The Cock’s Answer to the Dog
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 3, section 150 of 185: The cock's answer to the dog (جواب خروس سگ را). Below, each of its 18 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
The cock’s answer to the dog. جواب خروس سگ را
پس خروسش گفت تن زن غم مخور که خدا بدهد عوض زینت دگر
Then the cock said to him, “Be silent, do not grieve, for God will give you something else instead of this.
اسپ این خواجه سقط خواهد شدن روز فردا سیر خور کم کن حزن
The horse of this Khwája is about to die: to-morrow eat your fill and be not sorrowful.
مر سگان را عید باشد مرگ اسپ روزی وافر بود بی جهد و کسپ
The horse’s death will be a feast-day for the dogs: there will be abundant provender without toil or earning.”
اسپ را بفروخت چون بشنید مرد پیش سگ شد آن خروسش روی‌زرد
When the man heard (this speech), he sold the horse. That cock of his was disgraced in the eyes of the dog.
روز دیگر همچنان نان را ربود آن خروس و سگ برو لب بر گشود
Next day the cock carried off the bread in the same fashion (as before), and the dog opened his lips at him,
کای خروس عشوه‌ده چند این دروغ ظالمی و کاذبی و بی فروغ
Saying, “O beguiling cock, how long (will you tell) these lies? You are unrighteous and false and without lustre.
اسپ کش گفتی سقط گردد کجاست کور اخترگوی و محرومی ز راست
Where is the horse that you said would die? You are (like) a blind man who tells of the stars and you are deprived of truth.”
گفت او را آن خروس با خبر که سقط شد اسپ او جای دگر
That knowing cock said to him, “His horse died in another place.
اسپ را بفروخت و جست او از زیان آن زیان انداخت او بر دیگران
He sold the horse and escaped from loss: he cast the loss upon others;
لیک فردا استرش گردد سقط مر سگان را باشد آن نعمت فقط
But to-morrow his mule will die: that will be good fortune for the dogs, (so say) no more.”
زود استر را فروشید آن حریص یافت از غم وز زیان آن دم محیص
The covetous man immediately sold the mule and at that instant obtained deliverance from grief and loss.
روز ثالث گفت سگ با آن خروس ای امیر کاذبان با طبل و کوس
On the third day the dog said to the cock, “O prince of liars with your drums and kettledrums!”
گفت او بفروخت استر را شتاب گفت فردایش غلام آید مصاب
He (the cock) said, “He sold the mule in haste, (but),” said he, “to-morrow his slave will be stricken down,
چون غلام او بمیرد نانها بر سگ و خواهنده ریزند اقربا
And when his slave dies, the next of kin will scatter pieces of bread upon the dogs and beggars.”
این شنید و آن غلامش را فروخت رست از خسران و رخ را بر فروخت
He (the master) heard this and sold his slave: he was saved from loss and his face was lit up (with joy).
شکرها می‌کرد و شادیها که من رستم از سه واقعه اندر زمن
He was giving thanks and making merry, saying, “I have been saved from three calamities in the world.
تا زبان مرغ و سگ آموختم دیده‌ی س القضا را دوختم
Since I learned the language of the fowl and the dog I have pierced the eye of evil destiny.”
روز دیگر آن سگ محروم گفت کای خروس ژاژخا کو طاق و جفت
Next day the disappointed dog said, “O drivelling cock, where are the sundries (you promised me)?
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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