Rumi's Masnavi - Our body is (as) walnuts and raisins, O son; if you are a man, relinquish these two things;

Our body is (as) walnuts and raisins, O son; if you are a man, relinquish these two things; 200

جسم ما جوز و مویز است ای پسر ** گر تو مردی زین دو چیز اندر گذر

And (even) if you do not relinquish them (by your own act), the grace of God will enable you to pass beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven).

ور تو اندر نگذری اکرام حق ** بگذراند مر ترا از نه طبق‏

Now listen to the outward form of the tale, but take heed to separate the grain from the chaff.

بشنو اکنون صورت افسانه را ** لیک هین از که جدا کن دانه را

When at last (the meditation of) that circle of Súfís who were seeking (spiritual) profit came to an end (culminated) in ecstasy and enthusiasm,

حلقه‌ای آن صوفیان مستفید ** چون که در وجد و طرب آخر رسید

They brought dishes of food for the guest, and he then bethought him of his beast.

خوان بیاوردند بهر میهمان ** از بهیمه یاد آورد آن زمان‏

He said to the famulus (the servant of the Súfís), “Go into the stable and make the straw and barley all right for the animal.” 205

گفت خادم را که در آخر برو ** راست کن بهر بهیمه کاه و جو

“Good gracious!” he replied, “why this saying overmuch? These things have been my care since long ago.”

گفت لا حول این چه افزون گفتن است ** از قدیم این کارها کار من است‏

The Súfí said, “First wet his barley, for ’tis an old ass, and his teeth are shaky.”

گفت تر کن آن جوش را از نخست ** کان خر پیر است و دندانهاش سست‏

“Good gracious!” said he, “why are you telling (me) this, Sir? They are taught by me (to make) these arrangements.”

گفت لاحول این چه می‏گویی مها ** از من آموزند این ترتیبها

The Súfí said, “First of all take off his saddle and (then) put the salve of manbal on his sore back.”

گفت پالانش فرو نه پیش پیش ** داروی منبل بنه بر پشت ریش‏

“Good gracious!” exclaimed the servant. “Why, O purveyor of wisdom, I have had a thousand guests of your sort, 210

گفت لاحول آخر ای حکمت گزار ** جنس تو مهمانم آمد صد هزار

And all have departed from us well-pleased: the guest is (dear to us as) our life and our kinsman.”

جمله راضی رفته‏اند از پیش ما ** هست مهمان جان ما و خویش ما

The Súfí said, “Give him water, but (let it be) lukewarm.” “Good gracious!” cried the other, “I am ashamed of you.”

گفت آبش ده و لیکن شیر گرم ** گفت لاحول از توام بگرفت شرم‏

The Súfí said, “Put (only) a little straw in his barley.” “Good gracious! Cut short this speech,” he replied.

گفت اندر جو تو کمتر کاه کن ** گفت لاحول این سخن کوتاه کن‏

The Súfí said, “Sweep his place (clear) of stones and dung, and if it is wet, sprinkle dry earth on it.”

گفت جایش را بروب از سنگ و پشک ** ور بود تر ریز بر وی خاک خشک‏

“Good gracious!” cried he, “implore God's grace, O father and say little (give few instructions) to a messenger who knows his business.” 215

گفت لاحول ای پدر لاحول کن ** با رسول اهل کمتر گو سخن‏

The Súfí said, “Take the comb and curry the ass's back.” “Good gracious! do have some shame, O father,” said he.

گفت بستان شانه پشت خر بخار ** گفت لاحول ای پدر شرمی بدار

The servant said this and briskly girded up his loins. “I go,” said he; “first I will fetch the straw and barley.”

خادم این گفت و میان را بست چست ** گفت رفتم کاه و جو آرم نخست‏

Off he went and never thought of the stable at all: he gave that Súfí (a pretence like) the sleep of the hare.

رفت و از آخر نکرد او هیچ یاد ** خواب خرگوشی بدان صوفی بداد

The servant went off to (join) some rascals and made a mockery of the Súfí's admonition.

رفت خادم جانب اوباش چند ** کرد بر اندرز صوفی ریش‏خند

The Súfí was fatigued by his journey and stretched his limbs (lay down to sleep): with his eyes closed he was dreaming 220

صوفی از ره مانده بود و شد دراز ** خوابها می‏دید با چشم فراز

That his ass was left (helpless) in the clutch of a wolf, (which) was tearing pieces (of flesh) from its back and thighs.

کان خرش در چنگ گرگی مانده بود ** پاره‏ها از پشت و رانش می‏ربود

“Good gracious!” he exclaimed, “what melancholy (madness) is this? Oh, where is that kindly servant?”

گفت لاحول این چه مالیخولیاست ** ای عجب آن خادم مشفق کجاست‏

Again he would see his ass going along the road and falling now into a well and now into a ditch.

باز می‏دید آن خرش در راه رو ** گه به چاهی می‏فتاد و گه به گو

He was dreaming various unpleasant dreams; he was reciting the Fátiha and the Qári‘a.

