Story of the flute-player حکایت مرد نی زن
Story of the Flute-player (حکایت مرد نی زن) 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
| A sugar-lipped youth on a flute could so play, That like reeds in the fire tender hearts burned away. His father would frequently scold him in ire, And set the soft flute that offended on fire. | شکر لب جوانی نی آموختی که دلها در آتش چو نی سوختی پدر بارها بانگ بر وی زدی به تندی و آتش در آن نی زدی |
| To his son’s sweet performance he listened one night; The music perplexed and confounded him, quite. He was saying, while sweat down his face trickled free, “The flute has, at last, raised a burning in me! “ | شبی بر ادای پسر گوش کرد سماعش پریشان و مدهوش کرد همی گفت بر چهره افگنده خوی که آتش به من در زد این بار نی |
| You know not why rapturous men, in a trance, Keep snapping their fingers whenever they dance? | ندانی که شوریده حالان مست چرا برفشانند در رقص دست؟ |
| A door opens wide by God’s grace in their mind, And their fingers they snap at all human in kind. They may lawfully dance in the thought of the Friend, For each of their sleeves does a soul comprehend. | گشاید دری بر دل از واردات فشاند سر دست بر کاینات حلالش بود رقص بر یاد دوست که هر آستینیش جانی در اوست |
| I admit that in swimming you’re clever and neat, And when nude can strike out with your hands and your feet. | گرفتم که مردانهای در شنا برهنه توانی زدن دست و پا |
| Let the robes of deceit, name and fame be dispersed! For a man becomes weak if in garments immersed. | بکن خرقه نام و ناموس و زرق که عاجز بود مرد با جامه غرق |
| Worldly love is a veil by which nothing is gained; When you snap the attachments, the Lord is obtained. | تعلق حجاب است و بی حاصلی چو پیوندها بگسلی واصلی |
Special Offers
← Previous storyAll Bustan storiesNext story →
More Saadi and Persian poetry: Persian poetry, the Persian poetry quiz and Persian proverbs.
Take this lesson further
Serious about Persian? Get all 30 of our Persian learning books for $199.99 (55% less than buying them one by one).
Free Persian Starter Kit (PDF)
The Persian alphabet chart and the 101 most common Persian words with pronunciation, in one printable PDF. You also get a one-time 15% code for any of our books.
We will email you new lessons and book news from Learn Persian Online. Unsubscribe any time.Love Persian poetry? Learn to read it: free Starter Pack
Get the 14-page printable Starter Pack (all 32 letters, a 7-day reading plan, 100 core words and 20 survival phrases) and a short 5-email course. Free.
by: Reza about (category: Bustan Saadi)
Reza is an experienced Persian instructor who has been tutoring students since 2008. He is the founder of Learn Persian Online, a tutoring company that has helped many students learn Persian, this beautiful language. He works with students individually and in group settings, he tutors both live and online Persian courses. Reza provides an individualized custom learning plan and the personalized attention that makes a difference in how people view Persian learning process.
What people say about "Story of the flute-player حکایت مرد نی زن"?
No one replied yet.