Story of the cat and its filth حکایت کثیفی گربه
Story of the Cat and Its Filth (حکایت کثیفی گربه) is from Chapter IX, On Penitence (در توبه و راه صواب) 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
| A cat with its dirt a clean place will defile; And conceal it with dust when it sees it is vile. You are careless regarding your own evil ways; Don’t you fear lest they fall under other men’s gaze? | پلیدی کند گربه بر جای پاک چو زشتش نماید بپوشد به خاک تو آزادی از ناپسندیدهها نترسی که بر وی فتد دیدهها |
| From that villanous slave, take a warning you may, Who oft from his master has broken away; If he likes, he’ll return, humbly begging, sincere; But fetters and chains will not make him appear. | براندیش ازان بنده پر گناه که از خواجه مخفی شود چند گاه اگر بر نگردد به صدق و نیاز به زنجیر و بندش بیارند باز |
| In revenge, with that person you safely can fight, From whom you’ve a cure, or a refuge in flight. It behoves you, at present, your deeds to recall; And not when the book becomes public to all. | به کین آوری با کسی بر ستیز که از وی گزیرت بود یا گریز کنون کرد باید عمل را حساب نه وقتی که منشور گردد کتاب |
| Though a person did evil, no evil was done, If he grieved for himself, ere his last day had run. If the breath on a mirror makes dimness arise, The heart’s mirror adds to its brightness by sighs. | کسی گرچه بد کرد هم بد نکرد که پیش از قیامت غم خود بخورد گر آیینه از آه گردد سیاه شود روشن آیینه دل به آه |
| At the sins you have done, let alarm now appear! So that, on the last day, not a soul you may fear. | بترس از گناهان خویش این نفس که روز قیامت نترسی ز کس |
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by: Reza about (category: Bustan Saadi)
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