گونه‏گون می‏دید ناخوش واقعه ** فاتحه می‏خواند او و القارعه‏

He said (to himself), “What can be done to help? My friends have hurried out: they have departed and made all the doors fast.” 225

گفت چاره چیست یاران جسته‏اند ** رفته‏اند و جمله درها بسته‏اند

Again he would say, “Oh, I wonder—that wretched servant! Did not he partake of bread and salt with us?

باز می‏گفت ای عجب آن خادمک ** نه که با ما گشت هم نان و نمک‏

I showed him nothing but courtesy and mildness: why should he on the contrary show hatred towards me?

من نکردم با وی الا لطف و لین ** او چرا با من کند بر عکس کین‏

Every enmity must rest on some cause; otherwise, our common humanity would dictate faithfulness (in friendship).”

هر عداوت را سبب باید سند ** ور نه جنسیت وفا تلقین کند

Then he would say again, “When had Adam, the kind and generous, done an injury to Iblís?

باز می‏گفت آدم با لطف وجود ** کی بر آن ابلیس جوری کرده بود

What was done by man to snake and scorpion that they wish (to inflict) death and pain upon him? 230

آدمی مر مار و کژدم را چه کرد ** کاو همی‏خواهد مر او را مرگ و درد

To rend is the instinct of the wolf: after all, this envy is conspicuous in mankind.”

گرگ را خود خاصیت بدریدن است ** این حسد در خلق آخر روشن است‏

Again he would say, “It is wrong thus to think evil: why have I such thoughts against my brother?”

باز می‏گفت این گمان بد خطاست ** بر برادر این چنین ظنم چراست‏

Then he would say, “Prudence consists in your thinking evil: how shall he that thinks no evil remain unhurt?”

باز گفتی حزم سوء الظن تست ** هر که بد ظن نیست کی ماند درست‏

The Súfí was in (this) anxiety, and (meanwhile) the ass was in such a plight that—may it befall our enemies!

صوفی اندر وسوسه و آن خر چنان ** که چنین بادا جز ای دشمنان‏

That poor ass was amidst earth and stones, with his saddle crooked and his halter torn, 235

آن خر مسکین میان خاک و سنگ ** کژ شده پالان دریده پالهنگ‏

Killed (exhausted) by the journey, without fodder all the night long, now at the last gasp and now perishing.

خسته از ره جمله‏ی شب بی‏علف ** گاه در جان کندن و گه در تلف‏

All night the ass was repeating, “O God, I give up the barley; (but am I to have) less than one handful of straw?”

خر همه شب ذکر می‏کرد ای اله ** جو رها کردم کم از یک مشت کاه‏

With mute eloquence he was saying, “O Shaykhs, (have) some pity, for I am consumed (with anguish) because of this raw impudent rogue.”

با زبان حال می‏گفت ای شیوخ ** رحمتی که سوختم زین خام شوخ‏

What that ass suffered of pain and torment, the land-bird suffers (the same) in a flood of water.

آن چه آن خر دید از رنج و عذاب ** مرغ خاکی بیند اندر سیل آب‏

(All) that night till dawn the wretched ass, from exceeding hunger, rolled frequently on his side. 240

بس به پهلو گشت آن شب تا سحر ** آن خر بی‏چاره از جوع البقر

Day rose. The servant came at morn and at once laid the saddle firmly on the ass's back.

روز شد خادم بیامد بامداد ** زود پالان جست بر پشتش نهاد

After the fashion of ass-dealers he gave him two or three blows (with a goad): he did to the ass what is befitting from such a cur (as he was).

خر فروشانه دو سه زخمش بزد ** کرد با خر آن چه ز آن سگ می‏سزد

The sharpness of the sting set the ass jumping; where is the tongue (has an ass such a tongue) that he may describe his own state (feelings)?

خر جهنده گشت از تیزی نیش ** کو زبان تا خر بگوید حال خویش‏

How the people of the caravan supposed the Sufi's beast was ill

گمان بردن کاروانیان که بهمیه‌ای صوفی رنجور است

When the Súfí mounted and got going, he (the ass) began to fall on his face every time,

چون که صوفی بر نشست و شد روان ** رو در افتادن گرفت او هر زمان‏

(And) every time the people (the travellers) lifted him up: they all thought he was ill. 245

هر زمانش خلق بر می‏داشتند ** جمله رنجورش همی‏پنداشتند

One would twist his ears hard, while another sought for the (lacerated) part under his palate,

آن یکی گوشش همی‏پیچید سخت ** و آن دگر در زیر گامش جست لخت‏

And another searched for the stone in his shoe, and another looked at the dirt in his eye.

و آن دگر در نعل او می‏جست سنگ ** و آن دگر در چشم او می‏دید زنگ‏

Also they were saying,“O Shaykh, what is the cause of this? Were not you saying yesterday, ‘Thanks (to God), this ass is strong’?”

باز می‏گفتند ای شیخ این ز چیست ** دی نمی‏گفتی که شکر این خر قوی است‏

He replied, “The ass that ate Lá hawl during the night cannot get along except in this manner.

گفت آن خر کاو به شب لاحول خورد ** جز بدین شیوه نداند راه کرد