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سالها اندر نباتی عمر کرد ** وز جمادی یاد ناورد از نبرد
- (Many) years he lived in the vegetable state and did not remember the inorganic state because of the opposition (between them);
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وز نباتی چون به حیوانی فتاد ** نامدش حال نباتی هیچ یاد
- And when he passed from the vegetable into the animal state, the vegetable state was not remembered by him at all,
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جز همین میلی که دارد سوی آن ** خاصه در وقت بهار و ضیمران 3640
- Save only for the inclination which he has towards that (state), especially in the season of spring and sweet herbs—
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همچو میل کودکان با مادران ** سر میل خود نداند در لبان
- Like the inclination of babes towards their mothers: it (the babe) does not know the secret of its desire for being suckled;
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همچو میل مفرط هر نو مرید ** سوی آن پیر جوانبخت مجید
- (Or) like the excessive inclination of every novice towards the noble spiritual Elder, whose fortune is young (and flourishing).
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جزو عقل این از آن عقل کلست ** جنبش این سایه زان شاخ گلست
- The particular intelligence of this (disciple) is derived from that Universal Intelligence: the motion of this shadow is derived from that Rose-bough.
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سایهاش فانی شود آخر درو ** پس بداند سر میل و جست و جو
- His (the disciple's) shadow disappears at last in him (the Master); then he knows the secret of his inclination and search and seeking.
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سایهی شاخ دگر ای نیکبخت ** کی بجنبد گر نجنبد این درخت 3645
- How should the shadow of the other's (the disciple's) bough move, O fortunate one, if this Tree move not?
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باز از حیوان سوی انسانیش ** میکشید آن خالقی که دانیش
- Again, the Creator, whom thou knowest, was leading him (Man) from the animal (state) towards humanity.
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همچنین اقلیم تا اقلیم رفت ** تا شد اکنون عاقل و دانا و زفت
- Thus did he advance from clime to clime (from one world of being to another), till he has now become intelligent and wise and mighty.