Rumi's Masnavi - He (the loved slave) possesses no authority, that he should care for him: shall he do his own master's business or his (the lover's)?

He (the loved slave) possesses no authority, that he should care for him: shall he do his own master's business or his (the lover's)?

نیست حاکم تا کند تیمار او ** کار خواجه‌‌ی خود کند یا کار او

The Arabic proverb, “If you commit fornication, commit it with a free woman, and if you steal, steal a pearl.”

مثل عرب إذا زنیت فازن بالحرة و إذا سرقت فاسرق الدرة

Hence (the saying), “Commit fornication with a free woman,” became proverbial; (and the words) “steal a pearl” were transferred (metaphorically) to this (meaning). 2805

فازن بالحرة پی این شد مثل ** فاسرق الدرة بدین شد منتقل‌‌

The slave (the loved one) went away to his master: he (the lover) was left in misery. The scent of the rose went (back) to the rose: he remained as the thorn.

بنده سوی خواجه شد او ماند زار ** بوی گل شد سوی گل او ماند خار

He was left far from the object of his desire—his labour lost, his toil useless, his foot wounded,

او بمانده دور از مطلوب خویش ** سعی ضایع رنج باطل پای ریش‌‌

Like the hunter who catches a shadow—how should the shadow become his property?

همچو صیادی که گیرد سایه‌‌ای ** سایه کی گردد و را سرمایه‌‌ای‌‌

The man has grasped tightly the shadow of a bird, (while) the bird on the branch of the tree is fallen into amazement,

سایه‌‌ی مرغی گرفته مرد سخت ** مرغ حیران گشته بر شاخ درخت‌‌

(Thinking), “I wonder who this crack-brained fellow is laughing at? Here's folly for you, here's a rotten cause!” 2810

کاین مدمغ بر که می‌‌خندد عجب ** اینت باطل اینت پوسیده سبب‌‌

And if you say that the part is connected with the whole, (then) eat thorns: the thorn is connected with the rose.

ور تو گویی جزو پیوسته‌‌ی کل است ** خار می‌‌خور خار مقرون گل است‌‌

Except from one point of view, it (the part) is not connected with the whole: otherwise, indeed, the mission of the prophets would be vain,

جز ز یک رو نیست پیوسته به کل ** ور نه خود باطل بدی بعث رسل‌‌

Inasmuch as the prophets are (sent) in order to connect (the part with the whole): how, then, should they (the prophets) connect them when they are (already) one body?

چون رسولان از پی پیوستن‌‌اند ** پس چه پیوندندشان چون یک تن‌‌اند

This discourse hath no end. O lad, the day is late: conclude the tale.

این سخن پایان ندارد ای غلام ** روز بی‌‌گه شد حکایت کن تمام‌‌

How the Arab delivered the gift, that is, the jug to the Caliph's servants.

سپردن عرب هدیه را یعنی سبو را به غلامان خلیفه‌‌

He presented the jug of water, he sowed the seed of homage in that (exalted) court. 2815

آن سبوی آب را در پیش داشت ** تخم خدمت را در آن حضرت بکاشت‌‌

“Bear this gift,” said he, “to the Sultan, redeem the King's suitor from indigence.

گفت این هدیه بدان سلطان برید ** سایل شه را ز حاجت واخرید

’Tis sweet water and a new green jug—some of the rain-water that collected in the ditch.”

آب شیرین و سبوی سبز و نو ** ز آب بارانی که جمع آمد به گو

The officials smiled at that, but they accepted it (the jug) as (though it were precious as) life,

خنده می‌‌آمد نقیبان را از آن ** لیک پذرفتند آن را همچو جان‌‌

Because the graciousness of the good and wise King had made a mark (impressed itself) on all the courtiers.

ز آن که لطف شاه خوب با خبر ** کرده بود اندر همه ارکان اثر

The disposition of kings settles (becomes implanted) in their subjects: the green sky makes the earth verdant. 2820

خوی شاهان در رعیت جا کند ** چرخ اخضر خاک را خضرا کند

Regard the king as a reservoir, his retainers as the pipes: the water runs through the pipe into the ponds (receptacles).

شه چو حوضی دان حشم چون لوله‌‌ها ** آب از لوله روان در کوله‌‌ها

When the water in all (the pipes) is from a pure reservoir, every single one gives sweet water, pleasant to taste;

چون که آب جمله از حوضی است پاک ** هر یکی آبی دهد خوش ذوقناک‌‌

But if the water in the reservoir is brackish and dirty, every pipe brings the same to view,

ور در آن حوض آب شور است و پلید ** هر یکی لوله همان آرد پدید

Because every pipe is connected with the reservoir. Dive, dive into (ponder deeply) the meaning of these words.

ز آن که پیوسته ست هر لوله به حوض ** خوض کن در معنی این حرف خوض‌‌

(Consider) how the imperial grace of the homeless Spirit has produced effects on the whole body; 2825

لطف شاهنشاه جان بی‌‌وطن ** چون اثر کرده ست اندر کل تن‌‌

How the grace of Reason, which is of goodly nature, of goodly lineage, brings the entire body into discipline;

لطف عقل خوش نهاد خوش نسب ** چون همه تن را در آرد در ادب‌‌

How Love, saucy, uncontrolled, and restless, throws the whole body into madness.

عشق شنگ بی‌‌قرار بی‌‌سکون ** چون در آرد کل تن را در جنون‌‌

The purity of the water of the Sea that is like Kawthar (is such that) all its pebbles are pearls and gems.

