Rumi's Masnavi - He answered, “Nay, I have learned to swim: I have lighted a candle other than thy candle.”

He answered, “Nay, I have learned to swim: I have lighted a candle other than thy candle.” 1310

گفت نه من آشنا آموختم ** من بجز شمع تو شمع افروختم

(Noah said), “Beware! Do it not, for these waves are the Flood of tribulation; to-day hand and foot and swimming are naught.

هین مکن کین موج طوفان بلاست ** دست و پا و آشنا امروز لاست

’Tis the wind of vengeance and the woe that extinguishes the candle (of contrivance). No candle but God's is enduring. Be silent!”

باد قهرست و بلای شمع کش ** جز که شمع حق نمی‌پاید خمش

He said, “Nay, I will go up that high mountain: that mountain will protect me from every hurt.”

گفت نه رفتم برآن کوه بلند ** عاصمست آن که مرا از هر گزند

(Noah said), “Beware! Do it not, for at this time the mountain is (but) a straw. He giveth safety to none except His beloved.”

هین مکن که کوه کاهست این زمان ** جز حبیب خویش را ندهد امان

He answered, “When have I listened to thy advice, that thou shouldst hope (as thou didst) that I am of this family? 1315

گفت من کی پند تو بشنوده‌ام ** که طمع کردی که من زین دوده‌ام

Thy words were never pleasing to me: I am quit of thee in both worlds.”

خوش نیامد گفت تو هرگز مرا ** من بری‌ام از تو در هر دو سرا

(Noah said), “Beware, bábá, do it not, for (this) is not the day for disdain. God hath no kinship or partner.

هین مکن بابا که روز ناز نیست ** مر خدا را خویش وانباز نیست

Until now thou hast shown (disdain), and at this moment there is disdain (on the part of God): whose disdain is of any effect in this Court?

تا کنون کردی واین دم نازکیست ** اندرین درگاه گیرا ناز کیست

From eternity He is (the One that) begetteth not, nor is He begotten: He hath neither father nor son nor uncle.

لم یلد لم یولدست او از قدم ** نه پدر دارد نه فرزند و نه عم

How will He suffer the disdain of sons? How will He hearken to the disdain of fathers? 1320

ناز فرزندان کجا خواهد کشید ** ناز بابایان کجا خواهد شنید

(God saith), ‘I am not begotten: O old man, do not be proud. I am not a begetter: O youth, do not strut.

نیستم مولود پیراکم بناز ** نیستم والد جوانا کم گراز

I am not a husband, I am not connected with lust: here, O lady, leave off being disdainful.’

نیستم شوهر نیم من شهوتی ** ناز را بگذار اینجا ای ستی

Excepting humility and slavishness and utter helplessness, naught hath consideration in this Presence.”

جز خضوع و بندگی و اضطرار ** اندرین حضرت ندارد اعتبار

He (Canaan) said, “Father, for years thou hast said this; (now) thou art saying (it) again: thou art deranged with folly.

گفت بابا سالها این گفته‌ای ** باز می‌گویی بجهل آشفته‌ای

How many of these things hast thou said to every one, so that oftentimes thou hast heard a cold (rough) answer! 1325

چند ازینها گفته‌ای با هرکسی ** تا جواب سرد بشنودی بسی

This cold breath (tiresome discourse) of thine did not enter my ear, (nor will it), especially now when I have become wise and strong.”

این دم سرد تو در گوشم نرفت ** خاصه اکنون که شدم دانا و زفت

He (Noah) said, “Bábá, what harm will it do if thou listen once to the advice of thy father?”

گفت بابا چه زیان دارد اگر ** بشنوی یکبار تو پند پدر

On this wise was he (Noah) speaking kindly counsel, and on that wise was he (Canaan) uttering harsh refusal.

همچنین می‌گفت او پند لطیف ** همچنان می‌گفت او دفع عنیف

Neither did the father become weary of admonishing Canaan, nor did a single breath (word) enter the ear of that graceless man.

نه پدر از نصح کنعان سیر شد ** نه دمی در گوش آن ادبیر شد

They were (engaged) in this talk when a fierce billow dashed upon Canaan's head, and he was shivered to fragments. 1330

اندرین گفتن بدند و موج تیز ** بر سر کنعان زد وشد ریز ریز

Noah said, “O long-suffering King, my ass is dead, and Thy Flood hath carried away the load.

نوح گفت ای پادشاه بردبار ** مر مرا خر مرد و سیلت برد بار

Many times Thou didst promise me, saying, ‘Thy family shall be saved from the Deluge.’

وعده کردی مر مرا تو بارها ** که بیابد اهلت از طوفان رها

I (in) simple (faith) fixed my heart on hope of Thee: why, then, has the Flood swept my garment away from me?”

دل نهادم بر امیدت من سلیم ** پس چرا بربود سیل از من گلیم

He (God) said, “He was not of thy family and kinsfolk: didst not thou thyself see (that) thou art white, he blue?”

