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یا به حال اولینان بنگرید ** یا سوی آخر بحزمی در پرید
- Either consider what happened to the former (peoples), or fly with a (great) prudence towards the latter end.
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حزم چه بود در دو تدبیر احتیاط ** از دو آن گیری که دورست از خباط
- What is prudence? Precaution in (the case of) two (alternative) plans: of the two you will take that one which is far from craziness.
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آن یکی گوید درین ره هفت روز ** نیست آب و هست ریگ پای‌سوز
- One person may say, “On this road there is no water for seven days, and there is foot-scorching sand.”
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آن دگر گوید دروغست این بران ** که بهر شب چشمه‌ای بینی روان
- Another may say, “This is false: push on, for you will find a running fountain every night.”
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حزم آن باشد که بر گیری تو آب ** تا رهی از ترس و باشی بر صواب 2845
- It is prudence that you take water (with you), so that you may be saved from dread and may be on the right (side).
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گر بود در راه آب این را بریز ** ور نباشد وای بر مرد ستیز
- If there be water (on the road), spill this (water which you have taken with you); and if there be none, alas for the obstinate man!
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ای خلیفه‌زادگان دادی کنید ** حزم بهر روز میعادی کنید
- O children of the Vicegerent (Adam), deal justly: act with prudence for the sake of the Day of Tryst (Judgement).
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آن عدوی کز پدرتان کین کشید ** سوی زندانش ز علیین کشید
- That enemy who took vengeance upon your father and dragged him from ‘Illiyyín to prison,
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آن شه شطرنج دل را مات کرد ** از بهشتش سخره‌ی آفات کرد
- And checkmated that king of the spiritual chessboard and made him, (cast out) from Paradise, a thrall to calamities—
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چند جا بندش گرفت اندر نبرد ** تا بکشتی در فکندش روی‌زرد 2850
- How often in combat did he seize him by sleight, that he might wrestle with him and throw him (to the ground) in disgrace!