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تا به نزدیک تو آید آن غوی ** تا باندک حمله‌ای غالب شوی
- In order that that misguided (creature) might come near thee and that thou might’st vanquish him with a small attack?
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مکر شیطانست تعجیل و شتاب ** لطف رحمانست صبر و احتساب 2570
- Precipitation and haste is the Devil's wile; patience and calculation is God's grace.
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دور بود و حمله را دید و گریخت ** ضعف تو ظاهر شد و آب تو ریخت
- He (the ass) was far off and saw the attack and fled: thy weakness is made manifest and thy prestige is destroyed.”
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گفت من پنداشتم بر جاست زور ** تا بدین حد می‌ندانستم فتور
- He (the lion) replied, “I thought my strength was restored: I did not know my feebleness was so great.
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نیز جوع و حاجتم از حد گذشت ** صبر و عقلم از تجوع یاوه گشت
- Moreover, my hunger and need had passed beyond bounds: through starvation my patience and understanding had been lost.
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گر توانی بار دیگر از خرد ** باز آوردن مر او را مسترد
- If by (using) your wits you can reclaim him and bring him back once more,
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منت بسیار دارم از تو من ** جهد کن باشد بیاری‌اش به فن 2575
- I shall be much obliged to you: try hard, maybe you will fetch him by cunning.”
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گفت آری گر خدا یاری دهد ** بر دل او از عمی مهری نهد
- “Yes,” said the fox, “if God should give (me) help and set a seal of blindness on his heart
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پس فراموشش شود هولی که دید ** از خری او نباشد این بعید
- (For) then he will forget the terror which he felt on seeing (thee): this will not be alien to his asininity.
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لیک چون آرم من او را بر متاز ** تا ببادش ندهی از تعجیل باز
- But when I bring him, do not thou rush (at him), lest thou lose him again by overhaste.”