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ابجد و هوز چه فاش است و پدید ** بر همه طفلان و معنی بس بعید
- How plain and evident to all children are abjad and hawwaz, and (yet) the real meaning is far away (hard to reach).
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پس سبو برداشت آن مرد عرب ** در سفر شد می‌‌کشیدش روز و شب
- Then the Arab man took up the jug and set out to journey, carrying it along (with him) day and night.
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بر سبو لرزان بد از آفات دهر ** هم کشیدش از بیابان تا به شهر 2730
- He was trembling for the jug, in fear of Fortune's mischiefs: all the same, he conveyed it from the desert to the city (Baghdád).
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زن مصلا باز کرده از نیاز ** رب سلم ورد کرده در نماز
- His wife unrolled the prayer-rug in supplication; she made (the words) Rabbi sallim (Save, O Lord) her litany in prayer,
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که نگه دار آب ما را از خسان ** یا رب آن گوهر بدان دریا رسان
- Crying, “Keep our water safe from scoundrels! O Lord, let that pearl arrive at that sea!
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گر چه شویم آگه است و پر فن است ** لیک گوهر را هزاران دشمن است
- Although my husband is shrewd and artful, yet the pearl has thousands of enemies.
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خود چه باشد گوهر آب کوثر است ** قطره‌‌ای زین است کاصل گوهر است
- Pearl indeed! ’Tis the water of Kawthar: ’tis a drop of this that is the origin of the pearl.”
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از دعاهای زن و زاری او ** وز غم مرد و گرانباری او 2735
- Through the prayers and lamentation of the wife, and through the husband's anxiety and his patience under the heavy burden,
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سالم از دزدان و از آسیب سنگ ** برد تا دار الخلافه بی‌‌درنگ
- He bore it without delay, safe from robbers and unhurt by stones, to the seat of the Caliphate (the Caliph's palace).
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دید درگاهی پر از انعامها ** اهل حاجت گستریده دامها
- He saw a bountiful Court, (where) the needy had spread their nets;