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4
1198-1222

  • I have not invented this parable, O comrade: do not hear it (as though it were) silly, if thou art worthy and restored to thy senses.
  • این مثل از خود نگفتم ای رفیق ** سرسری مشنو چو اهلی و مفیق

  • The Prophet (Mohammed) said (something like) this, when he heard vituperation (from the infidels who asked), “Why is Ahmad (Mohammed) made fat (happy) by praise?”
  • این پیمبر گفت چون بشنید قدح ** که چرا فربه شود احمد به مدح

  • The poet went to the king and brought a poem in thanks (and praise) for (his) beneficence, saying that it (beneficence) never died. 1200
  • رفت شاعر پیش آن شاه و ببرد ** شعر اندر شکر احسان کان نمرد

  • The beneficent died, and (their) acts of beneficence remained: oh, blest is he that rode this steed!
  • محسنان مردند و احسانها بماند ** ای خنک آن را که این مرکب براند

  • The unjust died, and those acts of injustice remained: alas for the soul that practises deceit and fraud!
  • ظالمان مردند و ماند آن ظلمها ** وای جانی کو کند مکر و دها

  • The Prophet said, “Blest is he who departed from this world and left good deeds behind him.”
  • گفت پیغامبر خنک آن را که او ** شد ز دنیا ماند ازو فعل نکو

  • The beneficent man died, but his beneficence died not: with God, religion (piety) and beneficence are not of small account.
  • مرد محسن لیک احسانش نمرد ** نزد یزدان دین و احسان نیست خرد

  • Alas for him who died and whose disobedience (to God) died not: beware of thinking that by death he saved his soul (from punishment). 1205
  • وای آنکو مرد و عصیانش نمود ** تا نپنداری به مرگ او جان ببرد

  • Dismiss this (topic), for the poet is on the way—in debt and mightily in need of gold.
  • این رها کن زانک شاعر بر گذر ** وام‌دارست و قوی محتاج زر

  • The poet brought the poem to the king in hope of (receiving) last year's donation and benefit—
  • برد شاعر شعر سوی شهریار ** بر امید بخشش و احسان پار

  • A charming poem full of flawless pearls, in hope and expectation of the first (former) munificence.
  • نازنین شعری پر از در درست ** بر امید و بوی اکرام نخست

  • The Sháh indeed, according to his habit, ordered a thousand (dinars to be paid) to him, since such was the custom of that monarch;
  • شاه هم بر خوی خود گفتش هزار ** چون چنین بد عادت آن شهریار

  • But, on this occasion, the bountiful vizier had departed from the present life, (mounted) on the Buráq of glory, 1210
  • لیک این بار آن وزیر پر ز جود ** بر براق عز ز دنیا رفته بود

  • And in his place a new vizier had assumed authority; but (he was) very pitiless and mean.
  • بر مقام او وزیر نو رئیس ** گشته لیکن سخت بی‌رحم و خسیس

  • He said, “O king, we have (great) outlays: this donation is not the (fitting) reward for a poet.
  • گفت ای شه خرجها داریم ما ** شاعری را نبود این بخشش جزا

  • With a fortieth part of this (sum), O thou (whose favour is) eagerly sought, I will make the poet man happy and content.”
  • من به ربع عشر این ای مغتنم ** مرد شاعر را خوش و راضی کنم

  • The people said to him, “He carried away a sum of ten thousand (dinars) in ready money from this valiant (king).
  • خلق گفتندش که او از پیش‌دست ** ده هزاران زین دلاور برده است

  • After (having eaten) sugar, how should he chew (the empty) cane? After having been a sultan, how should he practise beggary?” 1215
  • بعد شکر کلک خایی چون کند ** بعد سلطانی گدایی چون کند

  • He (the vizier) replied, “I will squeeze him in torment, that he may be made wretched and worn out by waiting;
  • گفت بفشارم ورا اندر فشار ** تا شود زار و نزار از انتظار

  • Then, if I give him earth from the road, he will snatch it as (though it were) rose-leaves from the garden.
  • آنگه ار خاکش دهم از راه من ** در رباید هم‌چو گلبرگ از چمن

  • Leave this to me, for I am expert in this, even if the claimant be fiery (hot and fierce).
  • این به من بگذار که استادم درین ** گر تقاضاگر بود هر آتشین

  • Though he (be able to) fly from the Pleiades to the earth, he will become meek when he sees me.”
  • از ثریا گر بپرد تا ثری ** نرم گردد چون ببیند او مرا

  • The king said to him, “Go: ’tis for thee to command; but make him happy, for he is my eulogist.” 1220
  • گفت سلطانش برو فرمان تراست ** لیک شادش کن که نیکوگوی ماست

  • He (the vizier) said, “Leave him and two hundred (other) lickers-up of hope to me, and write this (down) against me.”
  • گفت او را و دو صد اومیدلیس ** تو به من بگذار این بر من نویس

  • Then the minister threw him into (the pains of) expectation: winter and December passed and spring came.
  • پس فکندش صاحب اندر انتظار ** شد زمستان و دی و آمد بهار