Hekayat No. 14: A Longtime Travel Companion

حکایت شماره ۱۴: رفیقی داشتم که سالها با هم سفر کرده بودیم و نمک ...

I had a friend with whom I had traveled for years, shared bread and salt, and countless rights of companionship had been established, but in the end, for a small benefit, he inflicted mental anguish on me, and our friendship ended, and yet there was attachment on both sides, as I heard that one day they were reciting two verses of my words in a gathering:

رفیقی داشتم که سالها با هم سفر کرده بودیم و نمک خورده و بی کران حقوقِ صحبت ثابت شده، آخر به سببِ نفعی اندک، آزارِ خاطرِ من روا داشت و دوستی سپری شد و با این همه از هر دو طرف دلبستگی بود که شنیدم روزی دو بیت از سخنان من در مجمعی همی‌گفتند:

When my beloved enters with a charming smile

He adds more salt to the wounds of the wounded.

نگارِ من چو در آید به خندهٔ نمکین

نمک زیاده کند بر جراحتِ ریشان

What would it be if his hair fell into my hand

Like the sleeves of generous men in the hands of dervishes.

چه بودی ار سرِ زلفش به دستم افتادی

چو آستینِ کریمان به دستِ درویشان

The group of dervishes praised not the beauty of these words, but their own good character, and he also exaggerated in this statement and regretted the loss of the old companionship and confessed to his mistake. I realized that there was also a desire from his side; I sent these verses and we made peace:

طایفهٔ درویشان بر لطفِ این سخن نه، که بر حسنِ سیرتِ خویش آفرین بردند و او هم در این جمله مبالغه کرده بود و بر فوتِ صحبتِ قدیم تأسّف خورده و به خطایِ خویش اعتراف نموده. معلوم کردم که از طرفِ او هم رغبتی هست؛ این بیتها فرستادم و صلح کردیم:

Did we not have a covenant of loyalty and faithfulness between us?

You were cruel and broke your promise.

نه ما را در میان عهد و وفا بود؟

جفا کردیّ و بدعهدی نمودی

I entrusted my heart to you at once from the world

I did not know that you would return so soon.

به یک بار از جهان دل در تو بستم

ندانستم که برگردی به زودی

If you still intend to make peace, come back

You will be more accepted than you were.

هنوزت گر سرِ صلح است باز آی

کز آن مقبول‌تر باشی که بودی