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هان و هان با او حریفی کم کنید ** چون که کاو آرد گره محکم کنید
- Beware and beware! Have no dealings with him; when he brings the ox (to sell), make fast the knot.
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ور به حکم آرید این پژمرده را ** من نخواهم کرد زندان مرده را
- And if ye bring this decayed fellow to judgement, I will not put a corpse in prison.
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خوش دم است او و گلویش بس فراخ ** با شعار نو دثار شاخ شاخ
- He is fair-spoken and his throat is very wide; (he is clad) with a new inner garment (of plausibility) and a tattered outer garment.
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گر بپوشد بهر مکر آن جامه را ** عاریه است او و فریبد عامه را
- If he puts on that (inner) garment for the purpose of deceiving, it is borrowed in order that he may beguile the common folk.”
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حرف حکمت بر زبان ناحکیم ** حلههای عاریت دان ای سلیم 670
- Know, O simple man, that words of wisdom on the tongue of the unwise are (as) borrowed robes.
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گر چه دزدی حلهای پوشیده است ** دست تو چون گیرد آن ببریده دست
- Although a thief has put on a (fine) robe, how should he whose hand is cut off take your hand (lend you a helping hand)?
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چون شبانه از شتر آمد به زیر ** کرد گفتش منزلم دور است و دیر
- When at nightfall he (the insolvent) came down from the camel, the Kurd said to him, “My abode is far (from here) and a long way off.
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بر نشستی اشترم را از پگاه ** جو رها کردم کم از اخراج کاه
- You have ridden on my camel since early morning: I (will) let the barley go, (but I will not take) less than the cost of (some) straw.”
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گفت تا اکنون چه میکردیم پس ** هوش تو کو، نیست اندر خانه کس
- "What, then," he rejoined, "have we been doing until now? Where are your wits? Is nobody at home?
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طبل افلاسم به چرخ سابعه ** رفت و تو نشنیدهای بد واقعه 675
- The (sound of the) drum (giving notice) of my insolvency reached the Seventh Heaven, and you have not heard the bad news!