- “The (best) plan,” said he, “is that we should bring the man here for the sake of (curing) this malady.
- گفت تدبیر آن بود کان مرد را ** حاضر آریم از پی این درد را
- Summon the goldsmith from that far country; beguile him with gold and robes of honour.”
- مرد زرگر را بخوان ز ان شهر دور ** با زر و خلعت بده او را غرور
- How the king sent messengers to Samarcand to fetch the goldsmith.
- فرستادن پادشاه رسولان به سمرقند به آوردن زرگر
- The king sent thither one or two messengers, clever men and competent and very just. 185
- شه فرستاد آن طرف یک دو رسول ** حاذقان و کافیان بس عدول
- Those two Amírs came to Samarcand and went to the goldsmith, bearing the good news from the king.
- تا سمرقند آمدند آن دو امیر ** پیش آن زرگر ز شاهنشه بشیر
- Saying, “O fine master, perfect in knowledge, thou whose quality (of perfection in thy craft) is famous in (all) the lands,
- کای لطیف استاد کامل معرفت ** فاش اندر شهرها از تو صفت
- Lo, such-and-such a king hath chosen thee for (thy skill in) the goldsmith's craft, because thou art eminent.
- نک فلان شه از برای زرگری ** اختیارت کرد زیرا مهتری
- Look now, receive this robe of honour and gold and silver; when thou comest (to the king), thou wilt be a favourite and boon-companion.”
- اینک این خلعت بگیر و زر و سیم ** چون بیایی خاص باشی و ندیم
- The man saw the much wealth and the many robes: he was beguiled, he parted from his town and children. 190
- مرد مال و خلعت بسیار دید ** غره شد از شهر و فرزندان برید
- Blithely the man came into the road, unaware that the king had formed a design against his life.
- اندر آمد شادمان در راه مرد ** بیخبر کان شاه قصد جانش کرد
- He mounted an Arab horse and sped on joyously: (what really was) the price of his blood he deemed a robe of honour.
- اسب تازی بر نشست و شاد تاخت ** خونبهای خویش را خلعت شناخت
- O (fool), who with a hundred consents thyself with thine own foot didst enter on the journey to the fated ill!
- ای شده اندر سفر با صد رضا ** خود به پای خویش تا سوء القضا
- In his fancy (were dreams of) riches, power, and lordship. Said ‘Azrá‘íl (the Angel of Death), “Go (thy way). Yes, thou wilt get (them)!”
- در خیالش ملک و عز و مهتری ** گفت عزرائیل رو آری بری
- When the stranger arrived (and turned) from the road, the physician brought him into the presence of the king. 195
- چون رسید از راه آن مرد غریب ** اندر آوردش به پیش شه طبیب
- Proudly and delicately they conducted him to the king of kings, that he might burn (like a moth) on that candle of Tiráz.
- سوی شاهنشاه بردندش به ناز ** تا بسوزد بر سر شمع طراز
- The king beheld him, showed great regard (for him), and entrusted to him the treasure house (full) of gold.
- شاه دید او را بسی تعظیم کرد ** مخزن زر را بدو تسلیم کرد
- Then the physician said to him: “O mighty Sultan, give the handmaiden to this lord,
- پس حکیمش گفت کای سلطان مه ** آن کنیزک را بدین خواجه بده
- In order that the handmaiden may be happy in union with him, and that the water of union with him may put out the fire (of passion).”
- تا کنیزک در وصالش خوش شود ** آب وصلش دفع آن آتش شود
- The king bestowed on him that moon-faced one and wedded those twain (who were) craving (each other's) company. 200
- شه بدو بخشید آن مه روی را ** جفت کرد آن هر دو صحبت جوی را
- During the space of six months they were satisfying their desire, till the girl was wholly restored to health.
- مدت شش ماه میراندند کام ** تا به صحت آمد آن دختر تمام
- Thereafter he prepared for him a potion, so that when he drank it he began to dwindle away before her.
- بعد از آن از بهر او شربت بساخت ** تا بخورد و پیش دختر میگداخت
- When because of sickness his beauty remained not, the soul of the girl remained not in his pestilence (deadly toils).
- چون ز رنجوری جمال او نماند ** جان دختر در وبال او نماند
- Since he became ugly and ill-favoured and sallow-cheeked, little by little he became cold (irksome and unpleasing) in her heart.
- چون که زشت و ناخوش و رخ زرد شد ** اندک اندک در دل او سرد شد
- Those loves which are for the sake of a colour (outward beauty) are not love: in the end they are a disgrace. 205
- عشقهایی کز پی رنگی بود ** عشق نبود عاقبت ننگی بود
- Would that he too had been disgrace (deformity) altogether, so that that evil judgement might not have come to pass upon him!
- کاش کان هم ننگ بودی یک سری ** تا نرفتی بر وی آن بد داوری
- Blood ran from his eye (that flowed with tears) like a river; his (handsome) face became the enemy of his life.
