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روت بس زیباست نیلی هم بکش ** ضحکه باشد نیل بر روی حبش
- (If) your face is very beautiful, put some indigo on it (as an ornament); (but) indigo on the face of an Abyssinian (negro) would be a laughing-stock.
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در تو نوری کی درآمد ای غوی ** تا تو بیهوشی و ظلمتجو شوی
- When did any (spiritual) light enter into you, O misguided man, that you should become a seeker of unconsciousness and darkness?
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سایه در روزست جستن قاعده ** در شب ابری تو سایهجو شده
- ’Tis the (approved) rule to seek the shadow during the day; (but) you seek the shadow on a cloudy night.
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گر حلال آمد پی قوت عوام ** طالبان دوست را آمد حرام
- If it (wine) is lawful as sustenance for the common folk, (yet) it is unlawful to those who seek the Beloved.
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عاشقان را باده خون دل بود ** چشمشان بر راه و بر منزل بود 3485
- The wine for the lovers (of God) is their heart's blood: their eyes are (fixed) upon the Way and upon the Destination.
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در چنین راه بیابان مخوف ** این قلاوز خرد با صد کسوف
- In this Way across the terrible wilderness the guide, Reason, suffers a hundred eclipses.
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خاک در چشم قلاوزان زنی ** کاروان را هالک و گمره کنی
- (If) you throw dust in the eyes of the guides, you will cause the caravan to perish and lose the way.
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نان جو حقا حرامست و فسوس ** نفس را در پیش نه نان سبوس
- In sooth, barley bread is unlawful and injurious to the carnal soul: set (only) bread made of bran before it.
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دشمن راه خدا را خوار دار ** دزد را منبر منه بر دار دار
- Keep in abject submission the enemy on the Way to God: do not place a pulpit for the robber, (but) keep him on the gibbet.
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دزد را تو دست ببریدن پسند ** از بریدن عاجزی دستش ببند 3490
- Deem the amputation of the robber's hand desirable: if you are unable to cut his hand off, bind it.