Masnavi · 12th–13th century

Alexander’s Last Words

Nezami Ganjaviنظامی گنجوی

جهاندار گفتا ازین درگذر

The king of the world said, ‘Let that be,

که آمد مرا زندگانی بسر

for my life has come to its end.

به فرمان من نیست گردان سپهر

The turning sky is not at my command;

نه من داده‌ام گردش ماه و مهر

it was not I who set the moon and sun on their courses.

کفی خاکم و قطره‌ای آب سست

I am a handful of dust and a feeble drop of water,

ز نر ماده‌ای آفریده نخست

made in the beginning from a male and a female.

ز پروردگی‌های پروردگار

Through the care of the One who cares for all

به آنجا رسیدم سرانجام کار

I came at last to the point

که چندان که شاید شدن پیش و پس

where, as far as anyone could go, forward and back,

مرا بود بر جملگی دسترس

all of it lay within my reach.

در آن وقت کردم جهان خسروی

I ruled the world as king in the days

که هم جان قوی بود و هم تن قوی

when my soul was strong and my body strong.

چو آمد کنون ناتوانی پدید

Now that weakness has appeared,

به دیگر کده رخت باید کشید

I must carry my baggage to another house.

مده بیش ازینم شراب غرور

Give me no more of the wine of false hope,

که هست آب حیوان ازین چاه دور

for the water of life is far from this well.’

From: The Book of Alexander
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

From the second part of the Book of Alexander, known as the Eqbal-nameh or Kherad-nameh. Alexander has fallen ill on his way home, and Aristotle tries to give him hope; the king answers with these lines, and that night has a letter written to his mother. The ‘water of life’ recalls his failed search for the fountain of immortality, told in the first part of the book.