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هین مبادا که طمع رهتان زند ** طمع برگ از بیخهاتان بر کند
- Beware! Let not greed waylay you, let not greed for victual tear you up by the roots!”
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این بگفت و خیربادی کرد و رفت ** گشت قحط و جوعشان در راه زفت
- This he said, and gave a farewell and departed; their famine and hunger waxed great on the way.
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ناگهان دیدند سوی جاده‌ای ** پور پیلی فربهی نو زاده‌ای
- Suddenly, in the direction of a highroad, they espied a fat young elephant, newly born.
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اندر افتادند چون گرگان مست ** پاک خوردندش فرو شستند دست 145
- They fell upon it like furious wolves, ate it clean up, and washed their hands.
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آن یکی همره نخورد و پند داد ** که حدیث آن فقیرش بود یاد
- One of the fellow-travellers did not eat (of it) and exhorted (the others to abstain), for the sayings of that dervish were remembered by him.
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از کبابش مانع آمد آن سخن ** بخت نو بخشد ترا عقل کهن
- Those words hindered him from (eating) its roasted flesh: old intelligence bestows on thee a new fortune.
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پس بیفتادند و خفتند آن همه ** وان گرسنه چون شبان اندر رمه
- Then they all fell down and slept, but the hungry one (was awake) like the shepherd in the flock.
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دید پیلی سهمناکی می‌رسید ** اولا آمد سوی حارس دوید
- He saw a frightful elephant approaching: first she came and ran towards him who was keeping guard.
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بوی می‌کرد آن دهانش را سه بار ** هیچ بویی زو نیامد ناگوار 150
- She smelt his mouth thrice: no disagreeable smell came from it.
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چند باری گرد او گشت و برفت ** مر ورا نازرد آن شه‌پیل زفت
- She paced round him several times and went off: the huge queen-elephant did him no hurt.