(By Ahmedi)
Up and sing! O'anga-natured nightingale!High in every business doth thy worth prevail:Sing! for good the words are that from thee proceed;Whatsoever thou dost say is prized indeed.Then, since words to utter thee so well doth suit,Pity were it surely if thy tongue were mute.Blow a blast in utt'rance that the Trusted One,When he hears, ten thousand times may cry: "Well done!"Up and sing! O bird most holy! up and sing!Unto us a story fair and beauteous bring.Let not opportunity slip by, silent there;Unto us the beauty of each word declare.Seldom opportunities like this with thee lie;Sing then, for th' occasion now is thine, so hie!Lose not opportunities that thy hand doth find,For some day full suddenly Death thy tongue shall bind.Of how many singers, eloquent of words,Bound have Death and Doom the tongues fast in their cords!Lose not, then, th' occasion, but to joy look now,For one day thy station 'neath earth seek must thou.While the tongue yet floweth, now thy words collect;Them as Meaning's taper 'midst the feast erect,That thy words, remaining long time after thee,To the listeners' hearing shall thy record be.Thy mementoes lustrous biding here behind,Through them they'll recall thee, O my soul, to mind.Those who've left mementoes ne'er have died in truth;Those who've left no traces ne'er have lived in sooth.Surely with this object didst thou come to earth,That to mind should ever be recalled thy worth."May I die not!" say'st thou, one of noble race?Strive, then, that thou leavest here a name of grace.Once unto his Vizier quoth the crowned King:"Thou, who in my world-realm knowest everything!With my sword I've conquered many and many a shore;Still I sigh right sorely: 'Ah! to conquer more!'Great desire is with me realms to overthrow;Through this cause I comfort ne'er a moment know.Is there yet a country whither we may wend,Where as yet our mighty sway doth not extend,That we may it conquer, conquer it outright?Ours shall be the whole earth—ours it shall be quite."Then, when heard the Vizier what the King did say,Quoth he: "Realm-o'erthrowing Monarch, live for aye!May the Mighty Ruler set thy crown on high,That thy throne may ever all assaults defy!May thy life's rose-garden never fade away!May thy glory's orchard never see decay!Thou'st the Peopled Quarter ta'en from end to end;All of its inhabitants slaves before thee bend.There's on earth no city, neither any land,That is not, O Monarch, under thy command.In the Peopled Quarter Seven Climes are known,And o'er all of these thy sway extends alone!"
Up and sing! O'anga-natured nightingale!High in every business doth thy worth prevail:Sing! for good the words are that from thee proceed;Whatsoever thou dost say is prized indeed.Then, since words to utter thee so well doth suit,Pity were it surely if thy tongue were mute.Blow a blast in utt'rance that the Trusted One,When he hears, ten thousand times may cry: "Well done!"Up and sing! O bird most holy! up and sing!Unto us a story fair and beauteous bring.Let not opportunity slip by, silent there;Unto us the beauty of each word declare.Seldom opportunities like this with thee lie;Sing then, for th' occasion now is thine, so hie!Lose not opportunities that thy hand doth find,For some day full suddenly Death thy tongue shall bind.Of how many singers, eloquent of words,Bound have Death and Doom the tongues fast in their cords!Lose not, then, th' occasion, but to joy look now,For one day thy station 'neath earth seek must thou.While the tongue yet floweth, now thy words collect;Them as Meaning's taper 'midst the feast erect,That thy words, remaining long time after thee,To the listeners' hearing shall thy record be.Thy mementoes lustrous biding here behind,Through them they'll recall thee, O my soul, to mind.Those who've left mementoes ne'er have died in truth;Those who've left no traces ne'er have lived in sooth.Surely with this object didst thou come to earth,That to mind should ever be recalled thy worth."May I die not!" say'st thou, one of noble race?Strive, then, that thou leavest here a name of grace.Once unto his Vizier quoth the crowned King:"Thou, who in my world-realm knowest everything!With my sword I've conquered many and many a shore;Still I sigh right sorely: 'Ah! to conquer more!'Great desire is with me realms to overthrow;Through this cause I comfort ne'er a moment know.Is there yet a country whither we may wend,Where as yet our mighty sway doth not extend,That we may it conquer, conquer it outright?Ours shall be the whole earth—ours it shall be quite."Then, when heard the Vizier what the King did say,Quoth he: "Realm-o'erthrowing Monarch, live for aye!May the Mighty Ruler set thy crown on high,That thy throne may ever all assaults defy!May thy life's rose-garden never fade away!May thy glory's orchard never see decay!Thou'st the Peopled Quarter ta'en from end to end;All of its inhabitants slaves before thee bend.There's on earth no city, neither any land,That is not, O Monarch, under thy command.In the Peopled Quarter Seven Climes are known,And o'er all of these thy sway extends alone!"
