The Hare Faces the Angry Lion
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 1, section 63 of 171: The hare's coming to the lion and the lion's anger with him (رسیدن خرگوش به شیر و خشم شیر بر وی). Below, each of its 14 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
The hare’s coming to the lion and the lion’s anger with him رسیدن خرگوش به شیر و خشم شیر بر وی
شیر اندر آتش و در خشم و شور
دید کان خرگوش می‌‌آید ز دور
The lion, incensed and wrathful and frantic, saw the hare coming from afar,
می‌‌دود بی‌‌دهشت و گستاخ او
خشمگین و تند و تیز و ترش رو
Running undismayed and confidently, looking angry and fierce and fell and sour,
کز شکسته آمدن تهمت بود
وز دلیری دفع هر ریبت بود
For by coming humbly (he thought) suspicion would be (excited), while by boldness every cause of doubt would be removed.
چون رسید او پیشتر نزدیک صف
بانگ بر زد شیرهای ای ناخلف
When he came further on, near to the “shoe-row,” the lion shouted “Ha, villain!
من که گاوان را ز هم بدریده‌‌ام
من که گوش پیل نر مالیده‌‌ام
I who have torn elephants limb from limb, I who have rubbed the ear of (chastised and vanquished) the ferocious lion
نیم خرگوشی که باشد که چنین
امر ما را افکند او بر زمین
Who (what) is a half-witted (feeble) hare, that he should thus throw on the ground (disregard) my behest?”
ترک خواب غفلت خرگوش کن
غره‌‌ی این شیر ای خر گوش کن
Abandon the hare’s sleep of heedlessness! Give ear, O donkey, to the roaring of this lion!
Special Offers
← Previous sectionMasnavi Book 1 contentsNext section →
More Rumi: the Song of the Reed (Book 1 proem), real Rumi quotes in Persian and the Persian poetry quiz.
Take this lesson further
Serious about Persian? Get all 30 of our Persian learning books for $199.99 (55% less than buying them one by one).
Free Persian Starter Kit (PDF)
The Persian alphabet chart and the 101 most common Persian words with pronunciation, in one printable PDF. You also get a one-time 15% code for any of our books.
We will email you new lessons and book news from Learn Persian Online. Unsubscribe any time.Love Persian poetry? Learn to read it: free Starter Pack
Get the 14-page printable Starter Pack (all 32 letters, a 7-day reading plan, 100 core words and 20 survival phrases) and a short 5-email course. Free.
by: Reza about (category: Masnavi)
Reza is an experienced Persian instructor who has been tutoring students since 2008. He is the founder of Learn Persian Online, a tutoring company that has helped many students learn Persian, this beautiful language. He works with students individually and in group settings, he tutors both live and online Persian courses. Reza provides an individualized custom learning plan and the personalized attention that makes a difference in how people view Persian learning process.
What people say about "The Hare Faces the Angry Lion"?
No one replied yet.