The Warriors Counsel the Timid Sufi
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 5, section 158 of 175: How the champions (of Islam) counselled him (نصیحت مبارزان او را کی با این دل و زهره کی تو داری کی از کلابیسه شدن چشم کافر اسیری دست). Below, each of its 12 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the champions (of Islam) counselled him, saying, “Since thou hast so little heart (courage) and stomach (pluck) that thou art made senseless by the rolling of a captive and pinioned infidel’s eyes, so that the dagger drops from thy hand, take heed, take heed! Keep to the kitchen of the Súfí convent and do not go to battle lest thou incur public disgrace!” نصیحت مبارزان او را کی با این دل و زهره کی تو داری کی از کلابیسه شدن چشم کافر اسیری دست بسته بیهوش شوی و دشنه از دست بیفتد زنهار زنهار ملازم مطبخ خانقاه باش و سوی پیکار مرو تا رسوا نشوی
قوم گفتندش به پیکار و نبرد با چنین زهره که تو داری مگرد
The party (of soldiers) said to him, “With such a stomach as thou hast, do not approach the (field of) battle and war.
چون ز چشم آن اسیر بسته‌دست غرقه گشتی کشتی تو در شکست
Since thou wert sunk and thy ship wrecked by the eye of that pinioned prisoner,
پس میان حمله‌ی شیران نر که بود با تیغشان چون گوی سر
How, then, amidst the onset of the fierce lions (champions), to whose swords the head (of an enemy) is like a ball,
کی توانی کرد در خون آشنا چون نه‌ای با جنگ مردان آشنا
Canst thou swim in blood, when thou art not familiar with the warfare of (brave) men?
که ز طاقاطاق گردنها زدن طاق‌طاق جامه کوبان ممتهن
For the pounding noise made by fullers is banal in comparison with the clang of (swords when) smiting necks (on the battle-field).
بس تن بی‌سر که دارد اضطراب بس سر بی‌تن به خون بر چون حباب
(There thou wilt see) many a headless body that is (still) quivering, many a bodiless head (floating) on blood, like bubbles.
زیر دست و پای اسپان در غزا صد فنا کن غرقه گشته در فنا
In war, hundreds of death-dealing (heroes) are drowned under the legs of the horses in (a sea of) death.
این چنین هوشی که از موشی پرید اندر آن صف تیغ چون خواهد کشید
How will wits like these (of thine), which flew away from (fear of) a mouse, draw the sword in that battle-line?
چالش است آن حمزه خوردن نیست این تا تو برمالی بخوردن آستین
Tis war, not (a matter of) supping wheat-broth (hamza), that thou shouldst turn up thy sleeve to sup it.
نیست حمزه خوردن اینجا تیغ بین حمزه‌ای باید درین صف آهنین
Tis not (like) supping wheat-broth; here (on the field of battle) eye the sword! In this battle-line one needs a Hamza of iron.
کار هر نازک‌دلی نبود قتال که گریزد از خیالی چون خیال
Fighting is not the business of any faint-heart who runs away from a spectre (hallucination), like a (flitting) spectre.
کار ترکانست نه ترکان برو جای ترکان هست خانه خانه شو
Tis the business of Turks (Turkán), not of (women like) Tarkán. Begone! Home is the place for Tarkán: go home!”
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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