Hamza Goes to Battle Without Armour
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 3, section 157 of 185: How Hamza, came to battle without a coat of mail (در آمدن حمزه رضی الله عنه در جنگ بی زره). Below, each of its 10 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How Hamza, may God be well-pleased with him, came to battle without a coat of mail. در آمدن حمزه رضی الله عنه در جنگ بی زره
اندر آخر حمزه چون در صف شدی بی زره سرمست در غزو آمدی
Whenever at the end (of his life) Hamza went into the ranks (on the battlefield), he would enter the fray (like one) intoxicated, without a coat of mail.
سینه باز و تن برهنه پیش پیش در فکندی در صف شمشیر خویش
Advancing with open breast and naked body, he would throw himself into the sword-bearing ranks.
خلق پرسیدند کای عم رسول ای هزبر صف‌شکن شاه فحول
The people asked him, saying, “O uncle of the Prophet, O Lion that breakest the ranks (of the foemen), O prince of the champions,
نه تو لا تلقوا بایدیکم الی تهلکه خواندی ز پیغام خدا
Hast not thou read in the Message of God (theQur’án) ‘Do not cast yourselves with your own hands into destruction’?
پس چرا تو خویش را در تهلکه می در اندازی چنین در معرکه
Then why art thou casting thyself thus into destruction on the field of battle?
چون جوان بودی و زفت و سخت‌زه تو نمی‌رفتی سوی صف بی زره
When thou wert young and robust and strongly-knit, thou didst not go into the battle-line without a coat of mail.
چون شدی پیر و ضعیف و منحنی پرده‌های لا ابالی می‌زنی
Now that thou hast become old and infirm and bent, thou art knocking at the curtains (doors) of recklessness,
لا ابالی‌وار با تیغ و سنان می‌نمایی دار و گیر و امتحان
And with sword and spear, like one who recks of naught, thou art grappling and struggling and making trial (of thyself).
تیغ حرمت می‌ندارد پیر را کی بود تمییز تیغ و تیر را
The sword hath no respect for the old: how should sword and arrow possess discernment?”
زین نسق غمخوارگان بی‌خبر پند می‌دادند او را از غیر
In this manner were the ignorant sympathisers giving him counsel zealously.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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