) contriving and plotting; they have sprung from you and at the same time have wounded your soul.

  • چون نکردی هیچ سودی زین حیل ** ترک حیلت کن که پیش آید دول‏
  • Since you have gained nothing by these contrivings, abandon contrivance, that happy fortunes may meet (you).

  • چون که یک لحظه نخوردی بر ز فن ** ترک فن گو می‏طلب رب المنن‏
  • Since you have not for one moment enjoyed (any) fruit from the arts (of the schools), bid farewell to the arts, and seek always the Lord of bounties.

  • چون مبارک نیست بر تو این علوم ** خویشتن گولی کن و بگذر ز شوم‏
  • Since these sciences bring you no blessing, make yourself a dunce and leave ill luck behind.

  • چون ملایک گو که لا علم لنا ** یا الهی غیر ما علمتنا 3175
  • Like the angels, say, “We have no knowledge, O God, except what Thou hast taught us.”

  • قصه‏ی اعرابی و ریگ در جوال کردن و ملامت کردن آن فیلسوف او را
  • Story of the desert Arab and his putting sand in the sack and the philosopher's rebuking him.

  • یک عرابی بار کرده اشتری ** دو جوال زفت از دانه پری‏
  • A certain Arab of the desert loaded a camel with two big sacks—(there was) one full of grain.

  • او نشسته بر سر هر دو جوال ** یک حدیث انداز کرد او را سؤال‏
  • He was seated on the top of both sacks. A glib philosopher questioned him.

  • از وطن پرسید و آوردش به گفت ** و اندر آن پرسش بسی درها بسفت‏
  • He asked him about his native land and led him to talk and said many fine things in the course of (his) enquiry.

  • بعد از آن گفتش که این هر دو جوال ** چیست آگنده بگو مصدوق حال‏
  • Afterwards he said to him, “What are these two sacks filled with? Tell (me) the truth of the matter.”

  • گفت اندر یک جوالم گندم است ** در دگر ریگی نه قوت مردم است‏ 3180
  • He replied, “In one sack I have wheat; in the other is some sand—not food for men.”

  • گفت تو چون بار کردی این رمال ** گفت تا تنها نماند آن جوال‏
  • “Why,” he asked, “did you load this sand?” “In order that the other sack might not remain alone,” he replied.

  • گفت نیم گندم آن تنگ را ** در دگر ریز از پی فرهنگ را
  • “For wisdom's sake,” said he, “pour half the wheat of that pannier into the other,

  • تا سبک گردد جوال و هم شتر ** گفت شاباش ای حکیم اهل و حر
  • So that the sacks may be lightened, and the camel too.” He (the Arab) cried, “Bravo! O clever and noble sage!

  • این چنین فکر دقیق و رای خوب ** تو چنین عریان پیاده در لغوب‏
  • Such subtle thought and excellent judgement! And you so naked, (journeying) on foot and in fatigue!”

  • رحمتش آمد بر حکیم و عزم کرد ** کش بر اشتر بر نشاند نیک مرد 3185
  • The good man took pity on the philosopher and resolved to mount him on the camel.

  • باز گفتش ای حکیم خوش سخن ** شمه‏ای از حال خود هم شرح کن‏
  • He said to him again, “O fair-spoken sage, explain a little about your own circumstances as well.

  • این چنین عقل و کفایت که تراست ** تو وزیری یا شهی بر گوی راست‏
  • (With) such intelligence and talent as you have, are you a vizier or a king? Tell the truth.”

  • گفت این هر دو نیم از عامه‏ام ** بنگر اندر حال و اندر جامه‏ام‏
  • He answered, “I am not (either of) these two: I am of the common folk. Look at my appearance and dress.”

  • گفت اشتر چند داری چند گاو ** گفت نه این و نه آن ما را مکاو
  • He asked, “How many camels have you? How many oxen?” “I have neither these nor those,” he replied: “do not dig at me.”

  • گفت رختت چیست باری در دکان ** گفت ما را کو دکان و کو مکان‏ 3190
  • He said, “At any rate, what goods have you in your shop?” He answered, “Where have I a shop, and where a dwelling-place?”

