Rumi's Masnavi - I should have spoken much praise of you, O man of good qualities, if you had given me a single hint as to the (actual) case;

I should have spoken much praise of you, O man of good qualities, if you had given me a single hint as to the (actual) case; 1905

بس ثنایت گفتمی ای خوش خصال ** گر مرا یک رمز می‏گفتی ز حال‏

But you, keeping silence, showed perturbation and silently continued to beat me on the head.

لیک خامش کرده می‏آشوفتی ** خامشانه بر سرم می‏کوفتی‏

My head became dizzy, the wits flew out of my head— especially as this head has (but) little brain.

شد سرم کالیوه عقل از سر بجست ** خاصه این سر را که مغزش کمتر است‏

Pardon, O man of goodly countenance and goodly behaviour: let pass that which I said in frenzy.”

عفو کن ای خوب روی خوب کار ** آن چه گفتم از جنون اندر گذار

He answered, “If I had uttered a hint of it, your gall would instantly have turned to water.

گفت اگر من گفتمی رمزی از آن ** زهره‏ی تو آب گشتی آن زمان‏

Had I told you the qualities of the snake, terror would have made you give up the ghost.” 1910

گر ترا من گفتمی اوصاف مار ** ترس از جانت بر آوردی دمار

Mustafá (Mohammed) said, ‘If I should tell aright the description of the enemy which is in your souls,

مصطفی فرمود اگر گویم به راست ** شرح آن دشمن که در جان شماست‏

The gall-bladders even of courageous men would burst: he (such a one) would neither go his way nor care for any work.

زهره‏های پر دلان هم بر درد ** نه رود ره نه غم کاری خورد

Neither would there remain to his heart endurance in supplication, nor to his body strength for fasting and (ritual) prayer.

نه دلش را تاب ماند در نیاز ** نه تنش را قوت روزه و نماز

He would become (good for) nothing as a mouse before a cat; he would be distraught as a lamb before a wolf.

همچو موشی پیش گربه لا شود ** همچو بره پیش گرگ از جا رود