Story OF THE POOR MAN AND HIS UGLY WIFE حکایت مرد فقیر و همسر زشتش
Story of the Poor Man and His Ugly Wife (حکایت مرد فقیر و همسر زشتش) is from Chapter V, On Resignation (در رضا) 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 man who in Kish suffered poverty’s yoke, To his vile-visaged wife, thus, with truthfulness spoke: | یکی مرد درویش در خاک کیش نکو گفت با همسر زشت خویش |
| ” Since ugly is writ by Fate’s hand on your face, On your cheeks void of beauty, rose-pink do not place! “ | چو دست قضا زشت رویت سرشت میندای گلگونه بر روی زشت |
| Who is able to master good fortune by might? To the eyes of the blind, who with salve can give sight? | که حاصل کند نیکبختی به زور؟ به سرمه که بینا کند چشم کور؟ |
| Good works the malevolent never have shown, And union ‘mong dogs is a thing quite unknown. | نیاید نکوکار از بدرگان محال است دوزندگی از سگان |
| The whole of the Sages of Greece and of Rome, Could not honey extract from the thorny Zakom. | همه فیلسوفان یونان و روم ندانند کرد انگبین از ز قوم |
| A wild beast is not likely to change into man; Instruction is lost on it, strive as you can. | ز وحشی نیاید که مردم شود به سعی اندر او تربیت گم شود |
| One can polish a mirror that rusty has grown, But a mirror can never be made out of stone. | توان پاک کردن ز زنگ آینه ولیکن نیاید ز سنگ آینه |
| Effort makes not a rose from a willow. to grow; A warm-bath will not whiten a negro like snow. | به کوشش نروید گل از شاخ بید نه زنگی به گرما به گردد سپید |
| Since nought can the arrow of destiny brave, Resignation’s the shield that is left to God’s slave. | چو رد مینگردد خدنگ قضا سپر نیست مربنده را جز رضا |
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by: Reza about (category: Bustan Saadi)
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