Masnavi · 12th–13th century

The Moths and the Candle

Attarعطار

بازگشت او نیز و مشتی راز گفت

He too came back and told a handful of secrets;

از وصال شمع شرحی باز گفت

he gave an account of union with the candle.

ناقدش گفت این نشان نیست ای عزیز

Their critic said, ‘This is no true sign, my friend;

همچو آن یک کی نشان دادی تو نیز

you too, like that other one, have given no sign.’

دیگری برخاست می‌شد مست مست

Another rose and went, utterly drunk,

پای کوبان بر سر آتش نشست

and, dancing, settled on the head of the fire.

دست درکش کرد با آتش به هم

He threw his arms around the fire

خویشتن گم کرد با او خوش به هم

and happily lost himself together with it.

چون گرفت آتش ز سر تا پای او

When the fire took hold of him from head to foot,

سرخ شد چون آتشی اعضای او

his limbs turned red like a fire.

ناقد ایشان چو دید او را ز دور

When their critic saw him from far off,

شمع با خود کرده هم رنگش ز نور

the candle had made him one colour with itself in light.

گفت این پروانه در کارست و بس

He said, ‘This moth alone has done the work;

کس چه داند، این خبر دارست و بس

who else can know? He alone has the news.’

آنک شد هم بی‌خبر هم بی‌اثر

The one who has become without news and without trace

از میان جمله او دارد خبر

is, of them all, the one who has the news.

From: The Conference of the Birds
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

From the valley of Poverty and Annihilation, the last of the seven valleys in The Conference of the Birds. The moths send messengers to learn about the candle: the first sees its light from afar, the second singes its wings, and their critic accepts neither report; only the third, who burns away in the flame, truly knows. The excerpt begins with the second moth’s return.