The Ghuzz Kill One Man to Scare Another
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 2, section 84 of 113: How the Ghuzz set about killing one man in order that another might be terrorised (قصد کردن غزان به کشتن یک مردی تا آن دگر بترسد). Below, each of its 26 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the Ghuzz set about killing one man in order that another might be terrorised. قصد کردن غزان به کشتن یک مردی تا آن دگر بترسد
آن غزان ترک خونریز آمدند
بهر یغما بر دهی ناگه زدند
Those blood-shedding (murderous) Ghuzz Turcomans came, and suddenly fell upon a village (on a raid) for plunder.
دو کس از اعیان آن ده یافتند
در هلاک آن یکی بشتافتند
They found two of the notables of that village, and made (ready in) haste to put one (of the two) to death.
دست بستندش که قربانش کنند
گفت ای شاهان و ارکان بلند
They tied his hands in order to sacrifice (kill) him. He said, “O princes and high pillars (of the empire),
در چه مرگم چرا میافگنید
از چه آخر تشنهی خون منید
Why are ye casting me into the pit of death? Wherefore, pray, are ye thirsting after my blood?
چیست حکمت چه غرض در کشتنم
چون چنین درویشم و عریان تنم
What is the wisdom, what is the object, in killing me, when I am so poor and bare-bodied?”
گفت تا هیبت بر این یارت زند
تا بترسد او و زر پیدا کند
He (one of the Ghuzz) replied, “To strike awe into this friend of yours, so that he may be afraid and produce (his) gold.”
گفت آخر او ز من مسکینتر است
گفت قاصد کرده است او را زر است
He (the man) said, “Why, he is poorer than I.” “He has done it (made himself out to be poor) on purpose,” replied the other; “he has gold.”
گفت چون وهم است ما هر دو یکایم
در مقام احتمال و در شکایم
He (the man) said, “Since it is (a matter of) opinion, we are both the same: we are (equally) exposed to (mere) probability and doubt.
خود و را بکشید اول ای شهان
تا بترسم من دهم زر را نشان
Kill him first, O princes, in order that I may be afraid and point out the way to the gold.”
پس کرمهای الهی بین که ما
آمدیم آخر زمان در انتها
See, then, the loving kindnesses of God, in that we have come (into the world) in the latter days, at the very end.
آخرین قرنها پیش از قرون
در حدیث است آخرون السابقون
The last epoch is in front of the (other) epochs: in the Traditions of the Prophet is (the saying) “(We are) the last (in time), the foremost (in excellence).”
تا هلاک قوم نوح و قوم هود
عارض رحمت به جان ما نمود
In order that the destruction of the people of Noah and the people of Húd might display to our souls the face of (Divine) Mercy (who calls us to repentance),
کشت ایشان را که ما ترسیم از او
ور خود این بر عکس کردی وای تو
He (God) slew them, that we might fear Him; and if indeed He had done contrariwise, alas for thee!
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