Quatrain 138 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
ای پیش تو لعبتان چینی حبشیکس چون تو صنوبر نخرامد به کشی
گر روی بگردانی و گر سر بکشیما با تو خوشیم گر تو با ما نه خوشی
Description:
English Translation:
Literal:
"O one who Chinese beauties before you appear like Abyssinian,
no cypress has walked the earth as graceful as you.
Even if you turn your face away or even if you kill us,
we are happy with you, even if you are not happy with us."
Poetic:
"Your beauty outshines all, a porcelain dream,
No cypress stands as tall, so regal it would seem.
Should you turn away or end our lives with strife,
With you we're content, even if you end our life."
Analysis:
This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi is a passionate declaration of love, expressing unwavering devotion and acceptance of the beloved's actions, no matter how harsh.
Unparalleled Beauty: The beloved is compared to exquisite Chinese and Abyssinian dolls, and to the graceful cypress tree, emphasizing their extraordinary beauty.
Unconditional Love: The speaker expresses their willingness to endure any hardship, even death, for the sake of their love. This highlights the unconditional and selfless nature of their devotion.
Submissiveness: The speaker's willingness to accept the beloved's actions, regardless of how hurtful, suggests a degree of submissiveness and longing for reciprocation.
Themes:
Unconditional Love: The central theme is the power of unconditional love and the willingness to endure pain for the sake of the beloved.
Beauty and Desire: The quatrain explores the theme of beauty and the intense desire it can inspire.
Submissiveness and Devotion: The speaker's submissive attitude towards the beloved highlights the complexities of love and the lengths people will go to for those they love.
Deeper Meaning:
This quatrain can be interpreted as a celebration of romantic love and the lengths to which people will go for the one they love. It also highlights the power of beauty and the way it can captivate and consume. The speaker's willingness to endure any hardship for the sake of their beloved is a testament to the enduring power of human emotion.