Up and sing! O'anga-natured nightingale!High in every business doth thy worth prevail:Sing! for good the words are that from thee proceed;Whatsoever thou dost say is prized indeed.Then, since words to utter thee so well doth suit,Pity were it surely if thy tongue were mute.Blow a blast in utt'rance that the Trusted One,When he hears, ten thousand times may cry: "Well done!"Up and sing! O bird most holy! up and sing!Unto us a story fair and beauteous bring.Let not opportunity slip by, silent there;Unto us the beauty of each word declare.Seldom opportunities like this with thee lie;Sing then, for th' occasion now is thine, so hie!Lose not opportunities that thy hand doth find,For some day full suddenly Death thy tongue shall bind.Of how many singers, eloquent of words,Bound have Death and Doom the tongues fast in their cords!Lose not, then, th' occasion, but to joy look now,For one day thy station 'neath earth seek must thou.While the tongue yet floweth, now thy words collect;Them as Meaning's taper 'midst the feast erect,That thy words, remaining long time after thee,To the listeners' hearing shall thy record be.Thy mementoes lustrous biding here behind,Through them they'll recall thee, O my soul, to mind.Those who've left mementoes ne'er have died in truth;Those who've left no traces ne'er have lived in sooth.Surely with this object didst thou come to earth,That to mind should ever be recalled thy worth."May I die not!" say'st thou, one of noble race?Strive, then, that thou leavest here a name of grace.
Up and sing! O'anga-natured nightingale!
High in every business doth thy worth prevail:
Sing! for good the words are that from thee proceed;
Whatsoever thou dost say is prized indeed.
Then, since words to utter thee so well doth suit,
Pity were it surely if thy tongue were mute.
Blow a blast in utt'rance that the Trusted One,
When he hears, ten thousand times may cry: "Well done!"
Up and sing! O bird most holy! up and sing!
Unto us a story fair and beauteous bring.
Let not opportunity slip by, silent there;
Unto us the beauty of each word declare.
Seldom opportunities like this with thee lie;
Sing then, for th' occasion now is thine, so hie!
Lose not opportunities that thy hand doth find,
For some day full suddenly Death thy tongue shall bind.
Of how many singers, eloquent of words,
Bound have Death and Doom the tongues fast in their cords!
Lose not, then, th' occasion, but to joy look now,
For one day thy station 'neath earth seek must thou.
While the tongue yet floweth, now thy words collect;
Them as Meaning's taper 'midst the feast erect,
That thy words, remaining long time after thee,
To the listeners' hearing shall thy record be.
Thy mementoes lustrous biding here behind,
Through them they'll recall thee, O my soul, to mind.
Those who've left mementoes ne'er have died in truth;
Those who've left no traces ne'er have lived in sooth.
Surely with this object didst thou come to earth,
That to mind should ever be recalled thy worth.
"May I die not!" say'st thou, one of noble race?
Strive, then, that thou leavest here a name of grace.
