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گفت ماهی دگر وقت بلا ** چونک ماند از سایه‌ی عاقل جدا
- The second fish said in the hour of tribulation, when he was left sundered from the shadow (protection) of the intelligent one,
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کو سوی دریا شد و از غم عتیق ** فوت شد از من چنان نیکو رفیق
- “He hath gone towards the sea and is freed from sorrow: such a good comrade hath been lost to me!
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لیک زان نندیشم و بر خود زنم ** خویشتن را این زمان مرده کنم
- But I will not think of that and will attend to myself: at this (present) time I will feign to be dead.
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پس برآرم اشکم خود بر زبر ** پشت زیر و می‌روم بر آب بر
- Then I will turn my belly upwards and my back downwards and will move on the water.
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می‌روم بر وی چنانک خس رود ** نی بسباحی چنانک کس رود 2270
- I will move upon it as weeds move, not by swimming as a person (swimmer) does.
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مرده گردم خویش بسپارم به آب ** مرگ پیش از مرگ امنست از عذاب
- I will become dead, I will commit myself to the water: to die before death is to be safe from torment.”
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مرگ پیش از مرگ امنست ای فتی ** این چنین فرمود ما را مصطفی
- To die before death is to be safe, O youth: even so hath Mustafa (Mohammad) commanded us.
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گفت موتواکلکم من قبل ان ** یاتی الموت تموتوا بالفتن
- He said, “Die, all of you, ere death come, else ye will die with (the certainty of suffering) sore afflictions (hereafter).”
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هم‌چنان مرد و شکم بالا فکند ** آب می‌بردش نشیب و گه بلند
- He (the fish) died in that manner and threw his belly upwards: the water was carrying him, now alow, now aloft.
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هر یکی زان قاصدان بس غصه برد ** که دریغا ماهی بهتر بمرد 2275
- Every one of those pursuers (the fishermen) bore great vexation (in his heart), saying, “Alas, the best fish is dead.”