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ای خنک آن را که او ایام پیش ** مغتنم دارد گزارد وام خویش 1215
- Oh, blest is he that deems his early days an opportunity to be seized, and pays his debt—
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اندر آن ایام کش قدرت بود ** صحت و زور دل و قوت بود
- In the days when he has the power, (when) he has health and strength of heart and vigour,
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و آن جوانی همچو باغ سبز و تر ** میرساند بیدریغی بار و بر
- And (when) that season of youth, like a garden green and fresh, is bringing (to ripeness) produce and fruit without any stint;
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چشمههای قوت و شهوت روان ** سبز میگردد زمین تن بدان
- (When) the fountains of strength and lust (are) flowing, (so that) thereby the soil of the body is made verdant;
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خانهی معمور و سقفش بس بلند ** معتدل ارکان و بیتخلیط و بند
- (When he is still like) a well-kept house, with its roof very lofty, its sides (walls) symmetrical, without buttressing and clamps—
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پیش از آن که ایام پیری در رسد ** گردنت بندد به حبل من مسد 1220
- Ere the days of eld arrive and bind your neck with a halter of palm-fibres;
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خاک شوره گردد و ریزان و سست ** هرگز از شوره نبات خوش نرست
- (Ere) the soil becomes nitrous (barren), crumbling, and poor —never did good herbage grow from nitrous soil;
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آب زور و آب شهوت منقطع ** او ز خویش و دیگران نامنتفع
- (When) the water of strength and the water of lust (is) cut off, and he has no profit from himself or others:
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ابروان چون پالدم زیر آمده ** چشم را نم آمده تاری شده
- The eyebrows fallen down like a crupper-strap; the eyes grown moist and dim;
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از تشنج رو چو پشت سوسمار ** رفته نطق و طعم و دندانها ز کار
- The face, from wrinkling, like the back of a lizard; speech and taste and teeth gone out of use;