Rumi's Masnavi - God was saying to Azrael, “O marshal, whom of all the miserable ones didst thou pity (most)?”

God was saying to Azrael, “O marshal, whom of all the miserable ones didst thou pity (most)?”

حق به عزرائیل می‌گفت ای نقیب ** بر کی رحم آمد ترا از هر کیب

He replied, “My heart burns with grief for them all, but I am afraid to neglect the (Divine) command,

گفت بر جمله دلم سوزد به درد ** لیک ترسم امر را اهمال کرد

So that I should say, ‘Would that God might sacrifice me in exchange for the (generous) youth!’”

تا بگویم کاشکی یزدان مرا ** در عوض قربان کند بهر فتی

God asked, “For whom didst thou feel the greatest pity? On account of whom was thy heart most filled with flame and grilled?” 4800

گفت بر کی بیشتر رحم آمدت ** از کی دل پر سوز و بریان‌تر شدت

“One day,” said he, “by (Thy) command I wrecked a ship on the fierce waves, so that it went to pieces.

گفت روزی کشتیی بر موج تیز ** من شکستم ز امر تا شد ریز ریز

Then Thou bad’st me take the souls of them all, except one woman and one child belonging to that company.

پس بگفتی قبض کن جان همه ** جز زنی و غیر طفلی زان رمه

The twain were left on a plank, and the plank was being driven on by the waves.

هر دو بر یک تخته‌ای در ماندند ** تخته را آن موج‌ها می‌راندند

Then Thou saidst, ‘Take the mother's soul and leave the child alone in obedience to the command Be!’

باز گفتی جان مادر قبض کن ** طفل را بگذار تنها ز امر کن

When I parted the child from its mother, Thou thyself knowest how bitter ’twas to me. 4805

چون ز مادر بسکلیدم طفل را ** خود تو می‌دانی چه تلخ آمد مرا

Often have I seen sighs (heaved) in great mournings, (but) the bitter grief of that child has never gone from my recollection.”

بس بدیدم دود ماتم‌های زفت ** تلخی آن طفل از فکرم نرفت