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ور عصای حزم و استدلال نیست ** بی عصاکش بر سر هر ره مه‌ایست
- And if there is no staff of prudence and judgement, do not stand on every road without a guide.
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گام زان سان نه که نابینا نهد ** تا که پا از چاه و از سگ وا رهد
- Step in the same fashion as a blind man steps, in order that your foot may escape from the pit and the dog.
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لرز لرزان و بترس و احتیاط ** می‌نهد پا تا نیفتد در خباط 280
- He (the blind man) plants his foot tremblingly and with fear and precaution, so that he may not fall into derangement.
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ای ز دودی جسته در ناری شده ** لقمه جسته لقمه‌ی ماری شده
- O you who have jumped away from some smoke and fallen into a fire, you who have sought a mouthful (of food) and become a mouthful for a snake,
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قصه‌ی اهل سبا و طاغی کردن نعمت ایشان را و در رسیدن شومی طغیان و کفران در ایشان و بیان فضیلت شکر و وفا
- (Story of the people of Sabá and how prosperity made them forward.)
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تو نخواندی قصه‌ی اهل سبا ** یا بخواندی و ندیدی جز صدا
- You have not read the story of the people of Sabá, or you have read it and seen (heard) naught but the echo.
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از صدا آن کوه خود آگاه نیست ** سوی معنی هوش که را راه نیست
- The mountain itself (which produces the echo) is not aware of the echo: the mind of the mountain hath no way (of access) to the meaning.
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او همی بانگی کند بی گوش و هوش ** چون خمش کردی تو او هم شد خموش
- Without ear and mind, it goes on making a noise; when you are silent, it also becomes silent.
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داد حق اهل سبا را بس فراغ ** صد هزاران قصر و ایوانها و باغ 285
- God bestowed on the people of Sabá much ease—myriads of castles and palaces and orchards.
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شکر آن نگزاردند آن بد رگان ** در وفا بودند کمتر از سگان
- (But) those bad-natured ones rendered no thanks for that (bounty): in fidelity they were less than dogs.
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مر سگی را لقمه‌ی نانی ز در ** چون رسد بر در همی‌بندد کمر
- When to a dog there comes from the door a piece of bread, he will gird up his loins at the door.