1Cademy - (۱) حکایت افلاطون و اسکندر / (1) The Tale of Plato and Alexander

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۱) حکایت افلاطون و اسکندر / (1) The Tale of Plato and Alexander

Original content

فلاطون آنکه استاد جهان بود
مگر در ابتدا کارش چنان بود

که استخراج زر تدبیر سازد
ز مس شوشه کند اکسیر سازد

به پنجه سال شد در گوشهٔ گم
ز قشر بیضه و ازموی مردم

چنان اکسیر کرد و معتبر کرد
که ز اندک کیمیا بسیار زر کرد

چو زر کردن چنان آسان شد او را
بقیمت خاک و زر یکسان شد او را

بدل یک روز گفت ای دل بیندیش
که اکسیری کنی در جوهر خویش

چو قشر بیضه و موی سر امروز
ز جهدت کیمیائی گشت مکنوز

گر اکسیری کنی از جوهر خویش
بود آن کیمیا از عالمی بیش

نه کم آمد ز قشر بیضه جانت
نه موی سر فزونست از روانت

چو پنجه سال این اکسیر کردی
نخفتی روز و شب تدبیر کردی

کنون گر عاقلی این کیمیا ساز
دو عالم در ره این کیمیا باز

چو عزمش جزم شد سالی هزار او
ز خلق عالم آمد بر کنار او

چنان از جوهر خود کیمیا کرد
که از نورش دو عالم پر ضیا کرد

برو شد روشن از مه تا بماهی
بدو شد کشف اسرار الهی

دو پانصد سال در اسرار بنشست
شبانروزی ز درد کار ننشست

زمستان داروئی بودیش در پیش
که مالیدی ز سر تا پای برخویش

برستی همچو موی بز بر اعضاش
ز مستان دفع این بودی ز سرماش

سرشته بود یک داروی دیگر
که تابستان بمالیدی بخود در

بریزیدی ازو آن موی اندام
بدادی تف تابستانش آرام

یکی دارو دگر برکار کردی
بهر شش سال ازو یکبار خوردی

باستادی مزاج او بتعدیل
نیفتادی رطوبت هیچ تحلیل

اگرچه افضل روی زمین بود
خور و پوشش دو پانصد سال این بود

بر وی رفت ارسطالیس آنگاه
سکندر نیز با او بود همراه

نشسته بود افلاطون در اندوه
بغاری سهمگین از شش جهت کوه

نغولی بود وزیرش چشمهٔ آب
فلاطون مانده آنجا سینه پر تاب

سکندر با ارسطالیس بسیار
نشست و دم نزد آن پیر هشیار

سکندر گفت آخر یک سخن گوی
که هر دو آمدیم اینجا سخن جوی

جوابش داد آن استاد ایام
که خاموشیست نقد ما سرانجام

چو خاموشیست رنگ جاودانی
برنگ جاودان شو تا بمانی

سکندر گفت اگر خواهی طعامی
مرا باشد ازان عالی مقامی

چنین دادش جواب آن مرد مردان
که ای خسرو تنم مبرز مگردان

مخور کین خوردن آن کردن نیرزد
بمبرز رفتنت خوردن نیرزد

شکم چون باشدم چاه نجاست
درو کی علم گنجد یا فراست

سکندر گفت ای مرد جهان تو
بخفت آسایشی را یک زمان تو

جوابش داد پیر حکمت اندیش
که چندانی مرا خوابست در پیش

که نتوان گفت کان چندست و چونست
مرا ازعمر بیداری کنونست

چو هر دم می دهندم تازه جانی
روا نبود اگر خفتم زمانی

چو گشت از گفت و گویش دل پریشان
بکوهی بر شد و بگریخت زیشان

سکندر با ارسطالیس هشیار
بهم بگریستند از درد بسیار

اگر تو کیمیای عالم افروز
نمی دانی، ز افلاطون درآموز

چه سازی کیمیای سیم و زر هم
ز قشر بیضه و از موی سر هم

تنت را دل کن ودل درد گردان
کزین سان کیمیا سازند مردان

English translation

Plato, who was the master of the world, Perhaps in the beginning his work was such, That he would devise the extraction of gold, Making ingots from copper and producing the elixir. For fifty years he was lost in a corner, Using the shell of an egg and the hair of people. He made such an elixir and made it so credible, That from a little alchemy, he made much gold. When making gold became so easy for him, To him, dust and gold became equal in value. He said to his heart one day: 'O heart, ponder, That you make an elixir in your own essence. Since eggshell and head hair today, Have become a hidden treasure of alchemy through your effort, If you make an elixir of your own essence, That alchemy would be worth more than the entire world. Your soul is not less than an eggshell, Nor is head hair greater than your spirit. For fifty years you made this elixir, Day and night you did not sleep, you devised. Now, if you are wise, make this alchemy; Give up both worlds in the path of this alchemy.' When his resolve became firm, for a thousand years He withdrew from the people of the world. He made such an alchemy from his own essence That both worlds were filled with light from his radiance. It became clear to him from the moon to the fish, And the divine secrets were revealed to him. For two times five hundred years he sat in the secrets, And did not sit down day and night from the pain of the work. In winter, he had a medicine before him Which he rubbed from head to toe upon himself. Hair grew on his limbs like goat hair, And this was his defense against the cold in winter. He had prepared another medicine, Which he rubbed on himself in summer. That hair on his body would fall off, And the heat of summer would give him peace. He had another medicine prepared, Which he took once every six years. His temperament would stand in balance, And no moisture would undergo any dissipation. Although he was the most excellent on the face of the earth, His food and clothing were this for two times five hundred years. Then Aristotle went to him, And Alexander was also accompanying him. Plato was sitting in sorrow, In a terrifying cave, surrounded by mountains on six sides. There was a deep pool, and near it a spring of water, Plato remained there, his chest full of burning passion. Alexander sat with Aristotle for a long time, And that wise elder did not breathe a word. Alexander said: 'At last, say a word, For we both came here seeking a word.' That master of the age answered him: 'Silence is our ultimate gain. Since silence is the color of eternity, Become the color of eternity so that you may endure.' Alexander said: 'If you want food, I have some from a high place.' Thus that man of men answered him: 'O King, do not turn my body into a latrine. Do not eat, for this eating is not worth that doing, Going to the latrine is not worth your eating. When my stomach is a well of impurity, How can knowledge or sagacity fit in it?' Alexander said: 'O man of the world, Rest for a moment in sleep.' The wise-thinking elder answered him: 'Such a long sleep lies ahead of me, That one cannot say how long or how it is. For me, life is now in wakefulness. Since they give me a fresh soul at every moment, It would not be right if I slept for a moment.' When his heart became troubled by their talk, He went up a mountain and fled from them. Alexander and the wise Aristotle Wept together out of great grief. If you do not know the world-illuminating alchemy, Learn it from Plato. Why do you make the alchemy of silver and gold From eggshells and head hair? Turn your body into heart, and make your heart into pain, For in this manner men make alchemy.'

Updated 2026-07-03

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