Silence Is the Answer to the Fool
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 4, section 54 of 137: Showing that (the proverb), "Omission to reply is a reply," confirms the saying that silence is the (proper) reply to the fool (در بیان آنک ترک الجواب جواب مقرر این سخن کی جواب الاحمق سکوت شرح این هر دو درین قصه است). Below, each of its 14 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Showing that (the proverb), “Omission to reply is a reply,” confirms the saying that silence is the (proper) reply to the fool. The explanation of both these (sayings) is (contained) in the story which will now be related. در بیان آنک ترک الجواب جواب مقرر این سخن کی جواب الاحمق سکوت شرح این هر دو درین قصه است کی گفته می‌آید
بود شاهی بود او را بنده‌ای
مرده عقلی بود و شهوت‌زنده‌ای
There was a king: he had a slave; he (the slave) was one whose reason was dead and whose lust was alive.
خرده‌های خدمتش بگذاشتی
بد سگالیدی نکو پنداشتی
He would neglect the niceties of service to him (the king): he was thinking evil and deeming (it) good.
گفت شاهنشه جرااش کم کنید
ور بجنگد نامش از خط بر زنید
The monarch said, “Reduce his allowance, and if he wrangle strike his name off the roll.”
عقل او کم بود و حرص او فزون
چون جرا کم دید شد تند و حرون
His reason was deficient, his cupidity excessive: when he saw the allowance reduced he became violent and refractory.
عقل بودی گرد خود کردی طواف
تا بدیدی جرم خود گشتی معاف
Had there been reason (in him), he would have made a circuit round himself, in order that he might see his offence and become forgiven.
چون خری پابسته تندد از خری
هر دو پایش بسته گردد بر سری
When, on account of asininity, a tethered ass becomes violent, both his (fore-)legs will be shackled in addition.
پس بگوید خر که یک بندم بست
خود مدان کان دو ز فعل آن خسست
Then the ass will say, “One tether is enough for me”; (but) in sooth do not think (that such is the case), for those two are (result) from the action of that vile creature.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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