Rumi's Masnavi - And the hero fell a-moaning—“O illustrious one, you have killed me: what figure are you tattooing?”

And the hero fell a-moaning—“O illustrious one, you have killed me: what figure are you tattooing?”

پهلوان در ناله آمد کای سنی ** مر مرا کشتی چه صورت می‌‌زنی‌‌

“Why,” said he, “you bade me do a lion.” “What limb (of the lion),” asked the other, “did you begin with?”

گفت آخر شیر فرمودی مرا ** گفت از چه عضو کردی ابتدا

“I have begun at the tail,” said he. “O my dear friend,” he cried, “leave out the tail! 2990

گفت از دمگاه آغازیده‌‌ام ** گفت دم بگذار ای دو دیده‌‌ام‌‌

My breath is stopped by the lion's tail and rump: his rump has tightly closed (choked) my windpipe.

از دم و دمگاه شیرم دم گرفت ** دمگه او دمگهم محکم گرفت‌‌

Let the lion be without a tail, O lion-maker, for my heart is faint from the blows of the prong (the tattooer's needle).”

شیر بی‌‌دم باش گو ای شیر ساز ** که دلم سستی گرفت از زخم گاز

That person commenced to prick in (the blue) on another part (of the man's shoulder) without fear, without favour, without mercy.

جانب دیگر گرفت آن شخص زخم ** بی‌‌محابا بی‌‌مواسا بی‌‌ز رحم‌‌

He yelled—“Which of his members is this?” “This is his ear, my good man,” the barber replied.

بانگ کرد او کاین چه اندام است از او ** گفت این گوش است ای مرد نکو

“O Doctor,” said he, “let him have no ears: omit the ears and cut the frock short.” 2995

گفت تا گوشش نباشد ای حکیم ** گوش را بگذار و کوته کن گلیم‌‌

The barber began to insert (his needle) in another part: once more the man of Qazwín set out to wail,

جانب دیگر خلش آغاز کرد ** باز قزوینی فغان را ساز کرد

Saying, “What is the member (you are pricking in) now on this third spot?” He replied, “This is the lion's belly, my dear sir.”

کاین سوم جانب چه اندام است نیز ** گفت این است اشکم شیر ای عزیز