Rumi's Masnavi - Saying, “O God, what shackle is this on my neck? Were it not for the shackle, who would say ‘I am I’?

Saying, “O God, what shackle is this on my neck? Were it not for the shackle, who would say ‘I am I’?

کاین چه غل است ای خدا بر گردنم ** ور نه غل باشد که گوید من منم‌‌

By that (will) whereby Thou hast made Moses to be illumined, by that (same will) Thou hast made me to be darkened; 2450

ز آن که موسی را منور کرده‌‌ای ** مر مرا ز آن هم مکدر کرده‌‌ای‌‌

By that whereby Thou hast made Moses' face like the moon Thou hast made the moon of my soul to be black-faced (eclipsed).

ز آن که موسی را تو مه رو کرده‌‌ای ** ماه جانم را سیه رو کرده‌‌ای‌‌

My star was not better than a moon (so that it should be exempt from eclipse): since it has suffered eclipse, what help have I?

بهتر از ماهی نبود استاره‌‌ام ** چون خسوف آمد چه باشد چاره‌‌ام‌‌

If they beat drums in my honour (proclaiming me) as Lord and Sultan, (’tis like as when) the moon is eclipsed and the people beat bowls (of metal).

نوبتم گر رب و سلطان می‌‌زنند ** مه گرفت و خلق پنگان می‌‌زنند

They beat those bowls and raise a clamour: they put the moon to shame by their blows.

می‌‌زنند آن طاس و غوغا می‌‌کنند ** ماه را ز آن زخمه رسوا می‌‌کنند

I, who am Pharaoh, oh, woe is me because of (what is being done by) the people: my (title of) ‘My supreme Lord’ is (like) the blows on the bowl (since it proclaims my eclipse). 2455

من که فرعونم ز شهرت وای من ** زخم طاس آن ربی الاعلای من‌‌

We (Moses and I) are fellow-servants (to Thee), but Thy axe is cleaving the boughs in Thy forest;

خواجه‌‌تاشانیم اما تیشه‌‌ات ** می‌‌شکافد شاخ را در بیشه‌‌ات‌‌

Then it makes one bough to be grafted, another bough to be left uncared for.

باز شاخی را موصل می‌‌کند ** شاخ دیگر را معطل می‌‌کند

The bough has no power against the axe: no bough escaped from the power of the axe.

شاخ را بر تیشه دستی هست نی ** هیچ شاخ از دست تیشه جست نی‌‌