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کی توان او را فشردن یا زدن ** که چو شیشه گشته است او را بدن 1130
- (He thought to himself), “How is it possible to torture or beat him, since his body has become as (fragile as) a glass?
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لیک با او گویم از راه خوشی ** که چرا داری تو لاف سر کشی
- But I will speak to him kindly and say, ‘Why dost thou boast of (this) high estate?’
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که درشتی ناید اینجا هیچ کار ** هم به نرمی سر کند از غار مار
- For here harshness is of no use: ’tis by gentleness that the snake puts forth its head (is induced to come forth) from the hole.”
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مردمان را دور کرد از گرد وی ** شه لطیفی بود و نرمی ورد وی
- He caused the people to withdraw from around him (the claimant): the king was a gracious man, and gentleness was his way.
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پس نشاندش باز پرسیدش ز جا ** که کجا داری معاش و ملتجی
- Then he bade him be seated, and asked him concerning his dwelling-place, saying, “Where hast thou thy means of livelihood and refuge?”
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گفت ای شه هستم از دار السلام ** آمده از ره درین دار الملام 1135
- He replied, “O king, I belong to the Abode of Peace: I have come from the road (after having journeyed) to this Abode of Blame.
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نه مرا خانه‌ست و نه یک همنشین ** خانه کی کردست ماهی در زمین
- I have neither home nor any companion: when has a fish made its home on the earth?”
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باز شه از روی لاغش گفت باز ** که چه خوردی و چه داری چاشت‌ساز
- Again the king answered him, saying by way of jest, “What (food) hast thou eaten and what provision hast thou (made) for the morning meal?
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اشتهی داری چه خوردی بامداد ** که چنین سرمستی و پر لاف و باد
- Hast thou appetite? What didst thou eat at daybreak that thou art so intoxicated and boastful and blustering?”
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گفت اگر نانم بدی خشک و طری ** کی کنیمی دعوی پیغامبری
- He replied, “If I had bread, (whether) dry or moist, how should I lay claim to prophecy?