O God, make this stony heart (soft as) wax; make our wailing sweet (to Thee) and an object of (Thy) mercy!
ای خدا این سنگ دل را موم کن ** نالهی ما را خوش و مرحوم کن
How a sightless beggar said, “I have two blindnesses.”
گفتن نابینای سائل که دو کوری دارم
There was a blind man who used to say, “Pity! I have two blindnesses, O people of the time.
بود کوری کاو همیگفت الامان ** من دو کوری دارم ای اهل زمان
Therefore, hark ye, show unto me twice as much compassion, since I have two blindnesses, and I (live) between (them.)”
پس دو باره رحمتم آرید هان ** چون دو کوری دارم و من در میان
(Somebody) said, “We see one blindness of yours: what may the other blindness be? Explain.”1995
گفت یک کوریت میبینیم ما ** آن دگر کوری چه باشد وانما
He answered, “I have an ugly voice and unpleasing tones: ugliness of voice and blindness are double (blindness).
گفت زشت آوازم و ناخوش نوا ** زشت آوازی و کوری شد دوتا
My ugly cry becomes the source of annoyance: the people's love is lessened by my cry.
بانگ زشتم مایهی غم میشود ** مهر خلق از بانگ من کم میشود
Whithersoever my ugly voice goes, it becomes the source of anger and annoyance and hatred.
زشت آوازم به هر جا که رود ** مایهی خشم و غم و کین میشود
Double your compassion for (these) two blindnesses: make room (in your hearts) for one who gets so little room.”
بر دو کوری رحم را دوتا کنید ** این چنین ناگنج را گنجا کنید
The ugliness of (his) voice was diminished by this plaint: the people became of one mind in (showing) compassion for him.2000
زشتی آواز کم شد زین گله ** خلق شد بر وی به رحمت یک دله
When he had told the secret (and explained his meaning), his voice was made beautiful by the graciousness of the voice of his heart;
کرد نیکو چون بگفت او راز را ** لطف آواز دلش آواز را
But that one whose heart's voice also is bad—(for him) those three blindnesses are banishment everlasting (from the favour of God);
و انکه آواز دلش هم بد بود ** آن سه کوری دوری سرمد بود
Yet it may be that the bounteous (saints), who give without cause, will lay a hand (of blessing) upon his ugly head.
لیک وهابان که بیعلت دهند ** بو که دستی بر سر زشتش نهند
Since his (the blind beggar's) voice became sweet and pitiable, the hearts of the stony-hearted were made (soft) as wax thereby.
چون که آوازش خوش و مظلوم شد ** زو دل سنگین دلان چون موم شد
Inasmuch as the infidel's lament is ugly and (like) braying, for that (reason) it meets with no (favourable) response.2005
نالهی کافر چو زشت است و شهیق ** ز آن نمیگردد اجابت را رفیق
“Be silent” has come down (has been revealed in the Qur’án) against the ugly-voiced (infidel), for he was drunken with the people's blood, like a dog.
اخسؤا بر زشت آواز آمده ست ** کاو ز خون خلق چون سگ بود مست
Inasmuch as the lament of the bear attracts compassion, (while) your lament is not like this, (but) is unpleasing,
چون که نالهی خرس رحمت کش بود ** نالهات نبود چنین ناخوش بود
Know that you have behaved with wolfishness to (a) Joseph, or have drunk of the blood of an innocent.
دان که با یوسف تو گرگی کردهای ** یا ز خون بیگناهی خوردهای
Repent, and empty yourself of what you have drunk; and if your wound is old (and unhealed), go, cauterise (it).
توبه کن و ز خورده استفراغ کن ** ور جراحت کهنه شد رو داغ کن
Continuation of the story of the bear and of the fool who had put trust in its good faith.
تتمهی حکایت خرس و آن ابله که بر وفای او اعتماد کرده بود
The bear, too, when it was delivered from the dragon and received such kindness from that brave man—2010
خرس هم از اژدها چون وارهید ** و آن کرم ز آن مرد مردانه بدید
Like the dog of the Men of the Cave, that poor bear became an attendant at the heels of him that bore the burden (of the fight with the dragon).
چون سگ اصحاب کهف آن خرس زار ** شد ملازم در پی آن بردبار
That Moslem, from fatigue, laid down his head (to rest); the bear, from devotion (to him), became (his) guard.
آن مسلمان سر نهاد از خستگی ** خرس حارس گشت از دل بستگی
A certain man passed by and said to him, “What has happened? O brother, who is this bear (in relation) to you?”
آن یکی بگذشت و گفتش حال چیست ** ای برادر مر ترا این خرس کیست
He recounted the adventure, and the story of the dragon. The other said, “Do not set your heart on a bear, O fool!
قصه واگفت و حدیث اژدها ** گفت بر خرسی منه دل ابلها
The friendship of a fool is worse than (his) enmity: it (the bear) ought to be driven away by every means you know.”2015
دوستی ابله بتر از دشمنی است ** او بهر حیله که دانی راندنی است
He (the man with the bear) said (to himself), “By God, he has said this from envy; otherwise,” (he said aloud), “why do you look at the bearishness (of the bear)? Behold this affection (which it has for me)!”
گفت و الله از حسودی گفت این ** ور نه خرسی چه نگری این مهر بین