Story of a duty-knowing man حکایت مرد وظیفه شناس
Story of a Duty-knowing Man (حکایت مرد وظیفه شناس) is from Chapter III, On Love (در عشق و مستی و شور) of Saadi’s Bustan (بوستان, “The Orchard”), written in 1257. The Persian verses are given with a rhymed English translation, couplet by couplet.
Bustan Saadi بوستان سعدی
| In a city of Syria a tumult began; They had put into bonds a good-natured, old man. That saying of his — in my ears still remains — When they fastened his hands and his ankles in chains: | به شهری در از شام غوغا فتاد گرفتند پیری مبارک نهاد هنوز آن حدیثم به گوش اندرست چو قیدش نهادند بر پای و دست |
| “If the Sultan” he said, ” does not furnish the sign, What person can me to destruction consign? It is proper to treat as a friend such a foe, For the Friend has despatched him to hurt me, I know. | که گفت ارنه سلطان اشارت کند که را زهره باشد که غارت کند؟ بباید چنین دشمنی دوست داشت که می‌دانمش دوست بر من گماشت |
| Be it honour and rank or if bonds and disgrace, From God Til acknowledge it, not Adam’s race! About your disease, oh wise man! do not quake! When the Doctor sends drugs that are bitter, to take. | اگر عز وجاه است و گر ذل و قید من از حق شناسم، نه از عمرو و زید ز علت مدار، ای خردمند، بیم چو داروی تلخت فرستد حکیم |
| All that comes from the hand of the ‘ Friend,’ then, endure! A patient’s not skilled, like a doctor, to cure.” | بخور هرچه آید ز دست حبیب نه بیمار داناترست از طبیب |
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by: Reza about (category: Bustan Saadi)
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