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تو نبینی برگها را کف زدن ** گوش دل باید نه این گوش بدن 100
- You do not see the clapping of the leaves: one must have the spiritual ear, not this ear of the body.
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گوش سر بر بند از هزل و دروغ ** تا ببینی شهر جان با فروغ
- Close the ear of the head to jesting and lying, that you may see the resplendent city of the soul.
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سر کشد گوش محمد در سخن ** کش بگوید در نبی حق هو اذن
- The ear of Mohammed draws out the hidden meaning in the words (of the religious hypocrites), for God saith of him in the Qur’án, “He is an ear.”
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سر به سر گوشست و چشم است این نبی ** تازه زو ما مرضعست او ما صبی
- This Prophet is entirely ear and eye; we are refreshed by him: he is (as) the suckler and we (as) the (infant) boy.
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این سخن پایان ندارد باز ران ** سوی اهل پیل و بر آغاز ران
- This discourse hath no end. Go back to those who had to do with the elephant, and start at the beginning.
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بقیه‌ی قصه‌ی متعرضان پیل‌بچگان
- The remainder of the Story of those who molested the young elephants.
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هر دهان را پیل بویی می‌کند ** گرد معده‌ی هر بشر بر می‌تند 105
- “The elephant takes a sniff at every mouth and keeps poking round the belly of every man,
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تا کجا یابد کباب پور خویش ** تا نماید انتقام و زور خویش
- To see where she will find the roasted flesh of her young, so that she may manifest her vengeance and strength.”
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گوشتهای بندگان حق خوری ** غیبت ایشان کنی کیفر بری
- You eat the flesh of God's servants: you backbite them, you will suffer retribution.
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هان که بویای دهانتان خالقست ** کی برد جان غیر آن کو صادقست
- Beware, for he that smells your mouths is the Creator: how shall any one save his life except him that is true (to God)?
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وای آن افسوسیی کش بوی‌گیر ** باشد اندر گور منکر یا نکیر
- Woe to the scoffer whose smell shall be tested in the grave by Munkar or Nakír!