گفت او از اهل و خویشانت نبود ** خود ندیدی تو سپیدی او کبود

When the worm (of decay) has fallen upon thy tooth, it is not a tooth (any more): tear it out, O master. 1335

چونک دندان تو کرمش در فتاد ** نیست دندان بر کنش ای اوستاد

In order that the rest of thy body may not be made miserable by it, become quit of it, although it was (once) thine.

تا که باقی تن نگردد زار ازو ** گرچه بود آن تو شو بیزار ازو

He (Noah) said, “I am quit of aught other than Thy Essence; he that has died in Thee is not other (than Thou).

گفت بیزارم ز غیر ذات تو ** غیر نبود آنک او شد مات تو

Thou knowest how I am to Thee: I am (to Thee) as the orchard to the rain, and twenty times as much—

تو همی دانی که چونم با تو من ** بیست چندانم که با باران چمن

Living by Thee, rejoicing because of Thee, a pauper receiving sustenance without any medium or intervention;

زنده از تو شاد از تو عایلی ** مغتذی بی واسطه و بی حایلی

Not united, not separated, O Perfection; nay, devoid of quality or description or causation. 1340

متصل نه منفصل نه ای کمال ** بلک بی چون و چگونه و اعتلال

We are the fishes, and Thou the Sea of Life: we live by Thy favour, O Thou whose attributes are excellent.

ماهیانیم و تو دریای حیات ** زنده‌ایم از لطفت ای نیکو صفات

Thou art not contained in the bosom of any thought, nor art Thou joined with the effect, as a cause.

تو نگنجی در کنار فکرتی ** نی به معلولی قرین چون علتی

Before this Flood and after it, Thou hast been the object of my address in (every) colloquy.

پیش ازین طوفان و بعد این مرا ** تو مخاطب بوده‌ای در ماجرا

I was speaking with Thee, not with them, O Thou that art the Giver of speech (both) newly and of old.

با تو می‌گفتم نه با ایشان سخن ** ای سخن‌بخش نو و آن کهن

Is it not the case that the lover, day and night, converses now with the ruins (of the beloved's abode), now with the traces (of her habitation)? 1345

نه که عاشق روز و شب گوید سخن ** گاه با اطلال و گاهی با دمن

To outward seeming, he has turned his face towards the ruins, (but) to whom is he (really) saying that song of praise, to whom?

روی با اطلال کرده ظاهرا ** او کرا می‌گوید آن مدحت کرا

Thanks (be to Thee)! Now Thou hast let loose the Flood and removed the ruins which stood between (me and Thee).

شکر طوفان را کنون بگماشتی ** واسطه‌ی اطلال را بر داشتی

(I thank Thee) because they were vile and evil ruins, uttering neither a cry nor an echo.

زانک اطلال لیم و بد بدند ** نه ندایی نه صدایی می‌زدند

I desire such ruins to speak with as answer back, like the mountain, by an echo,

من چنان اطلال خواهم در خطاب ** کز صدا چون کوه واگوید جواب

So that I may hear Thy name redoubled, (for) I am in love with Thy soul-soothing name. 1350

تا مثنا بشنوم من نام تو ** عاشقم برنام جان آرام تو

That is why every prophet holds the mountains dear: (’tis) that he may hear Thy name redoubled.

هرنبی زان دوست دارد کوه را ** تا مثنا بشنود نام ترا

That low mountain, resembling stony ground, is suitable for a mouse, not for us, as a resting-place.

آن که پست مثال سنگ لاخ ** موش را شاید نه ما را در مناخ

(When) I speak, it does not join with me: the breath of my speech remains without (any) echo.

من بگویم او نگردد یار من ** بی صدا ماند دم گفتار من

’Tis better that thou level it with the earth; it is not in accord with thy breath (voice): thou shouldst join it with thy foot.”

با زمین آن به که هموارش کنی ** نیست همدم با قدم یارش کنی

He (God) said, “O Noah, if thou desire, I will assemble them all and raise them from (their graves in) the earth. 1355

گفت ای نوح ار تو خواهی جمله را ** حشر گردانم بر آرم از ثری

I will not break thy heart for the sake of a Canaan, but I am acquainting (thee) with (their real) states.”

بهر کنعانی دل تو نشکنم ** لیکت از احوال آگه می‌کنم

He (Noah) said, “Nay, nay, I am content that Thou shouldst drown me too, if it behove Thee (to do so).

گفت نه نه راضیم که تو مرا ** هم کنی غرقه اگر باید ترا

Keep drowning me every instant, I am pleased: Thy ordinance is my (very) soul, I bear it (with me) as my soul.

هر زمانم غرقه می‌کن من خوشم ** حکم تو جانست چون جان می‌کشم

I do not look at any one (but Thee), and even if I do look at (any one), he is (only) a pretext, and Thou art the (real) object of my regard.

ننگرم کس را وگر هم بنگرم ** او بهانه باشد و تو منظرم