The Gazelle in the Donkey-Stable
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 5, section 38 of 175: Story of the young gazelle being confined in the donkey-stable (قصه‌ی محبوس شدن آن آهوبچه در آخر خران و طعنه‌ی آن خران ببر آن غریب گاه به جنگ و گاه به). Below, each of its 24 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Story of the young gazelle being confined in the donkey-stable, and how the donkey assailed the stranger, now with hostility and now with mockery, and how it was afflicted by (having to eat) dry straw which is not its (proper) food. And this is a description of the chosen servant of God amongst worldlings and those addicted to passion and sensuality; for “Islam (was) strange (when it first) appeared, and will become strange again, and blessed are the strangers.” The Messenger of Allah spake the truth. قصه‌ی محبوس شدن آن آهوبچه در آخر خران و طعنه‌ی آن خران ببر آن غریب گاه به جنگ و گاه به تسخر و مبتلی گشتن او به کاه خشک کی غذای او نیست و این صفت بنده‌ی خاص خداست میان اهل دنیا و اهل هوا و شهوت کی الاسلام بدا غریبا و سیعود غریبا فطوبی للغرباء صدق رسول الله
آهوی را کرد صیادی شکار
اندر آخر کردش آن بی‌زینهار
A hunter captured a gazelle: the merciless man put it into a stable.
آخری را پر ز گاوان و خران
حبس آهو کرد چون استمگران
(Acting) like oppressors, he made a stable full of cows and donkeys the prison of the gazelle.
آهو از وحشت به هر سو می‌گریخت
او به پیش آن خران شب کاه ریخت
The gazelle, wild with terror, was fleeing in every direction: at night he (the hunter) poured (pieces of chopped) straw before the donkeys.
از مجاعت و اشتها هر گاو و خر
کاه را می‌خورد خوشتر از شکر
(Moved) by hunger and (ravenous) appetite, every cow and donkey was devouring the straw, (as though it were) sweeter than sugar.
گاه آهو می‌رمید از سو به سو
گه ز دود و گرد که می‌تافت رو
Now the gazelle would run in fright from side to side, now it would turn its face away from the smoke and dust of the straw.
هرکرا با ضد خود بگذاشتند
آن عقوبت را چو مرگ انگاشتند
Whosoever is left (in company) with his opposite, they (who are wise) have deemed that punishment (terrible) as death,
تا سلیمان گفت که آن هدهد اگر
هجر را عذری نگوید معتبر
So that Solomon said, “Unless the hoopoe make a respectable excuse for his absence,
بکشمش یا خود دهم او را عذاب
یک عذاب سخت بیرون از حساب
I will kill him or inflict upon him a torment, a torment severe beyond (all) calculation.”
هان کدامست آن عذاب این معتمد
در قفص بودن به غیر جنس خود
Hark, what is that torment, O trusted (friend)? To be in a cage without thy congener.
زین بدن اندر عذابی ای بشر
مرغ روحت بسته با جنسی دگر
O Man, thou art in torment on account of this body: the bird, thy spirit, is imprisoned with one of another kind.
روح بازست و طبایع زاغها
دارد از زاغان و چغدان داغها
It remains amongst them in sore misery, like an Abú Bakr in the city of Sabzawár.
او بمانده در میانشان زارزار
هم‌چو بوبکری به شهر سبزوار
It remains amongst them in sore misery, like an Abú Bakr in the city ofSabzawár.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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