The story of the hare’s stratagem قصه‌‌ی مکر خرگوش
ساعتی تاخیر کرد اندر شدن
بعد از آن شد پیش شیر پنجه زن
He delayed awhile in going, then he went before the lion who rends (his prey) with claws.
ز آن سبب کاندر شدن او ماند دیر
خاک را می‌‌کند و می‌‌غرید شیر
Because he tarried late in going, the lion was tearing up the earth and roaring.
گفت من گفتم که عهد آن خسان
خام باشد خام و سست و نارسان
“I said,” cried the lion, “that the promise of those vile ones would be vain—vain and frail and unfulfilled.
دمدمه‌‌ی ایشان مرا از خر فگند
چند بفریبد مرا این دهر چند
Their palaver has duped me: how long will this Time deceive me, how long?”
سخت درماند امیر سست ریش
چون نه پس بیند نه پیش از احمقیش
The prince that hath no strength in his beard is left sorely in the lurch when by reason of his folly he looks neither backwards nor forwards.
راه هموار است و زیرش دامها
قحط معنی در میان نامها
The road is smooth, and under it are pitfalls: amidst the names there is a dearth of meaning.
لفظها و نامها چون دامهاست
لفظ شیرین ریگ آب عمر ماست
Words and names are like pitfalls: the sweet (flattering) word is the sand for (the sand that sucks up) the water of our life.
آن یکی ریگی که جوشد آب ازو
سخت کمیاب است رو آن را بجو
The one sand whence water gushes is seldom to be found: go, seek it.
منبع حکمت شود حکمت طلب
فارغ آید او ز تحصیل و سبب
He that searches after wisdom becomes a fountain of wisdom; he becomes independent of acquisition and (ways and) means.
لوح حافظ لوح محفوظی شود
عقل او از روح محظوظی شود
The guarding tablet becomes a Guarded Tablet; his understanding becomes enriched by the Spirit.
چون معلم بود عقلش ز ابتدا
بعد از این شد عقل شاگردی و را
When his understanding has been his teacher at the beginning, after this the understanding becomes his pupil.
عقل چون جبریل گوید احمدا
گر یکی گامی نهم سوزد مرا
The understanding says, like Gabriel, “O Ahmad (Mohammed), if I take one (more) step, it will burn me;
تو مرا بگذار زین پس پیش ران
حد من این بود ای سلطان جان
Do thou leave me, henceforth advance (alone): this is my limit, O sultan of the soul!”
هر که ماند از کاهلی بی‌‌شکر و صبر
او همین داند که گیرد پای جبر
Whoever, through heedlessness, remains without thanksgiving and patience (self-control), knows (no resource) but this, that he should follow in the heels of necessity (jabr).
هر که جبر آورد خود رنجور کرد
تا همان رنجوری‌‌اش در گور کرد
Any one who pleads necessity (as an excuse) feigns himself to be ill, with the result that the (feigned) illness brings him to the grave.
گفت پیغمبر که رنجوری به لاغ
رنج آرد تا بمیرد چون چراغ
The Prophet said, “Illness (assumed) in jest brings (real) disease, so that he (the jester) dies like a lamp.”
جبر چه بود بستن اشکسته را
یا بپیوستن رگی بگسسته را
What is (the meaning of) jabr? To bind up a broken (limb) or tie a severed vein.
چون در این ره پای خود نشکسته‌‌ای
بر که می‌‌خندی چه پا را بسته‌‌ای
Inasmuch as you have not broken your foot in this path, whom are you mocking? Why have you bandaged your foot?
و آن که پایش در ره کوشش شکست
در رسید او را براق و بر نشست
But as for him who broke his foot in the path of exertion, Buráq came up to him, and he mounted (and rode).
حامل دین بود او محمول شد
قابل فرمان بد او مقبول شد
He was a bearer of the (true) religion, and he became one who is borne; he was an accepter of the (Divine) command, and he became accepted.
تا کنون فرمان پذیرفتی ز شاه
بعد از این فرمان رساند بر سپاه
Until now, he was receiving commands from the King; henceforth he delivers the (King’s) commands to the people.
تا کنون اختر اثر کردی در او
بعد از این باشد امیر اختر او
Until now, the stars were influencing him; henceforth he is the ruler of the stars.
گر ترا اشکال آید در نظر
پس تو شک داری در انشق القمر
If (on this account) perplexity arise in thy sight (mind), then thou wilt have doubts concerning The moon was cloven asunder.
تازه کن ایمان نه از گفت زبان
ای هوا را تازه کرده در نهان
Refresh thy faith, (but) not with talk of the tongue, O thou who hast secretly refreshed thy (evil) desire.
تا هوا تازه ست ایمان تازه نیست
کاین هوا جز قفل آن دروازه نیست
So long as desire is fresh, faith is not fresh, for ’tis this desire that locks (against thee) that gate.
کرده‌‌ای تاویل حرف بکر را
خویش را تاویل کن نی ذکر را
Thou hast interpreted (and altered the meaning of) the virgin (uncorrupted) Word: interpret (alter) thyself, not the (Divine) Book.
بر هوا تاویل قرآن می‌‌کنی
پست و کژ شد از تو معنی سنی
Thou interpretest the Qur’án according to thy desire: by thee the sublime meaning is degraded and perverted.
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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.
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