Rumi's Masnavi - Every one whom he asked made a mock of him, saying, “Who would search after this, unless perhaps a madman in confinement?”

Every one whom he asked made a mock of him, saying, “Who would search after this, unless perhaps a madman in confinement?”

هر که را پرسید کردش ریشخند ** کاین که جوید جز مگر مجنون بند

Many slapped him jocosely; many said, “O fortunate man,

بس کسان صفعش زدند اندر مزاح ** بس کسان گفتند ای صاحب فلاح‏

How should the enquiry of a clever and clear-minded person like you be devoid (of result)? How should it be vain?”

جستجوی چون تو زیرک سینه صاف ** کی تهی باشد کجا باشد گزاف‏

And this (ironical) respect was to him another slap, and it was harder (to bear) than the visible slap. 3650

وین مراعاتش یکی صفعی دگر ** وین ز صفع آشکارا سخت‏تر

They extolled him sarcastically, saying, “O great sir, in such and such a very tremendous and huge country,

می‏ستودندش به تسخر کای بزرگ ** در فلان اقلیم بس هول و سترگ‏

In such and such a forest there is a green tree, very tall and broad, and every branch of it is big.”

در فلان بیشه درختی هست سبز ** بس بلند و پهن و هر شاخیش گبز

The king's envoy, who had braced his belt for the quest, was hearing a different kind of report from every one;

قاصد شه بسته در جستن کمر ** می‏شنید از هر کسی نوعی خبر

There for years he travelled much, (whilst) the king kept sending money to him.

بس سیاحت کرد آن جا سالها ** می‏فرستادش شهنشه مالها

After he had suffered much fatigue in that foreign land, at last he became too exhausted to seek (any longer). 3655

چون بسی دید اندر آن غربت تعب ** عاجز آمد آخر الامر از طلب‏

No trace of the object of pursuit was discovered: of what he wanted nothing appeared but the report.

هیچ از مقصود اثر پیدا نشد ** ز آن غرض غیر خبر پیدا نشد