The Parrot’s Farewell to the Merchant
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 1, section 93 of 171: How the parrot bade farewell to the merchant and flew away (وداع کردن طوطی خواجه را و پریدن). Below, each of its 8 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the parrot bade farewell to the merchant and flew away وداع کردن طوطی خواجه را و پریدن
یک دو پندش داد طوطی بی‌‌نفاق
بعد از آن گفتش سلام الفراق
The parrot gave him one or two counsels devoid of hypocrisy and after that bade him the farewell of parting.
خواجه گفتش فی أمان الله برو
مر مرا اکنون نمودی راه نو
The merchant said to her, “Go, God protect thee! Just now thou hast shown to me a new Way.”
خواجه با خود گفت کاین پند من است
راه او گیرم که این ره روشن است
Said the merchant to himself, “This is the counsel for me; I will take her Way, for this Way is shining with light.
جان من کمتر ز طوطی کی بود
جان چنین باید که نیکو پی بود
How should my soul be meaner than the parrot? The soul ought to follow a good track like this.”
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