The story of the people of Sabá and their folly, and how the admonition of the prophets produces no effect upon the foolish. قصه‌ی اهل سبا و حماقت ایشان و اثر ناکردن نصیحت انبیا در احمقان
یادم آمد قصه‌ی اهل سبا کز دم احمق صباشان شد وبا
I am reminded of the story of the people of Sabá how their (balmy) zephyr (sabá) was turned into pestilence (wabá) by the words of the foolish.
آن سبا ماند به شهر بس کلان در فسانه بشنوی از کودکان
That (kingdom of) Sabá resembles the great big city (which) you may hear of from children in (their) tales.
کودکان افسانه‌ها می‌آورند درج در افسانه‌شان بس سر و پند
The children relate tales, (but) in their tales there is enfolded many a mystery and (moral) lesson.
هزلها گویند در افسانه‌ها گنج می‌جو در همه ویرانه‌ها
(Though) in (their) tales they say (many) ridiculous things, (yet) in all ruined places do thou ever seek the treasure.
بود شهری بس عظیم و مه ولی قدر او قدر سکره بیش نی
(Once) there was a city very huge and great, but its size was the size of a saucer, no more (than that).
بس عظیم و بس فراخ و بس دراز سخت زفت زفت اندازه‌ی پیاز
(It was) very huge and very broad and very long, ever so big, as big as an onion.
مردم ده شهر مجموع اندرو لیک جمله سه تن ناشسته‌رو
The people of ten cities were assembled within it, but the whole (amounted to) three fellows with unwashed (dirty) faces.
اندرو خلق و خلایق بی‌شمار لیک آن جمله سه خام پخته‌خوار
Within it there were numberless people and folk, but the whole of them (amounted to) three beggarly fools.
جان ناکرده به جانان تاختن گر هزارانست باشد نیم تن
The soul that has not made haste towards the Beloved (even) if it is thousands, (yet) it is (only) half a body.
آن یکی بس دور بین و دیده‌کور از سلیمان کور و دیده پای مور
One (of the three) was very far-sighted and blind-eyed blind to Solomon and seeing the leg of the ant;
و آن دگر بس تیزگوش و سخت کر گنج و در وی نیست یک جو سنگ زر
And the second was very sharp of hearing and extremely deaf a treasure in which there is not a barleycorn’s weight of gold;
وآن دگر عور و برهنه لاشه‌باز لیک دامنهای جامه‌ی او دراز
And the other (the third) was naked and bare, pudendo patefacto, but the skirts of his raiment were long. [And the other (the third) was naked and bare, (the private parts of his) body exposed, but the skirts of his raiment were long.]
گفت کور اینک سپاهی می‌رسند من همی‌بینم که چه قومند و چند
The blind man said, “Look, an army is approaching: I see what people they are and how many.”
گفت کر آری شنودم بانگشان که چه می‌گویند پیدا و نهان
The deaf man said, “Yes; I heard their voices (and know) what they are saying openly and secretly.”
آن برهنه گفت ترسان زین منم که ببرند از درازی دامنم
The naked man said, “I am afraid they will cut off (something) from the length of my skirt.”
کور گفت اینک به نزدیک آمدند خیز بگریزیم پیش از زخم و بند
The blind man said, “Look, they have come near! Arise and let us flee before (we suffer) blows and chains.”
کر همی‌گوید که آری مشغله می‌شود نزدیکتر یاران هله
“Yes,” says the deaf man, “the noise is getting nearer. Come on, my friends!”
آن برهنه گفت آوه دامنم از طمع برند و من ناآمنم
The naked man said, “Alas, from covetousness they will cut off my skirt, and I am unprotected.”
شهر را هشتند و بیرون آمدند در هزیمت در دهی اندر شدند
They (the three) left the city and came forth and in their flight entered a village.
اندر آن ده مرغ فربه یافتند لیک ذره‌ی گوشت بر وی نه نژند
In that village they found a fat fowl, but not a mite of flesh on it: (’twas) abject.
مرغ مرده‌ی خشک وز زخم کلاغ استخوانها زار گشته چون پناغ
A dried-up dead fowl, and its bones through being pecked at by crows had become bare like threads.
زان همی‌خوردند چون از صید شیر هر یکی از خوردنش چون پیل سیر
They were eating thereof as a lion (eats) of his prey: each of them (became) surfeited, like an elephant, with eating it.
هر سه زان خوردند و بس فربه شدند چون سه پیل بس بزرگ و مه شدند
All the three ate thereof and grew exceedingly fat: they became like three very great and big elephants,
آنچنان کز فربهی هر یک جوان در نگنجیدی ز زفتی در جهان
In such wise that each young man, because of fatness, was too stout to be contained in the world.
با چنین گبزی و هفت اندام زفت از شکاف در برون جستند و رفت
Notwithstanding such bigness and seven stout limbs, they sprang forth through a chink in the door and departed.
راه مرگ خلق ناپیدا رهیست در نظر ناید که آن بی‌جا رهیست
The way of creaturely death is an invisible way: it comes not into sight, for it is a way without locality.
نک پیاپی کاروانها مقتفی زین شکاف در که هست آن مختفی
Lo, the caravans are following one after another through this chink which is hidden (from view) in the door.
بر در ار جویی نیابی آن شکاف سخت ناپیدا و زو چندین زفاف
If you look on the door for that chink, you will not find it: (it is) extremely unapparent, though (there are) so many processions through it.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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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