Quatrain 89 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
By
@hamed
|
7
3
گویند مرا صوابرایان به هوشچون دست نمیرسد به خرسندی کوش
صبر از متعذر چه کنم گر نکنمگر خواهم و گر نخواهم از نرمهٔ گوش
Description:
English Translation:
Here are a few options for translating this quatrain into English, each with slightly different nuances:
Option 1: Literal translation:
The wise say to me, "Be patient,"
Since happiness is out of reach.
What can I do but be patient, though it's difficult?
Whether I want it or not, it's a matter of fate.
Option 2: More poetic translation:
The sages counsel me to be serene,
When joy seems distant, a far-off scene.
To bear my burden, I have no choice,
For destiny shapes my life's course.
Option 3: A more contemporary interpretation:
Wise ones tell me to stay strong,
When happiness feels so wrong.
I must endure, it's plain to see,
It's written in the stars, for me.
Choosing the best translation depends on the specific context and the desired tone. The first option is more literal, while the second and third options offer more poetic and evocative interpretations.
Overall Meaning:
The quatrain expresses a sense of resignation and acceptance of one's fate. The speaker is advised to be patient and endure hardship, even though it is difficult. The final line suggests that there are forces beyond human control that shape our lives. This theme of resignation in the face of adversity is a common one in Persian poetry, and Saadi often explores it in his work.
Let's break down the imagery and the overall meaning of the quatrain.
گویند مرا صوابرایان به هوش: This line suggests that the speaker is being advised by wise people. The word "صوابرایان" refers to those who know what is right.
چون دست نمیرسد به خرسندی کوش: This line implies that the speaker is striving for happiness or contentment but is facing difficulties in achieving it.
صبر از متعذر چه کنم گر نکنم: This line poses a rhetorical question, suggesting that the speaker has no choice but to be patient, even though it is difficult.
گر خواهم و گر نخواهم از نرمهٔ گوش: This final line is a bit more enigmatic. It seems to suggest an inevitability, perhaps a fate or destiny, that the speaker must accept. The phrase "نرمهٔ گوش" literally means "soft of the ear," but it can also be interpreted as something like "fate" or "destiny."