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پشه کی داند که این باغ از کی است ** کاو بهاران زاد و مرگش در دی است
- How should the gnat know of what date this garden is?––for ‘twas born in spring, and its death is in the (following) winter.
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کرم کاندر چوب زاید سست حال ** کی بداند چوب را وقت نهال
- The worm that is born miserably in (dry) wood––how should it know the wood at the time when it was a (sappy) shoot?
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ور بداند کرم از ماهیتش ** عقل باشد کرم باشد صورتش
- And if the worm should know (this), it would be intellect in its essential substance; the worm would be (only) its (outward) form.
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عقل خود را مینماید رنگها ** چون پری دور است از آن فرسنگها
- Intellect shows itself (in many) guises, (but) like the Jinn is leagues removed from them (in its real nature).
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از ملک بالاست چه جای پری ** تو مگس پری به پستی میپری 2325
- It is above the angels––what occasion is there for (comparing it with) the Jinn? (But) you have the wings of a gnat, you are flying downwards.
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گر چه عقلت سوی بالا میپرد ** مرغ تقلیدت به پستی میچرد
- Although your intellect is flying upward, the bird of your conventional notions is feeding below.
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علم تقلیدی وبال جان ماست ** عاریه ست و ما نشسته کان ماست
- Conventional knowledge is the bane of our souls; it is a borrowed thing, but we rest (at ease in the belief) that it is ours.
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زین خرد جاهل همی باید شدن ** دست در دیوانگی باید زدن
- It behoves us to become ignorant of this (worldly) wisdom; (rather) must we clutch at madness.
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هر چه بینی سود خود ز آن میگریز ** زهر نوش و آب حیوان را بریز
- Always flee from whatever you deem profitable to your (lower) self: drink poison and spill the water of life.
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هر که بستاند ترا دشنام ده ** سود و سرمایه به مفلس وام ده 2330
- Revile any one that praises you: lend (both) interest and capital to the destitute.