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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.”
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گفت آری تجربه کردم که من ** سخت رنجورم مخلخل گشته تن
- “Yes,” replied the lion; “I have found by experience that I am very ill and that my body has become shaky.
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تا به نزدیکم نیاید خر تمام ** من نجنبم خفته باشم در قوام 2580
- Until the ass comes quite near to me, I will not move, I will (apparently) be sound asleep.”
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رفت روبه گفت ای شه همتی ** تا بپوشد عقل او را غفلتی
- (Thereupon) the fox departed, saying, “O king, (offer) a prayer that a (great) heedlessness may muffle his reason.
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توبه‌ها کردست خر با کردگار ** که نگردد غره‌ی هر نابکار
- The ass has made vows of repentance to the Creator (and resolved) that he will not be duped by any ne’er-do-well.
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توبه‌هااش را به فن بر هم زنیم ** ما عدوی عقل و عهد روشنیم
- We by cunning will cause his vows to collapse, (for) we are the enemy of reason and of the splendid covenant (with God).
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کله‌ی خر گوی فرزندان ماست ** فکرتش بازیچه‌ی دستان ماست
- The ass's head is a ball for our children: his thought is a plaything for our guile.”
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عقل که آن باشد ز دوران زحل ** پیش عقل کل ندارد آن محل 2585
- The reason that belongs to (is affected by) the revolution of Saturn hath no position (of honour) in the sight of Universal Reason.