Volume 6 | Issue 1 | April - May
2012 |
Manavaz Alexandrian - Poet and translator
Manavaz Alexandrian
-
On Justice and Prudence
By: Saadi
Abu-Mu?ammad Mu?li? al-Din bin Abdallah Shirazi ,better known by his pen-name as Sa?di or, simply, Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but he has also been quoted in western sources. He is recognized for the quality of his writings, and for the depth of his social and moral thoughts. Saadi is well known for his aphorisms, the most famous of which, Bani Adam, calls for breaking all barriers:
The poem is translated by M. Aryanpoor as:
Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you've no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain!
by H. Vahid Dastjerdi as:[8]
Adam's sons are body limbs, to say;
For they're created of the same clay.
Should one organ be troubled by pain,
Others would suffer severe strain.
Thou, careless of people's suffering,
Deserve not the name, "human being".
and the last translation by Dr. Iraj Bashiri:[9]
Of One Essence is the Human Race,
Thusly has Creation put the Base.
One Limb impacted is sufficient,
For all Others to feel the Mace.
The Unconcern'd with Others' Plight,
Are but Brutes with Human Face.
The translations above are attempts to preserve the rhyme scheme of the original while translating into English, but may distort the meaning. What follows is an attempt at a more literal translation of the original Persian:
"Human beings (children of Adam) are the parts of a body,
They are from the same species,
When one of these parties is reached and suffering,
Others can not find neither peace nor tranquility,
If the misery of others leaves you indifferent,
And without any trouble! Then:
It is unthinkable to call yourself a human being.[10] "
On Justice and Prudence By Saadi translation by Manavaz Alexandrian
They say that when Noushirvan was dying,
To his son and heir thus he was saying:
"Hormoz! be humble, be benevolent,
For your comfort do not be lenient!
If you seek your comfort and joy know this
That no one in your kingdom will have peace.
A wise lord trusts not a sleepy shepherd
To allow the hungry wolf on his herd.
Protect the needy, the weak and the poor,
For these choose and crown a king, to be sure.
Beware lest you crush men under your foot;
If you oppress them you will cut your root.
"If you seek a straight road, you better hear
That the road to piety is hope and fear.
Nature has taught from the cradle the babe
To hope for goodness, fear a wrong step.
If both these virtues in a king you see,
You may seek refuge in his blessed country.
"A wise prince pardons a delinquent soul
And hopes for divine forgiveness and parole!
He may not dare to vex a serving hand
Lest pestilence falls and destroys his land;
But if no such virtue is in him known,
You may not expect safety in his town.
"When you walk, avoid little, thriving ants,
And if riding watch the branches of plants!
Look not for bounty in a domain
Where folk suffer under a tyrant's reign;
Dread not a despot or valorous peer,
But fear a fool who no judgment shall hear.
Oppression breeds desolation and shame,
Such have said our elders of better name.
If one has served you well time and again,
Don't harm him like an ungrateful villain.
Now that I am sinking into my grave,
I warn you: listen to my words, you naive!
You must not forget justice while you rule,
Lest your subjects revolt, deeming you a fool.
If you spray in the earth the seeds of vice,
The fruit is destruction, not paradise.
A torch lit by a widow (you've heard tell),
Has burnt down a town into blazing hell.
Whatever meditates your royal highness
Be it for the good people' happiness.
A noble lord is missed when his death bell does toll
And many will say: ""Mercy on his blessed soul!""
"Since you'll die whether virtuous or sinner,
Let your good name remain, be a winner!"
First Tarjihband (refrain)
By : Seyyed Ahmad Hatef Esfehani
Seyyed Ahmad Hatef Esfehani (also spelled as Hatef Esfahani or Hatif Isfahani) is a famous Iranian poet of the 18th century.
Hatef Esfehani was born in (Esfahan), a central province of Iran, and most likely he died there in 1783. (Some documents also indicate that he died in 1777). Hatef Esfehani's date of birth is unknown.
Open your heart's eye to behold the living core;
Whatever is hidden there you will score.
If in realm of love you explore, the bowers
From end to end you will see decked with flowers;
To all lovers this realm obedient does roll,
And globes in globes circle from pole to pole;
What you will find out is what your heart wants,
And that which you feel is what your heart pants;
The needy beggar in this realm of passion
Will see a world of wealth all in motion.
Each atom of your tender heart you bore,
You'll see a sun smiling within the core;
And if in the furnace of love you expire whole
Love you'll find the alchemy of the soul;
And if you forget your cares and look around
An empire you will see which has no bound.
That not audible to mortals you will hear
And that blurred to the eye will appear.
Love one only with all your heart and soul
And see when you've examined the whole
That there is God only and none but God;
God is the sole being and none but God.
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Manavaz Alexandrian - Manavaz Alexandrian, is a poet, writer, and a translator of literary works (Persian to English); he lives in Tehran, Iran. Alexandrian's translations include over hundred odes from Rumi rendered in quartets, translation of other classic poets, translation of more than 60 contemporary poets , quotations from translation of modern Iranian novels, an introduction to Iranian literature.