Quatrain 33 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

By hamed @hamed | 5 7

کس عهد وفا چنانکه پروانهٔ خردبا دوست به پایان نشنیدیم که برد


مقراض به دشمنی سرش بر می‌داشتپروانه به دوستیش در پا می‌مرد


Description:

English Translation:

We've never heard of anyone who kept a promise of loyalty,
Like the small moth, to a friend until the end.

The scissors would sever the enemy's head,
But the moth would die for its friend.


hamed
@hamed Sept. 22, 2024, 8:39 a.m.

Analysis:
This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi explores the themes of loyalty, friendship, and the contrast between friends and enemies. It uses a striking metaphor of a moth to convey the idea of ultimate sacrifice for a friend.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 22, 2024, 8:39 a.m.

Line 1: کس عهد وفا چنانکه پروانهٔ خرد

"We've never heard of anyone who kept a promise of loyalty,"
The speaker begins by stating that they have never witnessed someone being as loyal as a wise moth. This sets up the metaphor for the rest of the quatrain.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 22, 2024, 8:39 a.m.

Line 2: با دوست به پایان نشنیدیم که برد

"Like the small moth, to a friend until the end."
Here, the moth is presented as the epitome of loyalty, willing to give its life for a friend.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 22, 2024, 8:39 a.m.

Line 3: مقراض به دشمنی سرش بر می‌داشت

"The scissors would sever the enemy's head,"
This line contrasts the loyalty of a friend with the harshness of an enemy. The scissors, a tool of destruction, represent the enemy who would harm without hesitation.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 22, 2024, 8:39 a.m.

Line 4: پروانه به دوستیش در پا می‌مرد

"But the moth would die for its friendship."
The moth, on the other hand, is willing to sacrifice its own life for the sake of its friend. This emphasizes the depth of its loyalty.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 22, 2024, 8:40 a.m.

Themes explored in the quatrain:
Loyalty in friendship: The quatrain highlights the importance of loyalty in friendship and suggests that true friends are willing to make ultimate sacrifices.
Contrast between friends and enemies: The moth and the scissors are used to represent the stark contrast between a loyal friend and a harmful enemy.
The power of sacrifice: The moth's willingness to sacrifice its life emphasizes the power of selfless love and devotion.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 22, 2024, 8:40 a.m.

This quatrain is a powerful statement about the nature of friendship. By using the metaphor of a moth, Saadi suggests that true friendship is characterized by unwavering loyalty and a willingness to make ultimate sacrifices.