Hekayat No. 12: A drought in Alexandria

حکایت شماره ۱۲: خشکسالی در اسکندریه عنان طاقت درویش از دست ...

Drought in Alexandria had driven the dervishes to desperation; the gates of heaven were closed to earth, and the cries of the people of earth had reached the heavens.

خشکسالی در اسکندریّه عنانِ طاقتِ درویش از دست رفته بود، درهایِ آسمان بر زمین بسته و فریادِ اهلِ زمین به آسمان پیوسته.

No creature remained, from wild beasts and birds, fish and ants

Whose cries of frustration did not reach the sky

نماند جانور از وحش و طَیْر و ماهی و مور

که بر فلک نشد از بی‌مرادی افغانش

It is strange that the smoke of people's hearts does not gather

To become a cloud and rain the flood of tears from their eyes

عجب که دودِ دلِ خَلق جمع می‌نشود

که ابر گردد و سیلابِ دیده بارانش

In such a year, an effeminate man, far from his friends, about whom speaking is a breach of etiquette, especially in the presence of elders, and neglecting to mention him is also not appropriate, lest some interpret it as the speaker's inability. Let us suffice with these two verses, which a little is proof of much, and a handful is a sample of a heap:

در چنین سال، مُخَنَّثی، دور از دوستان، که سخن در وصفِ او ترکِ ادب است، خاصّه در حضرتِ بزرگان و به طریقِ اِهمال از آن در‌گذشتن هم نشاید که طایفه‌ای بر عجزِ گوینده حمل کنند. بر این دو بیت اقتصار کنیم که اندک، دلیلِ بسیاری باشد و مشتی نمودارِ خرواری:

If a Tatar were to kill this effeminate man

No other Tatar would need to be killed

گر تَتَر بُکشَد این مخنّث را

تتری را دگر نباید کُشت

How long will he be like the Baghdad bridge

With water beneath and people behind

چند باشد چو جِسرِ بغدادش

آب در زیر و آدمی در پشت

Such a person - about whom you have heard one aspect of his description - in this year had immense wealth, giving silver and gold to the needy and providing food for travelers. A group of dervishes, exhausted by the oppression of poverty, intended to accept his invitation and consulted me. I refused to agree and said:

چنین شخصی -که یک طرف از نَعْتِ او شنیدی- در این سال نعمتی بیکران داشت، تنگدستان را سیم و زر دادی و مسافران را سفره نهادی. گروهی درویشان از جورِ فاقه به طاقت رسیده بودند. آهنگِ دعوتِ او کردند و مشاورت به من آوردند. سر از موافقت باز زدم و گفتم:

A lion does not eat a dog's leftovers

Even if it dies in hardship in a cave

نخورَد شیر، نیم‌خوردهٔ سگ

ور بمیرد به سختی اندر غار

Endure helplessness and hunger

But do not extend your hand to a base person

تن به بیچارگی و گُرْسنگی

بِنِه و دستْ پیشِ سِفله مدار

Even if he becomes a fortunate king like Fereydun

Do not consider a talentless person as anyone

گر فریدون شود به نعمت و مُلک

بی‌هنر را به هیچ‌کس مشمار

Brocade and fine fabric on an unworthy person

Are like lapis lazuli and gold on a wall

پرنیان و نَسیج بر نااهل

لاجورد و طلاست بر دیوار