Ayaz Gazing at His Shoes and Jacket
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 5, section 74 of 175: The wise purpose (of Ayáz) in looking at his rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket then let Man consider from what he was created (حکمت نظر کردن در چارق و پوستین کی فلینظر الانسان مم خلق). Below, each of its 9 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
The wise purpose (of Ayáz) in looking at his rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket then let Man consider from what he was created. حکمت نظر کردن در چارق و پوستین کی فلینظر الانسان مم خلق
بازگردان قصه‌ی عشق ایاز که آن یکی گنجیست مالامال راز
Bring back (to my mind) the story of Ayáz’s love; for ’tis a treasure full of mystery.
می‌رود هر روز در حجره‌ی برین تا ببیند چارقی با پوستین
Every day he is going into the uppermost chamber to see his rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket,
زانک هستی سخت مستی آورد عقل از سر شرم از دل می‌برد
Because (self-)existence produces grievous intoxication: it removes intelligence from the head and reverence from the heart.
صد هزاران قرن پیشین را همین مستی هستی بزد ره زین کمین
From this ambush this same intoxication of (self-)existence waylaid a hundred thousand generations of old.
شد عزرائیلی ازین مستی بلیس که چرا آدم شود بر من رئیس
By this (self-)existence an ‘Azázíl was made to be Iblís, saying, “Why should Adam become lord over me?
خواجه‌ام من نیز و خواجه‌زاده‌ام صد هنر را قابل و آماده‌ام
I too am noble and nobly-born: I am capable of receiving and ready for (receiving) a hundred excellences.
در هنر من از کسی کم نیستم تا به خدمت پیش دشمن بیستم
In excellence I am inferior to none, that I should stand before my enemy to do him service.
من ز آتش زاده‌ام او از وحل پیش آتش مر وحل را چه محل
I am born of fire, he of mud: what is the position (rank) of mud compared with fire?
او کجا بود اندر آن دوری که من صدر عالم بودم و فخر زمن
Where was he in the period when I was the Prince of the World and the glory of Time?”
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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