Qit'a · 13th century

Take the Cotton from Your Ears

Saadiسعدی

به بازوان توانا و قوت سر دست

With strong arms and the power of your hand,

خطاست پنجه مسکین ناتوان بشکست

it is wrong to break the fist of the poor and weak.

نترسد آن که بر افتادگان نبخشاید؟

Does he not fear, who shows no mercy to the fallen,

که گر ز پای در آید کسش نگیرد دست؟

that if he falls, no one will take his hand?

هر آن که تخم بدی کشت و چشم نیکی داشت

Whoever sowed the seed of evil and hoped for good

دماغ بیهده پخت و خیال باطل بست

has heated his brain for nothing and dreamed a vain dream.

ز گوش پنبه برون آر و داد خلق بده

Take the cotton from your ears and give the people justice;

وگر تو می‌ندهی داد، روز دادی هست!

and if you will not, there is a day of justice to come.

From: The Golestan (The Rose Garden)
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

From the tenth story of the Golestan’s first chapter, on the conduct of kings. Saadi tells how, while keeping vigil at the tomb of the prophet Yahya in the great mosque of Damascus, an Arab king known for injustice asked for his prayers against a powerful enemy. He answered: be merciful to your weak subjects, and you will not suffer from your strong enemy. These lines follow, and the story ends with ‘The children of Adam are limbs of one another’.