Hekayat 5 from Golestan of Saadi
English Translation for Hekayat
I saw the son of a colonel at the door of Ughlumush’s house. He had extraordinary intelligence, wisdom, and insight. Even from his childhood, signs of greatness were evident on his forehead.
Above his head, due to his wisdom, A star of high fortune shone.
In short, he became favored by the Sultan because he possessed both beauty and intellect. The wise have said: “Wealth is in talent, not in money, and greatness is in intellect, not in age.” His peers envied his position and accused him of treachery, but their efforts to harm him were in vain.
What can an enemy do when a friend is kind?
The king asked, “What is the reason for their enmity towards you?” He replied, “In the shadow of the divine state of the king, I have satisfied everyone except the envious, who are only pleased with my downfall. May the king’s fortune and state endure.”
I can avoid hurting anyone, But what can I do with the envious who are troubled by themselves? Die, O envious one, for this is a pain, From which there is no escape except through death.
The unfortunate wish for the downfall of the fortunate. If the bat’s eye does not see during the day, What fault is it of the sun’s radiance?
To be honest, a thousand such eyes, Blind are better than seeing the sun as black.
متن حکایت
سرهنگ‌زاده‌ای را بر در سرایِ اُغْلُمُش دیدم که عقل و کِیاستی و فهم و فِراستی زاید‌الوصف داشت، هم از عهدِ خُردی آثارِ بزرگی در ناصیهٔ او پیدا.
بالایِ سرش ز هوشمندی
می‌تافت ستارهٔ بلندی
فی‌الجمله مقبولِ نظرِ سلطان آمد که جَمالِ صورت و معنی داشت و خردمندان گفته‌اند: «توانگری به هنر است نه به مال و بزرگی به عقل نه به سال». ابنایِ جنسِ او بر منصبِ او حسد بردند و به خیانتی متّهم کردند و در کشتنِ او سعی بی‌فایده نمودند.
دشمن چه زند چو مهربان باشد دوست؟
مَلِک پرسید که موجبِ خصمیِ اینان در حقِّ تو چیست؟ گفت: در سایهٔ دولتِ خداوندی دامَ مُلْکُهُ همگنان را راضی کردم مگر حسود را که راضی نمی‌شود الّا به زوالِ نعمتِ من و اقبال و دولتِ خداوند باد.
توانم آنکه نیازارم اندرون کسی
حسود را چه کنم کو ز خود به رنج در است؟
بمیر تا برهی ای حسود کاین رنجی‌ست
که از مشقّتِ آن جز به مرگ نَتْوان رست
شوربختان به آرزو خواهند
مُقبلان را زوال نعمت و جاه
گر نبیند به روز شَپّره چشم
چشمهٔ آفتاب را چه گناه؟
راست خواهی، هزار چشمِ چنان
کور بهتر که آفتابْ سیاه
