The Dogs’ Vow to Build a Winter House
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 3, section 125 of 185: Story of the vow made by the dogs every winter that when next summer comes they will build a house for the winter (حکایت نذر کردن سگان هر زمستان کی این تابستان چون بیاید خانه سازیم از بهر زمستان را). Below, each of its 20 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Story of the vow made by the dogs every winter that when next summer comes they will build a house for the winter. حکایت نذر کردن سگان هر زمستان کی این تابستان چون بیاید خانه سازیم از بهر زمستان را
سگ زمستان جمع گردد استخوانش
زخم سرما خرد گرداند چنانش
In winter the bones of the dog are drawn together: the blows of the frost make him so small.
کو بگوید کین قدر تن که منم
خانه‌ای از سنگ باید کردنم
That he says, “Having such a little body, I must build a stone house.
چونک تابستان بیاید من بچنگ
بهر سرما خانه‌ای سازم ز سنگ
When summer comes, I will build with my claws a stone house against the cold.”
چونک تابستان بیاید از گشاد
استخوانها پهن گردد پوست شاد
(But) when summer comes, his bones expand from the relief (which he feels), and his skin grows sleek,
گوید او چون زفت بیند خویش را
در کدامین خانه گنجم ای کیا
And, when he sees himself stout, he says, “In what house should I find room, O noble sir?”
زفت گردد پا کشد در سایه‌ای کاهلی سیری غری خودرایه‌ای
He grows stout and slinks into a shady place a lazy, full-fed, cowardly, self-opinionated (creature)!
گویدش دل خانه‌ای ساز ای عمو گوید او در خانه کی گنجم بگو
His heart (conscience) says to him, “Build a house, O uncle!” He says, “How shall I find room in the house? Tell (me that).”
استخوان حرص تو در وقت درد درهم آید خرد گردد در نورد
In the hour of pain the bones of your greed shrink together and diminish in compass,
گویی از توبه بسازم خانه‌ای در زمستان باشدم استانه‌ای
And you say penitently, “I will build a house: it will be a resting-place (refuge) for me in winter”;
چون بشد درد و شدت آن حرص زفت همچو سگ سودای خانه از تو رفت
(But) when the pain is gone and your greed has grown stout, the desire for the house departs from you, just as (in the case of) the dog.
شکر نعمت خوشتر از نعمت بود شکرباره کی سوی نعمت رود
Thanksgiving for the bounty is sweeter than the bounty (itself): how should he that is addicted to thanksgiving go towards (direct his attention to) the bounty?
شکر جان نعمت و نعمت چو پوست ز آنک شکر آرد ترا تا کوی دوست
Thanksgiving is the soul of the bounty, and the bounty is as the husk, because thanksgiving brings you to the abode of the Beloved.
نعمت آرد غفلت و شکر انتباه صید نعمت کن بدام شکر شاه
Bounty produces heedlessness, and thanksgiving alertness: hunt after bounty with the snare of thanksgiving to the King.
نعمت شکرت کند پرچشم و میر تا کنی صد نعمت ایثار فقیر
The bounty of thanksgiving will make you contented and princely, so that you will bestow a hundred bounties on the poor.
سیر نوشی از طعام و نقل حق تا رود از تو شکم‌خواری و دق
You will eat your fill of the viands and dessert of God, so that hunger and begging will depart from you.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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