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اندک اندک آب را دزدد هوا ** دین چنین دزدد هم احمق از شما
- The air steals away (absorbs) water little by little: so too does the fool steal away religion from you.
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گرمیت را دزدد و سردی دهد ** همچو آن کو زیر کون سنگی نهد
- He steals away your heat and gives you cold, like one who puts a stone under your rump.
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آن گریز عیسی نه از بیم بود ** آمنست او آن پی تعلیم بود
- The flight of Jesus was not caused by fear, (for) he is safe (from the mischief done by fools): it was for the purpose of teaching (others).
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زمهریر ار پر کند آفاق را ** چه غم آن خورشید با اشراق را
- Though intense frost fill the world from end to end, what harm (would it do) to the radiant sun?
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قصه‌ی اهل سبا و حماقت ایشان و اثر ناکردن نصیحت انبیا در احمقان
- The story of the people of Sabá and their folly, and how the admonition of the prophets produces no effect upon the foolish.
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یادم آمد قصه‌ی اهل سبا ** کز دم احمق صباشان شد وبا 2600
- I am reminded of the story of the people of Sabá—how their (balmy) zephyr (sabá) was turned into pestilence (wabá) by the words of the foolish.
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آن سبا ماند به شهر بس کلان ** در فسانه بشنوی از کودکان
- That (kingdom of) Sabá resembles the great big city (which) you may hear of from children in (their) tales.
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کودکان افسانه‌ها می‌آورند ** درج در افسانه‌شان بس سر و پند
- The children relate tales, (but) in their tales there is enfolded many a mystery and (moral) lesson.
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هزلها گویند در افسانه‌ها ** گنج می‌جو در همه ویرانه‌ها
- (Though) in (their) tales they say (many) ridiculous things, (yet) in all ruined places do thou ever seek the treasure.
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بود شهری بس عظیم و مه ولی ** قدر او قدر سکره بیش نی
- (Once) there was a city very huge and great, but its size was the size of a saucer, no more (than that).
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بس عظیم و بس فراخ و بس دراز ** سخت زفت زفت اندازه‌ی پیاز 2605
- (It was) very huge and very broad and very long, ever so big, as big as an onion.