Story OF MAMUN AND HIS SLAVE حکایت مأمون با کنیزک
Story of Mamun and His Slave (حکایت مأمون با کنیزک) is from Chapter I, On Justice, Wisdom and Government (در عدل و تدبیر و رای) 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
| When the turn of Mamun to be Caliph arrived, To purchase a beautiful maid he contrived — In body a rosebush, in visage a sun, With the wisdom of sages, a frolicsome one. | چو دور خلافت به مأمون رسید یکی ماه پیکر کنیزک خرید به چهر آفتابی، به تن گلبنی به عقل خردمند بازی کنی |
| On the blood of beloved ones, her ringers impinged; Her nails with the juice of the jujube were tinged. There appeared on her saint-luring eyebrows a dye, Like a rainbow arched over the sun in the sky. | به خون عزیزان فرو برده چنگ سر انگشتها کرده عناب رنگ بر ابروی عابد فریبش خضاب چو قوس قزح بود بر آفتاب |
| In the night-time, that idol, celestial in race, Would not yield herself up to Mdmun’s fond embrace. Within him, the burning of rage mighty grew; Her head, like the twins, he would fain cut in two. | شب خلوت آن لعبت حور زاد مگر تن در آغوش مأمون نداد گرفت آتش خشم در وی عظیم سرش خواست کردن چو جوزا دو نیم |
| She exclaimed, “Lo! my head, with the sword strike it free! But indulge not in sleeping and rising with me! ” He asked her, “By whom has your mind been distressed? What habit have I, that you seem to detest? ” | بگفتا سر اینک به شمشیر تیز بینداز و با من مکن خفت و خیز بگفت از که بر دل گزند آمدت؟ چه خصلت ز من ناپسند آمدت؟ |
| She replied, ” If you kill me or split up my head, From the smell of your mouth I am sick and in dread; The arrow of war, and oppression’s sword hit In a moment, a foul breath destroys bit by bit”- | بگفت ار کشی ور شکافی سرم ز بوی دهانت به رنج اندرم کشد تیر پیکار و تیغ ستم به یک بار و بوی دهن دم به دم |
| The fortunate chief heard this honest address: He was greatly afflicted and writhed, in distress. Though his heart, for the time, at her spe iking was pained, He took drugs and a breath sweet as rose-blossoms gained. | شنید این سخن سرور نیکبخت برآشفت نیک و برنجید سخت همه شب در این فکر بود و نخفت دگر روز با هوشمندان بگفت |
| طبیعت شناسان هر کشوری سخن گفت با هر یک از هر دری دلش گرچه در حال از او رنجه شد دوا کرد و خوشبوی چون غنچه شد | |
| He made comrade and friend of the fairy-faced maid; “For my faults she has told and a friend’s part has played.” To me, it appears that the man is your friend, Who points out the thorns on the way you must wend. | پری چهره را همنشین کرد و دوست که این عیب من گفت، یار من اوست به نزد من آن کس نکوخواه تست که گوید فلان خار در راه تست |
| You succeed very well by declaring what’s wrong; Oppression is perfect and tyranny .strong! Whenever they tell not your faults to your face, You in ignorance reckon your fault as a grace! | به گمراه گفتن نکو می‌روی جفائی تمام است و جوری قوی هر آنگه که عیبت نگویند پیش هنردانی از جاهلی عیب خویش |
| Do not say that sweet honey’s a drug, that will suit Any person, requiring some scammony root. | مگو شهد شیرین شکر فایق است کسی را که سقمونیا لایق است |
| How well spoke the man, who had medicines to sell — ” You must drink bitter draughts if you wish to get well, | چه خوش گفت یک روز دارو فروش: شفا بایدت داروی تلخ نوش |
| اگر شربتی بایدت سودمند ز سعدی ستان تلخ داروی پند | |
| Well strained through the sieve of the knowledge divine, With the honey of Piety blended up fine.” | به پرویزن معرفت بیخته به شهد عبارت برآمیخته |
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by: Reza about (category: Bustan Saadi)
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