Quatrain 7 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
صد بار بگفتم به غلامان درتتا آینه دیگر نگذارند برت
ترسم که ببینی رخ همچون قمرتکس باز نیاید دگر اندر نظرت
Description:
English Translation:
A hundred times I’ve told your servants, my love,
To never place a mirror before you.
I fear that seeing your moon-like face,
No one else will ever catch your sight.
Line 1: صد بار بگفتم به غلامان درت
"A hundred times I’ve told your servants, my love,"
The speaker is addressing their beloved, expressing a recurring concern.
Line 2: تا آینه دیگر نگذارند برت
"To never place a mirror before you."
The speaker is worried that the beloved, upon seeing their own reflection, will become so enamored with their own beauty that they will forget about the speaker.
Line 3: ترسم که ببینی رخ همچون قمرت
"I fear that seeing your moon-like face,"
The beloved's beauty is compared to the moon, highlighting their radiance and allure. The speaker fears that this beauty will blind the beloved to the love of others.
Line 4: کس باز نیاید دگر اندر نظرت
"No one else will ever catch your sight."
The speaker expresses their fear of being replaced. They worry that the beloved, captivated by their own reflection, will no longer see the speaker.
Themes Explored:
Jealousy in love: The central theme is the speaker's jealousy and fear of losing their beloved.
The power of beauty: The beloved's beauty is portrayed as a powerful and alluring force.
The fear of being forgotten: The speaker fears that the beloved will become so self-absorbed that they will forget about the speaker.
Additional Notes:
Mirrors are often used as symbols of self-reflection and vanity in Persian poetry.
The moon is a common symbol of beauty and love in Persian culture.
Saadi's poems are often filled with layers of meaning and can be interpreted in multiple ways.
This quatrain offers a glimpse into the intricate workings of a jealous lover's heart, making it a timeless piece of literature.