Once unto his Vizier quoth the crowned King:"Thou, who in my world-realm knowest everything!With my sword I've conquered many and many a shore;Still I sigh right sorely: 'Ah! to conquer more!'Great desire is with me realms to overthrow;Through this cause I comfort ne'er a moment know.Is there yet a country whither we may wend,Where as yet our mighty sway doth not extend,That we may it conquer, conquer it outright?Ours shall be the whole earth—ours it shall be quite."Then, when heard the Vizier what the King did say,Quoth he: "Realm-o'erthrowing Monarch, live for aye!May the Mighty Ruler set thy crown on high,That thy throne may ever all assaults defy!May thy life's rose-garden never fade away!May thy glory's orchard never see decay!Thou'st the Peopled Quarter ta'en from end to end;All of its inhabitants slaves before thee bend.There's on earth no city, neither any land,That is not, O Monarch, under thy command.In the Peopled Quarter Seven Climes are known,And o'er all of these thy sway extends alone!"
Once unto his Vizier quoth the crowned King:
"Thou, who in my world-realm knowest everything!
With my sword I've conquered many and many a shore;
Still I sigh right sorely: 'Ah! to conquer more!'
Great desire is with me realms to overthrow;
Through this cause I comfort ne'er a moment know.
Is there yet a country whither we may wend,
Where as yet our mighty sway doth not extend,
That we may it conquer, conquer it outright?
Ours shall be the whole earth—ours it shall be quite."
Then, when heard the Vizier what the King did say,
Quoth he: "Realm-o'erthrowing Monarch, live for aye!
May the Mighty Ruler set thy crown on high,
That thy throne may ever all assaults defy!
May thy life's rose-garden never fade away!
May thy glory's orchard never see decay!
Thou'st the Peopled Quarter ta'en from end to end;
All of its inhabitants slaves before thee bend.
There's on earth no city, neither any land,
That is not, O Monarch, under thy command.
In the Peopled Quarter Seven Climes are known,
And o'er all of these thy sway extends alone!"
(By Sheykhi)
The spot at which did King Khusrev Perviz lightWas e'en the ruined dwelling of that moon bright.Whilst wand'ring on, he comes upon that parterre,As on he strolls, it opes before his eyes fair.Among the trees a night-hued courser stands bound(On Heaven's charger's breast were envy's scars found).As softly moved he, sudden on his sight gleamedA moon that in the water shining bright beamed.O what a moon! a sun o'er earth that light rains—Triumphant, happy, blest he who her shade gains.She'd made the pool a casket for her frame fair,And all about that casket spread her dark hair.Her hand did yonder curling serpents back throw—The dawn 'tis, and thereof we never tired grow.He saw the water round about her ear play;In rings upon her shoulders her dark locks lay.When yon heart-winning moon before the King beamed,The King became the sun—in him Love's fire gleamed.The tears e'en like to water from his eyes rolled;Was't strange, when did a Watery Sign the Moon hold?No power was left him, neither sport nor pleasure;He bit his finger, wildered beyond measure.Unconscious of his gaze, the jasmine-breasted—The hyacinths o'er the narcissi rested.When shone her day-face, from that musky cloud bare,Her eyes oped Shirin and beheld the King there.Within that fountain, through dismay and shamed fright,She trembled as on water doth the moonlight.Than this no other refuge could yon moon findThat she should round about her her own locks bind.The moon yet beameth through the hair, the dark night,With tresses how could be concealed the sun bright!To hide her from him, round her she her hair flung,And thus as veil her night before her day hung.When Ferhad bound to fair Shirin his heart's core,From out his breast Love many a bitter wail tore.On tablet of his life graved, shown was Shirin;Of all else emptied, filled alone with Shirin.As loathed he the companionship of mankind,In wild beasts 'midst the hills did he his friends find.His guide was Pain; his boon companion, Grief's throe;His comrade, Sorrow; and his closest friend, Woe.Thus wand'ring on, he knew not day from dark night;For many days he onward strayed in sad plight.Although before his face a wall of stone rise,Until he strikes against it, blind his two eyes.Through yearning for his love he from the world fled;From out his soul into his body Death sped.Because he knew that when the earthly frame goes,Eternal, Everlasting Being love shows,He fervent longed to be from fleshly bonds free,That then his life in very truth might Life see.In sooth, till dies the body, Life is ne'er found,Nor with the love of life the Loved One e'er found.
