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این توقف چیست حیرانی چرا ** پا بنه مردانه اندر جو در آ
- What is this standing still (for)? Why art thou dismayed? Step (forward) like a man! Go into the river!
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تو قلاووزی و پیش آهنگ من ** در میان ره مباش و تن مزن
- Thou art my guide and leader: don't halt midway and be dumbfounded!”
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گفت این آب شگرف است و عمیق ** من همیترسم ز غرقاب ای رفیق
- He (the mouse) said, “This is a huge and deep river: I am afraid of being drowned, O comrade.”
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گفت اشتر تا ببینم حد آب ** پا در او بنهاد آن اشتر شتاب
- Said the camel, “Let me see the limit (depth) of the water,” and he quickly set foot in it.
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گفت تا زانوست آب ای کور موش ** از چه حیران گشتی و رفتی ز هوش 3445
- “The water,” he said, “is (only) up to the knee. O blind mouse, wherefore didst thou become dismayed and lose thy wits?”
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گفت مور تست و ما را اژدهاست ** که ز زانو تا به زانو فرقهاست
- He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.
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گر ترا تا زانو است ای پر هنر ** مر مرا صد گز گذشت از فرق سر
- If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”
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گفت گستاخی مکن بار دگر ** تا نسوزد جسم و جانت زین شرر
- He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.
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تو مری با مثل خود موشان بکن ** با شتر مر موش را نبود سخن
- Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”
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گفت توبه کردم از بهر خدا ** بگذران زین آب مهلک مر مرا 3450
- He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”