- خون دوید از چشم همچون جوی او ** دشمن جان وی آمد روی او
- The peacock's plumage is its enemy: O many the king who hath been slain by his magnificence!
- دشمن طاوس آمد پر او ** ای بسی شه را بکشته فر او
- He said, “I am the muskdeer on account of whose gland this hunter shed my pure (innocent) blood.
- گفت من آن آهوم کز ناف من ** ریخت این صیاد خون صاف من
- Oh, I am the fox of the field whose head they (the hunters springing forth) from the covert cut off for the sake of the fur. 210
- ای من آن روباه صحرا کز کمین ** سر بریدندش برای پوستین
- Oh, I am the elephant whose blood was shed by the blow of the mahout for the sake of the bone (ivory).
- ای من آن پیلی که زخم پیل بان ** ریخت خونم از برای استخوان
- He who hath slain me for that which is other than I, does not he know that my blood sleepeth not (will not rest unavenged)?
- آن که کشتستم پی مادون من ** مینداند که نخسبد خون من
- To-day it lies on me and to-morrow it lies on him: when does the blood of one such as I am go to waste like this?
- بر من است امروز و فردا بر وی است ** خون چون من کس چنین ضایع کی است
- Although the wall casts a long shadow, (yet at last) the shadow turns back again towards it.
- گر چه دیوار افکند سایهی دراز ** باز گردد سوی او آن سایه باز
- This world is the mountain, and our action the shout: the echo of the shouts comes (back) to us.” 215
- این جهان کوه است و فعل ما ندا ** سوی ما آید نداها را صدا
- He said this and at the (same) moment went under the earth (gave up the ghost). The handmaiden was purged of love and pain,
- این بگفت و رفت در دم زیر خاک ** آن کنیزک شد ز عشق و رنج پاک
- Because love of the dead is not enduring, because the dead one is never coming (back) to us;
- ز انکه عشق مردگان پاینده نیست ** ز انکه مرده سوی ما آینده نیست
- (But) love of the living is every moment fresher than a bud in the spirit and in the sight.
- عشق زنده در روان و در بصر ** هر دمی باشد ز غنچه تازهتر
- Choose the love of that Living One who is everlasting, who gives thee to drink of the wine that increases life.
- عشق آن زنده گزین کاو باقی است ** کز شراب جان فزایت ساقی است
- Choose the love of Him from whose love all the prophets gained power and glory. 220
- عشق آن بگزین که جمله انبیا ** یافتند از عشق او کار و کیا
- Do not say, “We have no admission to that King.” Dealings with the generous are not difficult.
- تو مگو ما را بدان شه بار نیست ** با کریمان کارها دشوار نیست
- Setting forth how the slaying and poisoning of the goldsmith was (prompted) by Divine suggestion, not by sensual desire and wicked meditation.
- بیان آن که کشتن و زهر دادن مرد زرگر به اشارت الهی بود نه به هوای نفس و تامل فاسد
- The slaying of that man by the hand of the physician was not (done) on account of hope or fear.
- کشتن آن مرد بر دست حکیم ** نی پی اومید بود و نی ز بیم
- He did not slay him to humour the king, (he did not slay him) until the Divine command and inspiration came.
- او نکشتش از برای طبع شاه ** تا نیامد امر و الهام اله
- As for the boy whose throat was cut by Khadir, the vulgar do not comprehend the mystery thereof.
- آن پسر را کش خضر ببرید حلق ** سر آن را درنیابد عام خلق
- He that receives from God inspiration and answer (to his prayer), whatsoever he may command is the essence of right. 225
- آن که از حق یابد او وحی و جواب ** هر چه فرماید بود عین صواب
- If one who bestows (spiritual) life should slay, it is allowable: he is the (Divine) vicegerent, and his hand is the hand of God.
- آن که جان بخشد اگر بکشد رواست ** نایب است و دست او دست خداست
- Like Ismá‘íl (Ishmael), lay your head before him; gladly and laughingly give up your soul before his dagger,
- همچو اسماعیل پیشش سر بنه ** شاد و خندان پیش تیغش جان بده
- In order that your soul may remain laughing unto eternity, like the pure soul of Ahmad (Mohammed) with the One (God).
- تا بماند جانت خندان تا ابد ** همچو جان پاک احمد با احد
- Lovers drain the cup of (spiritual) life at the moment when the fair ones slay them with their own hand.
- عاشقان جام فرح آن گه کشند ** که به دست خویش خوبانشان کشند
- The king did not commit that bloodshed because of lust: cease from thinking evil and disputing. 230
- شاه آن خون از پی شهوت نکرد ** تو رها کن بد گمانی و نبرد
- You thought that he committed a foul crime, (but) in (the state of) purity how should the sublimation leave (any) alloy (behind)?
- تو گمان بردی که کرد آلودگی ** در صفا غش کی هلد پالودگی
- The purpose of this (severe) discipline and this rough treatment is that the furnace may extract the dross from the silver.
- بهر آن است این ریاضت وین جفا ** تا بر آرد کوره از نقره جفا