The Dream of Treasure in Cairo
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 6, section 115 of 137: Story of the person who dreamed that his hopes of opulence would be fulfilled in Cairo (حکایت آن شخص کی خواب دید کی آنچ می‌طلبی از یسار به مصر وفا شود آنجا گنجیست در فلان محله). Below, each of its 11 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Story of the person who dreamed that his hopes of opulence would be fulfilled in Cairo, and that there was a treasure (buried) in a certain house in a certain quarter of that city. When he came to Cairo, some one said to him, “I have dreamed of a treasure in such and such a quarter and such and such a house in Baghdád”; and he named the quarter and house in which this person lived. The latter perceived, however, that the information concerning the treasure in Cairo had been given to him (in his dream) in order to make him realise that, (although) he must not seek anywhere but in his own house, this treasure would really and truly be gained only in Cairo. حکایت آن شخص کی خواب دید کی آنچ می‌طلبی از یسار به مصر وفا شود آنجا گنجیست در فلان محله در فلان خانه چون به مصر آمد کسی گفت من خواب دیده‌ایم کی گنجیست به بغداد در فلان محله در فلان خانه نام محله و خانه‌ی این شخص بگفت آن شخص فهم کرد کی آن گنج در مصر گفتن جهت آن بود کی مرا یقین کنند کی در غیر خانه‌ی خود نمی‌باید جستن ولیکن این گنج یقین و محقق جز در مصر حاصل نشود
بود یک میراثی مال و عقار جمله را خورد و بماند او عور و زار
There was (once) a man who inherited money and estates: he squandered all and was left destitute and miserable.
مال میراثی ندارد خود وفا چون بناکام از گذشته شد جدا
Inherited wealth indeed does not remain constant (to its new owner), since it was parted against its will from the deceased one.
او نداند قدر هم کاسان بیافت کو بکد و رنج و کسبش کم شتاف
Just because he (the heir) got it easily, he does not know its value; for he never made haste to work and toil and earn it.
قدر جان زان می‌ندانی ای فلان که بدادت حق به بخشش رایگان
O such-and-such, you know not the value of your soul because God bountifully gave it to you for nothing.
نقد رفت و کاله رفته و خانه‌ها ماند چون چغدان در آن ویرانه‌ها
His ready money went and his furniture and houses went: he was left (alone) like owls in the deserts.
گفت یا رب برگ دادی رفت برگ یا بده برگی و یا بفرست مرگ
He cried, “O Lord, Thou gavest (me) provision: the provision is gone: either give (me) some provision or send death.”
چون تهی شد یاد حق آغاز کرد یا رب و یا رب اجرنی ساز کرد
When he became empty, he began to call unto God: he started the tune of “O Lord!” and “O Lord, protect me!”
چون پیمبر گفته ممن مزهرست در زمان خالیی ناله گرست
Since the Prophet has said that the true believer is (like) a lute (mizhar), (which) makes music (only) at the time when it is empty.
چون شود پر مطربش بنهد ز دست پر مشو که آسیب دست او خوشست
(For) as soon as it is filled, the minstrel lays it down do not become full, for sweet is the touch of His hand.
تی شو و خوش باش بین اصبعین کز می لا این سرمستست این
Become empty and stay happily between (His) two fingers, for “where” is intoxicated with the wine of “nowhere.”
رفت طغیان آب از چشمش گشاد آب چشمش زرع دین را آب داد
Frowardness departed (from him) and released the water (tears) from his eye: his tears watered (revived) the crops of devotion.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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