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تو نگشتی سیر زانها در زمن ** هم نگردی سیر از اجزای من
- Thou hast never in the world been sated by them, neither wilt thou be sated by my limbs.
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هل مرا تا که سه پندت بر دهم ** تا بدانی زیرکم یا ابلهم
- Let me go, that I may bestow on thee three counsels, that thou mayst perceive whether I am wise or foolish.
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اول آن پند هم در دست تو ** ثانیش بر بام کهگل بست تو
- (I will give thee) the first of those counsels on thy hand, the second of them on thy plastered roof,
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وآن سوم پند دهم من بر درخت ** که ازین سه پند گردی نیکبخت 2250
- And the third counsel I will give thee on a tree. (Let me go), for thou wilt become fortunate through these three counsels.
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آنچ بر دستست اینست آن سخن ** که محالی را ز کس باور مکن
- (As for) that saying which is (to be said) on thy hand, ’tis this: ‘do not believe an absurdity (when thou hearest it) from any one.’”
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بر کفش چون گفت اول پند زفت ** گشت آزاد و بر آن دیوار رفت
- When it (the bird) had uttered the first grave counsel on his palm, it became free and went (to perch) on the wall (of his house),
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گفت دیگر بر گذشته غم مخور ** چون ز تو بگذشت زان حسرت مبر
- And said, “The second is, ‘do not grieve over (what is) past: when it has passed from thee, do not feel regret for it.’”
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بعد از آن گفتش که در جسمم کتیم ** ده درمسنگست یک در یتیم
- After that, it said to him, “In my body is concealed a solitary (large and precious) pearl, ten dirhems in weight.
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دولت تو بخت فرزندان تو ** بود آن گوهر به حق جان تو 2255
- By thy soul's truth (as sure as thou livest), that jewel was thy fortune and the luck of thy children.
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فوت کردی در که روزی‌ات نبود ** که نباشد مثل آن در در وجود
- Thou hast missed the pearl, for it was not thy appointed lot (to gain it)—a pearl the like of which is not in existence.”