The spot at which did King Khusrev Perviz lightWas e'en the ruined dwelling of that moon bright.Whilst wand'ring on, he comes upon that parterre,As on he strolls, it opes before his eyes fair.Among the trees a night-hued courser stands bound(On Heaven's charger's breast were envy's scars found).As softly moved he, sudden on his sight gleamedA moon that in the water shining bright beamed.O what a moon! a sun o'er earth that light rains—Triumphant, happy, blest he who her shade gains.She'd made the pool a casket for her frame fair,And all about that casket spread her dark hair.Her hand did yonder curling serpents back throw—The dawn 'tis, and thereof we never tired grow.He saw the water round about her ear play;In rings upon her shoulders her dark locks lay.When yon heart-winning moon before the King beamed,The King became the sun—in him Love's fire gleamed.The tears e'en like to water from his eyes rolled;Was't strange, when did a Watery Sign the Moon hold?No power was left him, neither sport nor pleasure;He bit his finger, wildered beyond measure.Unconscious of his gaze, the jasmine-breasted—The hyacinths o'er the narcissi rested.When shone her day-face, from that musky cloud bare,Her eyes oped Shirin and beheld the King there.Within that fountain, through dismay and shamed fright,She trembled as on water doth the moonlight.Than this no other refuge could yon moon findThat she should round about her her own locks bind.The moon yet beameth through the hair, the dark night,With tresses how could be concealed the sun bright!To hide her from him, round her she her hair flung,And thus as veil her night before her day hung.When Ferhad bound to fair Shirin his heart's core,From out his breast Love many a bitter wail tore.On tablet of his life graved, shown was Shirin;Of all else emptied, filled alone with Shirin.As loathed he the companionship of mankind,In wild beasts 'midst the hills did he his friends find.His guide was Pain; his boon companion, Grief's throe;His comrade, Sorrow; and his closest friend, Woe.Thus wand'ring on, he knew not day from dark night;For many days he onward strayed in sad plight.Although before his face a wall of stone rise,Until he strikes against it, blind his two eyes.Through yearning for his love he from the world fled;From out his soul into his body Death sped.Because he knew that when the earthly frame goes,Eternal, Everlasting Being love shows,He fervent longed to be from fleshly bonds free,That then his life in very truth might Life see.In sooth, till dies the body, Life is ne'er found,Nor with the love of life the Loved One e'er found.
The spot at which did King Khusrev Perviz lightWas e'en the ruined dwelling of that moon bright.Whilst wand'ring on, he comes upon that parterre,As on he strolls, it opes before his eyes fair.Among the trees a night-hued courser stands bound(On Heaven's charger's breast were envy's scars found).As softly moved he, sudden on his sight gleamedA moon that in the water shining bright beamed.O what a moon! a sun o'er earth that light rains—Triumphant, happy, blest he who her shade gains.She'd made the pool a casket for her frame fair,And all about that casket spread her dark hair.Her hand did yonder curling serpents back throw—The dawn 'tis, and thereof we never tired grow.He saw the water round about her ear play;In rings upon her shoulders her dark locks lay.When yon heart-winning moon before the King beamed,The King became the sun—in him Love's fire gleamed.The tears e'en like to water from his eyes rolled;Was't strange, when did a Watery Sign the Moon hold?No power was left him, neither sport nor pleasure;He bit his finger, wildered beyond measure.Unconscious of his gaze, the jasmine-breasted—The hyacinths o'er the narcissi rested.When shone her day-face, from that musky cloud bare,Her eyes oped Shirin and beheld the King there.Within that fountain, through dismay and shamed fright,She trembled as on water doth the moonlight.Than this no other refuge could yon moon findThat she should round about her her own locks bind.The moon yet beameth through the hair, the dark night,With tresses how could be concealed the sun bright!To hide her from him, round her she her hair flung,And thus as veil her night before her day hung.
