Classic Poem

(1)

" O King, at what dost thou aim by thy despotism?
From such deeds naught will be witnessed save evil fortune!
Shew generosity in the way of the Constitution, that thou may'st be adored:
" The honour of a man is in generosity, and his nobility in worship:
Whoever has not these two, his non-existence is better than his existence!"

(2)

" O King, make not cruelty thy practice, nor break thy promises,
For, if thou dost, Divine punishment will seize thy skirt!
The happenings of the cycle of time will cast dust on thy head:
" Dost thou not see that the gladsome dust of Egypt is the same
Dust of Egypt, but [cast] on the heads of Pharaoh and his hosts?"

(3)

" O King, thine obstinacy and tyranny consume Persia;
To-day the Nation is successful in requiting thee!
The glow of the light of requital is not [a thing] of to-day:
" This is the same world-enkindling disc of the Sun
Which used to shine on the dwellings of " Ád and Thamud!"

(4)

" O King, strike not the axe more than this on thy root!
Cast not thyself and the Nation into the gulf of abasement!
Do not dig up thine own roots through selfish desires and whims!
" Do not mar thy worth by frivolous and forbidden pursuits,
If thy belief in the Promised Day be sincere!"

(5)

" With tyranny thou didst reap clean the Nation's crop;
The old story of Chingiz Khan hath been renewed by thine injustice;
After this conversation wherefore shouldst thou set thy heart on the world?
" O thou who art in luxury and wealth, be not deceived by the world,
For to tarry eternally in this halting-place is an impossible contingency!"

(6)

" Pass by the region of Tabriz and the place of its martyrs:
Hearken to that soul-melting story, and rend thy heart with woe!
In that region, after that slaughter and strife,
" Walk gently on the dust of that road wherever thou passest,
For it is [composed of] eyes and eyelids, cheeks and bodies!"

(7)

" The King is not single-hearted, and affairs are gone to rack and ruin:
O wearied nation, think of some fresh plan at this stage!
Set not the foot of hope at the gate of this headstrong monarch!
" If thou stretchest out thine hand in supplication, stretch it towards One
Who is generous, merciful, forgiving and kind!"

(8)

" Who, indeed, is the King, with this his pride and egotism,
That his intentions with regard to us should be good?
We are the worshippers of God and His Divinity,
" In whose service, from the dust to the Pleiades,
All are engaged in commemoration, prayers, rising up and bowing down."

(9)

" The Constellation of the Constitution appears from the Firmament of Perfection:
The Night of Parting draws to an end, and the Morn of Union dawns:
All will be well through the Glory of God Most High.
" O thou who art in hardship, poverty and distracted circumstances,
Be patient, for these few brief days will come to an end!"

(10)

" One must not expect from this King anything but mistakes,
For what we see in him is wrong from one end to the other:
Counsel him not, for vain is counsel to those of evil nature.
" The advice of Sa'di, which is the key to the door of the Treasure of the Blessed,
None can put into practice save the favoured!" "