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چار مرغ معنوی راه‌زن ** کرده‌اند اندر دل خلقان وطن 40
- The four immaterial birds which infest the Way have made their home in the hearts of the people.
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چون امیر جمله دلهای سوی ** اندرین دور ای خلیفه‌ی حق توی
- Since in this epoch thou, O Vicegerent of God, art the commander of all righteous hearts,
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سر ببر این چار مرغ زنده را ** سر مدی کن خلق ناپاینده را
- Cut off the heads of these four live birds and make everlasting the creatures that are not enduring for ever.
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بط و طاوسست و زاغست و خروس ** این مثال چار خلق اندر نفوس
- There is the duck and the peacock and the crow and the cock: these are a parable of the four (evil) dispositions in (human) souls.
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بط حرصست و خروس آن شهوتست ** جاه چون طاوس و زاغ امنیتست
- The duck is greed, and the cock is lust; eminence is like the peacock, and the crow is (worldly) desire.
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منیتش آن که بود اومیدساز ** طامع تابید یا عمر دراز 45
- His (the crow's) object of desire is this, that he forms hopes and wishes for immortality or long life.
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بط حرص آمد که نولش در زمین ** در تر و در خشک می‌جوید دفین
- The duck is greed, for her bill is always in the ground, seeking what is buried in the wet and dry.
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یک زمان نبود معطل آن گلو ** نشنود از حکم جز امر کلوا
- That gullet (of hers) is never idle for a moment: it hearkens unto naught of the (Divine) ordinance save the command “Eat ye!”
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هم‌چو یغماجیست خانه می‌کند ** زود زود انبان خود پر می‌کند
- ’Tis like the looter who digs up (ravages) the house and very quickly fills his bag,
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اندر انبان می‌فشارد نیک و بد ** دانه‌های در و حبات نخود
- Cramming into the bag good and bad (indifferently), single pearls and chickpeas,