The spot at which did King Khusrev Perviz light
Was e'en the ruined dwelling of that moon bright.
Whilst wand'ring on, he comes upon that parterre,
As on he strolls, it opes before his eyes fair.
Among the trees a night-hued courser stands bound
(On Heaven's charger's breast were envy's scars found).
As softly moved he, sudden on his sight gleamed
A moon that in the water shining bright beamed.
O what a moon! a sun o'er earth that light rains—
Triumphant, happy, blest he who her shade gains.
She'd made the pool a casket for her frame fair,
And all about that casket spread her dark hair.
Her hand did yonder curling serpents back throw—
The dawn 'tis, and thereof we never tired grow.
He saw the water round about her ear play;
In rings upon her shoulders her dark locks lay.
When yon heart-winning moon before the King beamed,
The King became the sun—in him Love's fire gleamed.
The tears e'en like to water from his eyes rolled;
Was't strange, when did a Watery Sign the Moon hold?
No power was left him, neither sport nor pleasure;
He bit his finger, wildered beyond measure.
Unconscious of his gaze, the jasmine-breasted—
The hyacinths o'er the narcissi rested.
When shone her day-face, from that musky cloud bare,
Her eyes oped Shirin and beheld the King there.
Within that fountain, through dismay and shamed fright,
She trembled as on water doth the moonlight.
Than this no other refuge could yon moon find
That she should round about her her own locks bind.
The moon yet beameth through the hair, the dark night,
With tresses how could be concealed the sun bright!
To hide her from him, round her she her hair flung,
And thus as veil her night before her day hung.
When Ferhad bound to fair Shirin his heart's core,From out his breast Love many a bitter wail tore.On tablet of his life graved, shown was Shirin;Of all else emptied, filled alone with Shirin.As loathed he the companionship of mankind,In wild beasts 'midst the hills did he his friends find.His guide was Pain; his boon companion, Grief's throe;His comrade, Sorrow; and his closest friend, Woe.Thus wand'ring on, he knew not day from dark night;For many days he onward strayed in sad plight.Although before his face a wall of stone rise,Until he strikes against it, blind his two eyes.Through yearning for his love he from the world fled;From out his soul into his body Death sped.Because he knew that when the earthly frame goes,Eternal, Everlasting Being love shows,He fervent longed to be from fleshly bonds free,That then his life in very truth might Life see.In sooth, till dies the body, Life is ne'er found,Nor with the love of life the Loved One e'er found.
When Ferhad bound to fair Shirin his heart's core,
From out his breast Love many a bitter wail tore.
On tablet of his life graved, shown was Shirin;
Of all else emptied, filled alone with Shirin.
As loathed he the companionship of mankind,
In wild beasts 'midst the hills did he his friends find.
His guide was Pain; his boon companion, Grief's throe;
His comrade, Sorrow; and his closest friend, Woe.
Thus wand'ring on, he knew not day from dark night;
For many days he onward strayed in sad plight.
Although before his face a wall of stone rise,
Until he strikes against it, blind his two eyes.
Through yearning for his love he from the world fled;
From out his soul into his body Death sped.
Because he knew that when the earthly frame goes,
Eternal, Everlasting Being love shows,
He fervent longed to be from fleshly bonds free,
That then his life in very truth might Life see.
In sooth, till dies the body, Life is ne'er found,
Nor with the love of life the Loved One e'er found.