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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.
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از عطارد وز زحل دانا شد او ** ما ز داد کردگار لطف‌خو
- It is made knowing by Mercury and Saturn; we (organs of Universal Reason) by the bounty of the gracious Creator.
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علم الانسان خم طغرای ماست ** علم عند الله مقصدهای ماست
- The twisted script of our sign-manual is He taught Man: our aims are (expressed in the words) the knowledge is with God.
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تربیه‌ی آن آفتاب روشنیم ** ربی الاعلی از آن رو می‌زنیم
- We are (the object of) the nurture of that resplendent Sun: on that account we are crying, “(Glory to) my Lord the Supreme!”
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تجربه گر دارد او با این همه ** بشکند صد تجربه زین دمدمه
- (The fox said), “If he (the ass) possesses experience, nevertheless a hundred experiences will be shattered by this deceitful palaver (of mine).