From without comes their voice, (telling) of religion, (and crying), “This, this is the way of escape for thee.
از برون آوازشان آید ز دین ** که ره رستن ترا این است این
By this we escaped from this narrow cage: there is no means of escape from this cage but this way,
ما به دین رستیم زین ننگین قفس ** جز که این ره نیست چاره‌‌ی این قفس
(That) thou shouldst make thyself ill, exceedingly wretched, in order that thou mayst be let out from (the cage of) reputation.”1545
خویش را رنجور سازی زار زار ** تا ترا بیرون کنند از اشتهار
Worldly reputation is a strong chain: in the Way how is this less than a chain of iron?
که اشتهار خلق بند محکم است ** در ره این از بند آهن کی کم است
The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.
قصه‌‌ی بازرگان که طوطی محبوس او او را پیغام داد به طوطیان هندوستان هنگام رفتن به تجارت
There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.
بود بازرگانی او را طوطیی ** در قفس محبوس زیبا طوطیی
When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,
چون که بازرگان سفر را ساز کرد ** سوی هندستان شدن آغاز کرد
Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”
هر غلام و هر کنیزک را ز جود ** گفت بهر تو چه آرم گوی زود
Each one asked him for some object of desire: that good man gave his promise to them all.1550
هر یکی از وی مرادی خواست کرد ** جمله را وعده بداد آن نیک مرد
He said to the parrot, “What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”
گفت طوطی را چه خواهی ارمغان ** کارمت از خطه‌‌ی هندوستان
The parrot said to him, “When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),
گفتش آن طوطی که آن جا طوطیان ** چون ببینی کن ز حال من بیان
‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you, is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.
کان فلان طوطی که مشتاق شماست ** از قضای آسمان در حبس ماست
She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn) from you the means and way of being rightly guided.
بر شما کرد او سلام و داد خواست ** وز شما چاره و ره ارشاد خواست
She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you) should give up the ghost and die here in separation?1555
گفت می‌‌شاید که من در اشتیاق ** جان دهم اینجا بمیرم در فراق
Is this right—(that) I (should be) in grievous bondage, while ye are now on green plants, now on trees?
این روا باشد که من در بند سخت ** گه شما بر سبزه گاهی بر درخت
The faith kept by friends, is it like this?—I in this prison and ye in the rose-garden.
این چنین باشد وفای دوستان ** من در این حبس و شما در بوستان
O ye noble ones, call to mind this piteous bird, (and drink in memory of me) a morning-draught amongst the meadows!
یاد آرید ای مهان زین مرغ زار ** یک صبوحی در میان مرغزار
Happy it is for a friend to be remembered by friends, in particular when that (beloved) is Laylá and this (lover) Majnún.
یاد یاران یار را میمون بود ** خاصه کان لیلی و این مجنون بود
O ye who consort with your charming and adored one, am I to be drinking cups filled with my own blood?1560
ای حریفان بت موزون خود ** من قدحها می‌‌خورم پر خون خود
(O thou who art my beloved), quaff one cup of wine in memory of me, if thou art unwilling to do me justice,
یک قدح می نوش کن بر یاد من ** گر همی‌‌خواهی که بدهی داد من
Or (at least), when thou hast drunk, spill one draught on the earth in memory of this fallen one who sifts dust.
یا به یاد این فتاده‌‌ی خاک بیز ** چون که خوردی جرعه ای بر خاک ریز
Oh, where, I wonder, is that covenant and oath? Where are the promises of that lip like candy?
ای عجب آن عهد و آن سوگند کو ** وعده‌‌های آن لب چون قند کو
If thy having forsaken thy slave is because of (his) ill service (to thee)—when thou doest ill to the ill-doer, then what is the difference (between master and slave)?
گر فراق بنده از بد بندهگی است ** چون تو با بدبندگی پس فرق چیس
Oh, the ill thou doest in wrath and quarrel is more delightful than music and the sound of the harp.1565
ای بدی که تو کنی در خشم و جنگ ** با طرب تر از سماع و بانگ چنگ
Oh, thy cruelty is better than felicity, and thy vengeance dearer than life.
ای جفای تو ز دولت خوبتر ** و انتقام تو ز جان محبوبتر