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روبهی اشکار خود را باد داد ** بهر طبلی همچو خیک پر ز باد 3160
- A fox abandoned his prey for the sake of a drum like a wind-filled leathern bag,
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چون ندید اندر دهل او فربهی ** گفت خوکی به ازین خیک تهی
- (But) when he found no (real) fatness in the drum, he said, “A hog is better than this empty bag.”
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روبهان ترسند ز آواز دهل ** عاقلش چندان زند که لا تقل
- Foxes are afraid of the noise of the drum; (but) the wise man beats it ever so much, saying, “Speak not!”
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قصهی تیر اندازی و ترسیدن او از سواری که در بیشه میرفت
- The story of an archer and his fear of a horseman who was riding in a forest.
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یک سواری با سلاح و بس مهیب ** میشد اندر بیشه بر اسبی نجیب
- A horseman, armed and very terrible (in appearance), was riding in the forest on a high-bred horse.
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تیر اندازی به حکم او را بدید ** پس ز خوف او کمان را در کشید
- An expert archer espied him, and then from fear of him drew his bow,
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تا زند تیری سوارش بانگ زد ** من ضعیفم گر چه زفت استم جسد 3165
- To shoot an arrow. The horseman shouted to him, “I am a weakling, though my body is big.
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هان و هان منگر تو در زفتی من ** که کمم در وقت جنگ از پیر زن
- Take heed! Take heed! Do not regard my bigness, for in the hour of battle I am less than an old woman.”
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گفت رو که نیک گفتی ور نه نیش ** بر تو میانداختم از ترس خویش
- “Pass on,” said he; “thou hast spoken well, else by reason of my fear I should have shot a barb at thee.”
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بس کسان را کالت پیکار کشت ** بیرجولیت چنان تیغی به مشت
- Many are they whom implements of war have slain, (since they held) such a sword in their hands, without the manhood (to use it).
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گر بپوشی تو سلاح رستمان ** رفت جانت چون نباشی مرد آن
- If you don the armour of Rustams, your soul goes (your life is lost) when you are not the man for it.