The Vizier’s New Plan to Mislead
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 1, section 25 of 171: How the vizier started another plan to mislead the (Christian) folk (مکر دیگر انگیختن وزیر در اضلال قوم). Below, each of its 32 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the vizier started another plan to mislead the (Christian) folk. مکر دیگر انگیختن وزیر در اضلال قوم
مکر دیگر آن وزیر از خود ببست
وعظ را بگذاشت و در خلوت نشست
The vizier formed in his mind another plan: he abandoned preaching and sat alone in seclusion.
در مریدان در فکند از شوق سوز
بود در خلوت چهل پنجاه روز
He inspired ardour in his disciples from (their) longing (to see him); he remained in seclusion forty or fifty days.
خلق دیوانه شدند از شوق او
از فراق حال و قال و ذوق او
The people became mad from longing for him and on account of being separated from his (spiritual) feeling and discourse and intuition.
لابه و زاری همی‌‌کردند و او
از ریاضت گشته در خلوت دو تو
They were making supplication and lament, while he in solitude was bent double by austerities.
گفته ایشان نیست ما را بی‌‌تو نور
بی‌‌عصا کش چون بود احوال کور
They said, “Without thee we have no light: how (what) is the state of a blind man without a leader?
از سر اکرام و از بهر خدا
بیش از این ما را مدار از خود جدا
By way of showing favour (to us) and for God’s sake, do not keep us parted from thee any longer.
ما چو طفلانیم و ما را دایه تو
بر سر ما گستران آن سایه تو
We are as children and thou art our nurse: do thou spread over us that shadow (of thy protection).”
گفت جانم از محبان دور نیست
لیک بیرون آمدن دستور نیست
He said, “My soul is not far from them that love (me), but there is no permission to come forth.”
آن امیران در شفاعت آمدند
و آن مریدان در شناعت آمدند
Those amírs came for intercession, and the disciples came in reproach,
کاین چه بد بختی است ما را ای کریم
از دل و دین مانده ما بی‌‌تو یتیم
Saying, “O noble sir, what a misfortune is this for us! Without thee we are left orphaned (deprived) of our hearts and our religion.
تو بهانه می‌‌کنی و ما ز درد
می‌‌زنیم از سوز دل دمهای سرد
Thou art making a pretence while we in grief are heaving cold (fruitless) sighs from the burning heat of our hearts.
ما به گفتار خوشت خو کرده‌‌ایم
ما ز شیر حکمت تو خورده‌‌ایم
We have become accustomed to thy sweet discourse, we have drunk of the milk of thy wisdom.
الله الله این جفا با ما مکن
خیر کن امروز را فردا مکن
Allah! Allah! do not thou (O vizier) treat us with such cruelty: show kindness to-day, do not (put off till) to-morrow.
می‌‌دهد دل مر ترا کاین بی‌‌دلان
بی‌‌تو گردند آخر از بی‌‌حاصلان
Does thy heart give to thee (consent) that these who have lost their hearts (to thee) should at last, being without thee, become (numbered) amongst them that have nothing left?
جمله در خشکی چو ماهی می‌‌تپند
آب را بگشا ز جو بر دار بند
They all are writhing like fishes on dry land: let loose the water, remove the dam from the stream.
ای که چون تو در زمانه نیست کس
الله الله خلق را فریاد رس
O thou like whom there is none in the world, for God’s sake, for God’s sake, come to the aid of thy people!”
Special Offers
← Previous sectionMasnavi Book 1 contentsNext section →
More Rumi: the Song of the Reed (Book 1 proem), real Rumi quotes in Persian and the Persian poetry quiz.
Take this lesson further
Serious about Persian? Get all 30 of our Persian learning books for $199.99 (55% less than buying them one by one).
Free Persian Starter Kit (PDF)
The Persian alphabet chart and the 101 most common Persian words with pronunciation, in one printable PDF. You also get a one-time 15% code for any of our books.
We will email you new lessons and book news from Learn Persian Online. Unsubscribe any time.Love Persian poetry? Learn to read it: free Starter Pack
Get the 14-page printable Starter Pack (all 32 letters, a 7-day reading plan, 100 core words and 20 survival phrases) and a short 5-email course. Free.
by: Reza about (category: Masnavi)
Reza is an experienced Persian instructor who has been tutoring students since 2008. He is the founder of Learn Persian Online, a tutoring company that has helped many students learn Persian, this beautiful language. He works with students individually and in group settings, he tutors both live and online Persian courses. Reza provides an individualized custom learning plan and the personalized attention that makes a difference in how people view Persian learning process.
What people say about "The Vizier's New Plan to Mislead"?
No one replied yet.