Rumishi: Master-servant dialogue

【English to Chinese】Rumi's "Master-Servant Dialogue" (Roxana translation)

Who's at the door of my house

He asked, "Who is at the door of my house?"

I answered: Humble servant.

He asked, "What do you want?"

I answered: Peace, my Lord.

He asked: How long will you travel?

I replied: Until the servant stops me.

He asked: How long will you hold out in the fire?

I replied: Until I am pure and unadulterated.

Who is at my door?

He said, “Who is at my door?”

I said, “Your humble servant.”

He said, “What business do you have?”

I said, “To greet you, 0 Lord.”

He said, “How long will you journey on?”

I said, “Until you stop me.”

He said, “How long will you boil in the fire?”

I said, “Until I am pure.

“This is my oath of love.

For the sake of love

I gave up wealth and position.”

This is my love vow

For love

I am willing to give up wealth and status

“This is my oath of love.

For the sake of love

I gave up wealth and position.”

He said, "You have defended your case, but you have no evidence."

I said: My tears are my testimony

My pale face is my proof

He said: Your evidence has no credibility

Your eyes are moist and indistinguishable

I said: In the name of the servant to the public

My eyes were crystal clear

He said, “You have pleaded your case

but you have no witness.”

I said, “My tears are my witness;

the pallor of my face is my proof.’

He said, “Your witness has no credibility;

your eyes are too wet to see.”

I said, “By the splendor of your justice

my eyes are clear and faultless.”

He asked: What are you looking for?

I replied: I hope that you will become my best friend

He asked: What do you want from me?

I answer: The grace of infinity.

He asked: Who are your companions on the journey?

I replied: Follow your footsteps, oh, King.

He asked: What is calling you here?

I replied: The beauty of the love of the servant is fragrant

He said, “What do you seek?”

I said, “To have you as my constant friend.”

He said, “What do you want from me?”

I said, “Your abundant grace.”

He said, “Who was your companion on the ‘ourney?

I said, “The thought of you, 0 King.”

He said, “What called you here?”

I said, “The fragrance of your wine.”

He asks, "What will satisfy you?"

I replied: A close friend of the king.

He asked, "What are you looking for here?"

I replied: A hundred miracles.

He asked, "Why was the palace abandoned?"

I replied: They are all afraid of thieves.

He asked: Who is the thief?

I replied: Keep me away from the servants.

He asked: Where is it safe?

I replied: Love others and discipline yourself

He asked: What are you going to give up?

I answered: Hope of salvation.

He said, “What brings you the most fulfillment?”

I said, “The company of the Emperor.”

He said, “What do you find there?”

I said, “A hundred miracles.”

He said, “Why is the palace deserted?”

I said, “They all fear the thief.”

He said, “Who is the thief?”

I said, “The one who keeps me from -you.

He said, “Where is there safety?”

I said, “In service and renunciation.”

He said, “What is there to renounce?”

I said, “The hope of salvation.”

He asked: Where is the calamity?

I answered: In the love of the servant

He asked, "How can we benefit from this life?"

I answered: By being true to yourself.

Now is a quiet time

If I tell you: His true identity

You will break through the shackles of the self

Let your wings fly high

Doors and roofs can't stop you

He said, “Where is there calamity?”

I said, “In the presence of your love.”

He said, “How do you benefit from this life?”

I said, “By keeping true to myself

Now it is time for silence.

If I told you about His true essence

You would fly from your self and be gone,

and neither door nor roof could hold you back!

Statement of Original Translation (Roxana Translation). The article was originally edited and published by Penguin "Silk Road Literature and Tourism" on the weChat public account, today's headlines, Weibo, Douban, Meifan, Zhihu and other platforms.