Rumi's Masnavi - The boy said, “The cause of my weeping bitterly is that in yonder city and country my mother

The boy said, “The cause of my weeping bitterly is that in yonder city and country my mother

گفت کودک گریه‌ام زانست زار ** که مرا مادر در آن شهر و دیار

Was always threatening me with thee, (saying), ‘May I see you in the hands of the lion, Mahmúd!’

از توم تهدید کردی هر زمان ** بینمت در دست محمود ارسلان

Then my father would wrangle with my mother (and say) in reply, ‘What wrath and torment is this (that you would inflict on him)?

پس پدر مر مادرم را در جواب ** جنگ کردی کین چه خشمست و عذاب

Cannot you find any other curse lighter than this deadly curse?

می‌نیابی هیچ نفرینی دگر ** زین چنین نفرین مهلک سهلتر

You are very pitiless and exceedingly hard-hearted, for you are (virtually) killing him with a hundred swords.’ 1395

سخت بی‌رحمی و بس سنگین‌دلی ** که به صد شمشیر او را قاتلی

I used to be dismayed by the talk of both: a (great) terror and pain would come into my heart,

من ز گفت هر دو حیران گشتمی ** در دل افتادی مرا بیم و غمی

(Thinking), ‘Oh, wonderful! What a hellish person Mahmúd must be, since he has become proverbial for woe and anguish!’

تا چه دوزخ‌خوست محمود ای عجب ** که مثل گشتست در ویل و کرب

I used to tremble in fear of thee, being ignorant of thy gracious treatment and high regard.

من همی‌لرزیدمی از بیم تو ** غافل از اکرام و از تعظیم تو

Where is my mother, that she might see me now (seated) on the throne, O King of the world?”

مادرم کو تا ببیند این زمان ** مر مرا بر تخت ای شاه جهان

(Spiritual) poverty is your Mahmúd, O man without affluence: your (sensual) nature is always making you afraid of it. 1400

فقر آن محمود تست ای بی‌سعت ** طبع ازو دایم همی ترساندت