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شاه بیرون رفت با آن سی امیر ** سوی صحرا و کهستان صیدگیر
- The King, accompanied by the thirty Amírs, went out to hunt in the desert and mountain-land.
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کاروانی دید از دور آن ملک ** گفت امیری را برو ای متفک
- The monarch descried a caravan in the distance: he said to an Amír, “Go, man of weak judgement,
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رو بپرس آن کاروان را بر رصد ** کز کدامین شهر اندر می‌رسد
- Go and ask that caravan at the custom-house from what city they are arriving.”
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رفت و پرسید و بیامد که ز ری ** گفت عزمش تا کجا درماند وی 390
- He went and asked and returned, saying, “From Rayy.” “Whither bound?” asked the King. He (the Amír) was unable (to reply).
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دیگری را گفت رو ای بوالعلا ** باز پرس از کاروان که تا کجا
- (Then) he said to another (Amír), “Go, noble lord, and ask whither the caravan is bound.”
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رفت و آمد گفت تا سوی یمن ** گفت رختش چیست هان ای موتمن
- He went and returned and said, “For Yemen.” “Ha,” said the King, “what is their merchandise, O trusty one?”
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ماند حیران گفت با میری دگر ** که برو وا پرس رخت آن نفر
- He (the Amír) remained (silent) in perplexity. (Then) the King said to another Amír, “Go and inquire (what is) the merchandise of those people.”
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باز آمد گفت از هر جنس هست ** اغلب آن کاسه‌های رازیست
- He came back and said, “It is of every sort; the greater part consists of cups made in Rayy.”
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گفت کی بیرون شدند از شهر ری ** ماند حیران آن امیر سست پی 395
- He (the King) asked, “When did they set out from the city of Rayy?” The dull-witted Amír remained (silent) in perplexity.
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هم‌چنین تا سی امیر و بیشتر ** سست‌رای و ناقص اندر کر و فر
- So (it went on) till thirty Amírs and more (had been tested): (all were) feeble in judgement and deficient in (mental) power.