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رفت لقمان سوی داود صفا ** دید کو می‌کرد ز آهن حلقه‌ها
- Luqmán went to David, the pure of heart, and observed that he was making rings of iron,
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جمله را با همدگر در می‌فکند ** ز آهن پولاد آن شاه بلند
- (And) that the exalted King was casting all the steel rings into each other.
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صنعت زراد او کم دیده بود ** درعجب می‌ماند وسواسش فزود
- He had not seen the armourer's handicraft (before), (so) he remained in astonishment and his curiosity increased—
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کین چه شاید بود وا پرسم ازو ** که چه می‌سازی ز حلقه تو بتو 1845
- “What can this be? I will ask him what he is making with the interfolded rings.”
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باز با خود گفت صبر اولیترست ** صبر تا مقصود زوتر رهبرست
- Again he said to himself, “Patience is better: patience is the quickest guide to the object of one's quest.”
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چون نپرسی زودتر کشفت شود ** مرغ صبر از جمله پران‌تر بود
- When you ask no question, the sooner will it (the secret) be disclosed to you: the bird, patience, flies faster than all (others);
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ور بپرسی دیرتر حاصل شود ** سهل از بی صبریت مشکل شود
- And if you ask, the more slowly will your object be gained: what is easy will be made difficult by your impatience.
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چونک لقمان تن بزد هم در زمان ** شد تمام از صنعت داود آن
- When Luqmán kept silence, straightway that (work of making rings) was finished by David's craftsmanship.
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پس زره سازید و در پوشید او ** پیش لقمان کریم صبرخو 1850
- Then he fashioned a coat of mail and put it on in the presence of the noble and patient Luqmán.
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گفت این نیکو لباسست ای فتی ** درمصاف و جنگ دفع زخم را
- “This,” he said, “is an excellent garment, O young man, for warding off blows on the battle-field and in war.”