I will go back thither and fall before him-before its (Bukhárá’s) kindly-thinking Sadr (Prince).
واروم آنجا بیفتم پیش او ** پیش آن صدر نکواندیش او
I will say, ‘I throw myself before thee: revive (me) or cut off my head, like a sheep!
گویم افکندم به پیشت جان خویش ** زنده کن یا سر ببر ما را چو میش
‘Tis better to be slain and dead before thee, O Moon, that to be the king of the living in another place.
کشته و مرده به پیشت ای قمر ** به که شاه زندگان جای دگر
I have put it to the test more than a thousand times: I don not deem my life sweet without thee.3800
آزمودم من هزاران بار بیش ** بی تو شیرین مینبینم عیش خویش
Sing to me, O object of my desire, the melody of resurrection! Kneel, O my she-camel! The joy is complete.
غن لی یا منیتی لحن النشور ** ابرکی یا ناقتی تم السرور
O earth, swallow my tears- surely they are enough. Drink, O my soul, a draught that is now pure!
ابلعی یا ارض دمعی قد کفی ** اشربی یا نفس وردا قد صفا
Thou hast returned to us, O my festival! Welcome! How goodly is the refreshment thou hast brought, O Zephyr!’”
عدت یا عیدی الینا مرحبا ** نعم ما روحت یا ریح الصبا
He said, “Farewell, my friends: I have set out towards the Sadr who commands and is obeyed.
گفت ای یاران روان گشتم وداع ** سوی آن صدری که امیرست و مطاع
Moment by moment I am being roasted in the flames. (of separation from him): I will go thither, come what may!3805
دمبدم در سوز بریان میشوم ** هرچه بادا باد آنجا میروم
Although he is making his heart like a hard rock (against me), my soul is bound for Bukhárá.
گرچه دل چون سنگ خارا میکند ** جان من عزم بخارا میکند
It is the abode of my Friend and the city of my King: in the lover’s eyes this is (the meaning of) love of one’s native land.”
مسکن یارست و شهر شاه من ** پیش عاشق این بود حب الوطن
How a loved one asked her lover who had travelled in foreign countries, “Which city didst thou find the fairest and most thronged and the most magnificent and rich and charming?”
پرسیدن معشوقی از عاشق غریب خود کی از شهرها کدام شهر را خوشتر یافتی و انبوهتر و محتشمتر و پر نعمتتر و دلگشاتر
A loved one said to her lover, “O youth, thou hast seen many cities abroad.
گفت معشوقی به عاشق کای فتی ** تو به غربت دیدهای بس شهرها
Which of them, then, is the fairest?” He replied, “The city where my sweetheart is.”
پس کدامین شهر ز آنها خوشترست ** گفت آن شهری که در وی دلبرست
Wherever the carpet is (spread) for our King, (there) is the (spacious) plain, though it (that place) be (as narrow as) the eye of a needle.3810
هرکجا باشد شه ما را بساط ** هست صحرا گر بود سم الخیاط
Wherever a Joseph (beautiful) as the moon may be, ’tis Paradise, even though it be the bottom of a well.
هر کجا که یوسفی باشد چو ماه ** جنتست ارچه که باشد قعر چاه
How his friends hindered him from returning to Bukhárá and threatened him, and how he said, “I don't care.”
منع کردن دوستان او را از رجوع کردن به بخارا وتهدید کردن و لاابالی گفتن او
A candid adviser said to him, “O imprudent man, think of the end (consequence), if thou hast (any) skill.
گفت او را ناصحی ای بیخبر ** عاقبت اندیش اگر داری هنر
Consider reasonably the future and the past: do not let thyself be burnt like a moth.
درنگر پس را به عقل و پیش را ** همچو پروانه مسوزان خویش را
How art thou going to Bukhárá? Thou art mad, thou art (only) fit for chains and the prison-house.
چون بخارا میروی دیوانهای ** لایق زنجیر و زندانخانهای
He (the Sadr-i Jahán) is champing iron in his wrath against thee; he is seeking thee with twenty eyes.3815
او ز تو آهن همیخاید ز خشم ** او همیجوید ترا با بیست چشم
He is sharpening the knife for thee: he is (like) the starving dog, and thou (like) the bag of flour.
میکند او تیز از بهر تو کارد ** او سگ قحطست و تو انبان آرد
After thou hast escaped and God has given thee the (open) road, thou art going (back) to prison: what is the matter with thee?
چون رهیدی و خدایت راه داد ** سوی زندان میروی چونت فتاد
Had there been ten sorts of custodians over thee, intelligence would have been needed in order that thou might'st become quit of them.
بر تو گر دهگون موکل آمدی ** عقل بایستی کز ایشان کم زدی
Since no one is a custodian over thee, wherefore have the future and the past become sealed to thee?”
چون موکل نیست بر تو هیچکس ** از چه بسته گشت بر تو پیش و پس
Secret love had made him (the Wakíl) captive: the warner (his critic) was not seeing that custodian.3820
عشق پنهان کرده بود او را اسیر ** آن موکل را نمیدید آن نذیر
Every custodian's custodian is hidden; else, wherefore is he (the wicked custodian) in thrall to (his) currish nature?
هر موکل را موکل مختفیست ** ورنه او در بند سگ طبعی ز چیست
The anger of Love, the King, settled upon his soul and chained him to the (base) office of a myrmidon and to ignominy.
خشم شاه عشق بر جانش نشست ** بر عوانی و سیهروییش بست
It (anger) is striking him and saying, “Hark, strike him (thy captive)!” Woe is me on account of those hidden myrmidons.
میزند او را که هین او رابزن ** زان عوانان نهان افغان من
Whomsoever you see going in a (path of) detriment, he, though (apparently) alone, is going along with a (hidden) myrmidon.
هرکه بینی در زیانی میرود ** گرچه تنها با عوانی میرود
If he were aware of him, he would cry out in distress and go into the presence of the King of kings,3825
گر ازو واقف بدی افغان زدی ** پیش آن سلطان سلطانان شدی
And scatter earth on his head before the King, that he might find security from the frightful Devil.
ریختی بر سر به پیش شاه خاک ** تا امان دیدی ز دیو سهمناک
(But) you, O less than an ant, deemed yourself a prince: hence, blind (as you are), you did not see that custodian.
میر دیدی خویش را ای کم ز مور ** زان ندیدی آن موکل را تو کور
You were deluded by these false wings and plumes—the wings and plumes that lead to woe.
غره گشتی زین دروغین پر و بال ** پر و بالی کو کشد سوی وبال
(If) he keep his wings light (unencumbered), he journeys upward; when he becomes defiled with earth, he makes heavinesses (which weigh him down).
پر سبک دارد ره بالا کند ** چون گلآلو شد گرانیها کند
How the lover, impelled by love, said “I don't care” to the person who counselled and scolded him.
لاابالی گفتن عاشق ناصح و عاذل را از سر عشق
He said, “O counsellor, be silent! How long, how long (wilt thou chide)? Do not give advice, for the bonds (on me) are very grievous.3830
گفت ای ناصح خمش کن چند چند ** پند کم ده زانک بس سختست بند
My bonds are more grievous than thy advice: thy doctor (who taught thee) was not acquainted with love.
سختتر شد بند من از پند تو ** عشق را نشناخت دانشمند تو
In that quarter where love was increasing (my) pain, Bú Hanífa and Sháfi‘í gave no instruction.
آن طرف که عشق میافزود درد ** بوحنیفه و شافعی درسی نکرد
Do not thou threaten me with being killed, for I thirst lamentably for mine own blood.”
تو مکن تهدید از کشتن که من ** تشنهی زارم به خون خویشتن