The Braggart Who Greased His Moustache
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 3, section 20 of 185: How a braggart greased his lips and moustache every morning with the skin of a fat sheep's tail and came amongst his companions (چرب کردن مرد لافی لب و سبلت خود را هر بامداد به پوست دنبه و بیرون آمدن میان حریفان کی من). Below, each of its 15 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How a braggart greased his lips and moustache every morning with the skin of a fat sheep’s tail and came amongst his companions, saying, “I have eaten such and such (viands).” چرب کردن مرد لافی لب و سبلت خود را هر بامداد به پوست دنبه و بیرون آمدن میان حریفان کی من چنین خورده‌ام و چنان
پوست دنبه یافت شخصی مستهان هر صباحی چرب کردی سبلتان
A person, who (on account of his poverty) was lightly esteemed, used to grease his moustaches every morning
در میان منعمان رفتی که من لوت چربی خورده‌ام در انجمن
And go amongst the munificent (the rich), saying, “I have eaten some wellgreased food at the party.”
دست بر سبلت نهادی در نوید رمز یعنی سوی سبلت بنگرید
He would gaily put his hand on his moustache as a sign, meaning, “Look at my moustache!
کین گواه صدق گفتار منست وین نشان چرب و شیرین خوردنست
For this is the witness to the truth of my words, and this is the token of my eating greasy and delicious food.”
اشکمش گفتی جواب بی‌طنین که اباد الله کید الکاذبین
His belly would say in soundless (mute) response, “May God destroy the plots of the liars!
لاف تو ما را بر آتش بر نهاد کان سبال چرب تو بر کنده باد
Thy boasting hath set me on fire: may that greasy moustache of thine be torn out!
گر نبودی لاف زشتت ای گدا یک کریمی رحم افکندی به ما
Were it not for thy foul boasting, O beggar, some generous man would have taken pity on me;
ور نمودی عیب و کژ کم باختی یک طبیبی داروی او ساختی
And if thou hadst shown the ailment and hadst not played false, some physician would have prepared a remedy for it.”
گفت حق که کژ مجنبان گوش و دم ینفعن الصادقین صدقهم
God hath said, “Do not move ear or tail crookedly:their veracity shall profit the veracious.”
گفت اندر کژ مخسپ ای محتلم آنچ داری وا نما و فاستقم
Ne recurvatus in antro dormiveris, O tu qui passus es nocturnam pollutionem: reveal that which you have, and act straight; [Do not sleep bent in a cave, O you (who have) soiled (yourself) in the night (with sperm): reveal that which you have, and act straight;]
ور نگویی عیب خود باری خمش از نمایش وز دغل خود را مکش
Or if you tell not your fault, at least refrain from (idle) talk: do not kill yourself by ostentation and trickery.
گر تو نقدی یافتی مگشا دهان هست در ره سنگهای امتحان
If you have got any money, do not open your mouth: there are touchstones on the Way,
سنگهای امتحان را نیز پیش امتحانها هست در احوال خویش
And for the touchstones too there are tests beforehand concerning their own (inward) states.
گفت یزدان از ولادت تا بحین یفتنون کل عام مرتین
God hath said, “From birth unto death they are tried every year twice.”
امتحان در امتحانست ای پدر هین به کمتر امتحان خود را مخر
There is test upon test, O father: beware, do not (be ready to) buy yourself at the smallest test.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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