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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.
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پاسبان و حارس در می‌شود ** گرچه بر وی جور و سختی می‌رود
- He will become the watcher and guardian of the door, even though violence and hard treatment befall him.
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هم بر آن در باشدش باش و قرار ** کفر دارد کرد غیری اختیار
- Still will he stay and abide at that door: he will deem it ingratitude to prefer another.
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ور سگی آید غریبی روز و شب ** آن سگانش می‌کنند آن دم ادب 290
- And (again), if a strange dog come by day or night (to a quarter of the town), the dogs there will at once teach him a lesson,
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که برو آنجا که اول منزلست ** حق آن نعمت گروگان دلست
- Saying, “Begone to the place that is thy first lodging: obligation for that kindness is the heart's pledge (which it must redeem).”