لطف آب بحر کاو چون کوثر است ** سنگ ریزه‌‌ش جمله در و گوهر است‌‌

For whatever science the master is renowned, the souls of his pupils become endued with the same.

هر هنر که استا بدان معروف شد ** جان شاگردان بدان موصوف شد

With the master-theologian the quick and industrious pupil reads (scholastic) theology. 2830

پیش استاد اصولی هم اصول ** خواند آن شاگرد چست با حصول‌‌

With the master-jurist the student of jurisprudence reads jurisprudence, when he (the teacher) expounds it, not theology.

پیش استاد فقیه آن فقه خوان ** فقه خواند نی اصول اندر بیان‌‌

With the master who is a grammarian—the soul of his pupil becomes imbued by him with grammar.

پیش استادی که او نحوی بود ** جان شاگردش از او نحوی شود

Again, the master who is absorbed in the Way (of Súfism)— because of him the soul of his pupil is absorbed in the King (God).

باز استادی که او محو ره است ** جان شاگردش از او محو شه است‌‌

Of all these various kinds of knowledge, on the day of death the (best) equipment and provision for the road is the knowledge of (spiritual) poverty.

زین همه انواع دانش روز مرگ ** دانش فقر است ساز راه و برگ‌‌

The story of what passed between the grammarian and the boatman.

حکایت ماجرای نحوی و کشتیبان‌‌

A certain grammarian embarked in a boat. That self-conceited person turned to the boatman 2835

آن یکی نحوی به کشتی درنشست ** رو به کشتیبان نهاد آن خود پرست‌‌

And said, “Have you ever studied grammar?” “No,” he replied. The other said, “Half your life is gone to naught.”

گفت هیچ از نحو خواندی گفت لا ** گفت نیم عمر تو شد در فنا

The boatman became heart-broken with grief, but at the time he refrained from answering.

دل شکسته گشت کشتیبان ز تاب ** لیک آن دم کرد خامش از جواب‌‌

The wind cast the boat into a whirlpool: the boatman spoke loud (shouted) to the grammarian,

باد کشتی را به گردابی فگند ** گفت کشتیبان به آن نحوی بلند

“Tell me, do you know how to swim?” “No,” said he, “O fair-spoken good-looking man!”

هیچ دانی آشنا کردن بگو ** گفت نی ای خوش جواب خوب رو

“O grammarian,” said he, “your whole life is naught, because the boat is sinking in these whirlpools.” 2840

گفت کل عمرت ای نحوی فناست ** ز آن که کشتی غرق این گردابهاست‌‌

Know that here mahw (self-effacement) is needed, not nah? (grammar): if you are mahw (dead to self), plunge into the sea without peril.

محو می‌‌باید نه نحو اینجا بدان ** گر تو محوی بی‌‌خطر در آب ران‌‌

The water of the sea places the dead one on its head (causes him to float on the surface); but if he be living, how shall he escape from the sea?

آب دریا مرده را بر سر نهد ** ور بود زنده ز دریا کی رهد

Inasmuch as you have died to the attributes of the flesh, the Sea of (Divine) consciousness will place you on the crown of its head (will raise you to honour).

چون بمردی تو ز اوصاف بشر ** بحر اسرارت نهد بر فرق سر

(But) O thou who hast called the people asses, at this time thou art left (floundering), like an ass, upon this ice.

ای که خلقان را تو خر می‌‌خوانده‌‌ای ** این زمان چون خر بر این یخ مانده‌‌ای‌‌

If in the world thou art the most learned scholar of the time, behold the passing away of this world and this time! 2845

گر تو علامه‌‌ی زمانی در جهان ** نک فنای این جهان بین وین زمان‌‌

We have stitched in (inserted) the (story of the) grammarian, that we might teach you the grammar (nahw) of self-effacement (mahw).

مرد نحوی را از آن در دوختیم ** تا شما را نحو محو آموختیم‌‌

In self-loss, O venerated friend, thou wilt find the jurisprudence of jurisprudence, the grammar of grammar, and the accidence of accidence.

فقه فقه و نحو نحو و صرف صرف ** در کم آمد یابی ای یار شگرف‌‌

That jug of water is (an emblem of) our different sorts of knowledge, and the Caliph is the Tigris of God's knowledge.

آن سبوی آب دانشهای ماست ** و آن خلیفه دجله‌‌ی علم خداست‌‌

We are carrying jugs full (of water) to the Tigris: if we do not know ourselves to be asses, asses we are.

ما سبوها پر به دجله می‌‌بریم ** گر نه خر دانیم خود را ما خریم‌‌

After all, the Bedouin was excusable, for he was inattentive and very blind to the Tigris and of the (great) river. 2850

باری اعرابی بدان معذور بود ** کو ز دجله بی‌‌خبر بود و ز رود

If he had been acquainted with the Tigris, as we are, he would not have carried that jug from place to place;

گر ز دجله با خبر بودی چو ما ** او نبردی آن سبو را جا به جا

Nay, had he been aware of the Tigris, he would have dashed that jug against a stone.

بلکه از دجله چو واقف آمدی ** آن سبو را بر سر سنگی زدی‌‌

How the Caliph accepted the gift and bestowed largesse, notwithstanding that he was entirely without need of the gift (the water) and the jug.

قبول کردن خلیفه هدیه را و عطا فرمودن با کمال بی‌‌نیازی از آن هدیه و از آن سبو

When the Caliph saw (the gift) and heard his story, he filled the jug with gold and added (other presents).

چون خلیفه دید و احوالش شنید ** آن سبو را پر ز زر کرد و مزید