  • گفت پس از نقد پرسم نقد چند ** که تویی تنها رو و محبوب پند
  • “Then,” said he, “I will ask about money. How much money (have you)?—for you are a solitary wanderer and one whose counsel is prized.

  • کیمیای مس عالم با تو است ** عقل و دانش را گهر تو بر تو است‏
  • With you is the elixir which changes the copper of the world (into) gold: your understanding and knowledge are inlaid with pearls.”

  • گفت و الله نیست یا وجه العرب ** در همه ملکم وجوه قوت شب‏
  • “By God,” he replied, “O chief of the Arabs, in my whole property there is not the means of (buying) food for the night.

  • پا برهنه تن برهنه می‏دوم ** هر که نانی می‏دهد آن جا روم‏
  • I run about with bare feet and naked body. If any one will give me a loaf of bread—thither I go.

  • مر مرا زین حکمت و فضل و هنر ** نیست حاصل جز خیال و درد سر 3195
  • From this wisdom and learning and excellence (of mind) I have got nothing but phantasy and headache.”

  • پس عرب گفتش که شو دور از برم ** تا نبارد شومی تو بر سرم‏
  • Then the Arab said to him, “Begone far from my side, so that your ill-luck may not rain upon me.

  • دور بر آن حکمت شومت ز من ** نطق تو شرم است بر اهل زمن‏
  • Take far away from me that unlucky wisdom of yours: your speech is unlucky for (all) the people of the time.

  • یا تو آن سو رو من این سو می‏دوم ** ور ترا ره پیش من واپس روم‏
  • Either go you in that direction, and I will run in this direction; or if your way be forwards, I will go back.

  • یک جوالم گندم و دیگر ز ریگ ** به بود زین حیله‏های مرده‏ریگ‏
  • One sack of wheat and the other of sand is better for me than these vain contrivings.

  • احمقی‏ام بس مبارک احمقی است ** که دلم با برگ و جانم متقی است‏ 3200
  • My foolishness is a very blessed foolishness, for my heart is well furnished (with spiritual graces) and my soul is devout.”

  • گر تو خواهی کت شقاوت کم شود ** جهد کن تا از تو حکمت کم شود
  • If thou desire that misery should vanish (from thee), endeavour that wisdom should vanish from thee—

  • حکمتی کز طبع زاید وز خیال ** حکمتی بی‏فیض نور ذو الجلال‏
  • The wisdom which is born of (human) nature and phantasy, the wisdom which lacks the overflowing grace of the Light of the Glorious (God).

  • حکمت دنیا فزاید ظن و شک ** حکمت دینی برد فوق فلک‏
  • The wisdom of this world brings increase of supposition and doubt; the wisdom of the Religion bears (one) above the sky.

  • زوبعان زیرک آخر زمان ** بر فزوده خویش بر پیشینیان‏
  • The ingenious rascals of (this) latter time have aggrandised themselves over the ancients;

  • حیله آموزان جگرها سوخته ** فعل‏ها و مکرها آموخته‏ 3205
  • The (apt) learners of cunning have burnt (consumed) their hearts (in study) and have learned feints and tricks;

  • صبر و ایثار و سخای نفس و جود ** باد داده کان بود اکسیر سود
  • They have thrown to the winds patience and altruism and self-sacrifice and generosity—(qualities) which are the elixir of (spiritual) profit.

  • فکر آن باشد که بگشاید رهی ** راه آن باشد که پیش آید شهی‏
  • The (right) thought is that which opens a way: the (right) way is that on which a (spiritual) king advances.

  • شاه آن باشد که از خود شه بود ** نه به مخزنها و لشکر شه شود
  • The (true) king is he that goes into the presence of the King, and is not made king by treasuries and armies;

  • تا بماند شاهی او سرمدی ** همچو عز ملک دین احمدی‏
  • So that his kingship remains unto everlasting, like the glory of the empire of the Mohammedan Religion.

  • کرامات ابراهیم ادهم بر لب دریا
  • The miracles of Ibráhím son of Adham on the seashore.