A Study Of English Translation of Islamic Texts

A Tale From Sadi*




I never complained of the vicissitudes of fortune, nor murmured at the ordinaces of heaven, excepting once, when my feet were bare and I had not the means of procuring myself shoes. I entered the Great mosque at Küfa with a heavy heart, when I beheld a man who had no feet. I offered uo praise and thanksgiving to God for His bounty, and bore with patience the want of shoes. SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION


* This version closely follows the text and reads fluent good English. The word Great as an equivalent for JAME is too wide. The exact technical equivalent is Congergation.

Tr. by: ((Reuben Levy))

In the circle of jewelers of Basra I met an Arab who was telling this story: "Once I lost my way in the desert with no provisions. I was about to die when I suddenly found a bag full of pearls. Never will I forget that moment of joy and happiness when I thought they were fried wheat grains, and then the bitterness and despair when I discovered when I discovered they were only pearls". SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION

Tr. by: ((Reuben Levy))

The Epilogue of Gulistan

Most of the utterances of Sadi being exhilarant and mixed with pleasantary, shortsighted persons have on this account lenghtened the tongue of blame, alleging that it is not the part of intelligent men to spend in vain the kernel of their brain, and to eat without profit the smoke of the lamp; it is, however, not concealed from enlightened men, who are able ti discern the tendency of words, that pearls of curative admonition are strung upon the thread of explanation, and that the bitter medicine of advice is commingled with the honey of wit, in order that the reader's mind should not be fatigued, and thereby excluded from the benefit of acceptance; and praise be to the Lord of both worlds.
    We gave advice in its proper place
    Spending a lifetime in the task.
    If it should not touch anyone's ear of desire
    The messenger told his tale; it is enough.
SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION

Tr. by: ((Reuben Levy))

Quadruped Loaded With Books


Two men took useless trouble and strove without any profit, when one of them accumulated property without enjoying it, and the other learnt without practising what he had learnt.
    However much science thou mayest acquire
    Thou art ignorant when there is no practice in thee.
    Neither deeply learned nor a scholar will be
    A quadruped loaded with some books.
    What information or knowledge does the silly beast possess
    Whether it is carrying a load of wood or of books?
SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION

Tr. by: ((Edward Rehatsek))

Two dervishes of Khorãsãn who had entered into strict intimacy, travelled together: One who was infirm would fast for two days, and the other who was robust used to eat three times a day. It happened that they were seized at the gate of city on suspicion of being spies, were both confined in the same room, and the door closed up with mud. After a fortnight it was discovered that they were inocent. On opening the door, they found the strong man a philosopher said, that the contrary would have been more wonderful, for the one who was a great eater, was not able to support abstinence; and the other who was weak, having his body in subjection, and being used to fasting, had happily escaped.
    A pesron who had accustomed himself to eat sparingly,
    When difficulty occurs, bears it easily;
    But if in time of prosperity he has been used to pamper himself,
    When he meets with distress he sinks under it.'

SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION


Tr. by: ((Major R.P. Anderson))

I heard of a collector of revenues, who desolated the houses of the subjects, in order to fill the king's coffers; regardless of the maxim of the sages which says, "Whosever offendeth the most high to gain the heart of a fellow creature, God will make that very creature the instrument of his destruction."
The burning flame from wild rue raises not such a smoke,
As is occasioned by the sighs of the afflicted heart.
Then say, that the lion is the king of beasts, and the ass the meanest of animals, but the sages agree, that the ass who carries burdens, is preferable to the lion, that destroyeth manking.

SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION


Tr. by: ((Major R.P. Anderson))

In Egypt dwelt two sons of a nobleman, one of whom acquired learning and the other gained wealth; the former became the most learned man of his time and the other Prince of Egypt. Afterwards the rich man looked with contempt on his learned brother, and said, "I have arrived at monarchy, and you have continued in the same state of poverty." He replied, "O, brother, it behoveth me to be the more thankful to the divine Creator since I have found the inheritance of the prophets, that is wisdom; and you have got the portion of Pharaoh, and Hãmãn, or the Kingdom of Egypt."
I am the ant, which men tread under their feet
And not the wasp, of whose sting they complain.
How shall I express my greatful sense of such blessing,
That I am not possessed of the means of oppressing mankind?

SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION


Tr. by: ((Major R.P. Anderson))

They asked a certain wise man, what his opinion was of consecrated bread. He replied, "If they receive it in order to compose their minds, and to promote their devotions, it is lawful, but, if they want nothing but bread, it is illegal."
Men of piety receive bread to enjoy religious retirement,
But enter not into the cell of devotion for the sake of obtaining bread.

SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION


Tr. by: ((E. Rehatsek))

Wrath beyond measure produces estrangement and ultimely kindness destroys authority. Be neither so harsh as to disgust the people with thee nor so mild as to embolden them.
Severity and mildness together are best
Like a bleeder who is a surgeon and also applies a slave.

SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION


Tr. by: ((E. Rehatsek))

Ending

1
May order undisturbed remain for years
And every part of us fall into place.
May be these lines remain of us, for else,
No permanence in human life I trace,
Unless for us poor souls a prayer be said
By some pure mystic as an act of grace.

Tr. by: ((Rev. R.N. Sharp))

2
These rhymes shall remain for years
While our dust is dispersed in the air.
These words are but to remind of us.
For else, no permanence is traced in life.
Hoping a pure mystic, a man of heart
My pray for us, poor souls, as an act of grace.

Tr. by: ((H.M. Ghomshei))

SEE THE PERSIAN VERSION