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عاشقی بودست در ایام پیش ** پاسبان عهد اندر عهد خویش
- In the days of old there was a lover, one who kept troth in his time.
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سالها در بند وصل ماه خود ** شاهمات و مات شاهنشاه خود
- For years (he had been) checkmated (irretrievably caught) in the toils of (seeking) his fair one's favour and mated by his king.
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عاقبت جوینده یابنده بود ** که فرج از صبر زاینده بود 595
- In the end the seeker is a finder, for from patience joy is born.
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گفت روزی یار او که امشب بیا ** که بپختم از پی تو لوبیا
- One day his friend said, “Come to-night, for I have cooked haricot beans for thee.
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در فلان حجره نشین تا نیم‌شب ** تا بیایم نیم‌شب من بی طلب
- Sit in such and such a room till midnight, that at midnight I may come unsought.”
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مرد قربان کرد و نانها بخش کرد ** چون پدید آمد مهش از زیر گرد
- The man offered sacrifice and distributed loaves, since the moon (of good fortune) had appeared to him from beneath the dust (of ill-luck).
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شب در آن حجره نشست آن گرمدار ** بر امید وعده‌ی آن یار غار
- At night the passionate lover seated himself in the room in hope of the tryst promised by that loyal friend.
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بعد نصف اللیل آمد یار او ** صادق الوعدانه آن دلدار او 600
- (Just) after midnight his friend, the charmer of his heart, arrived (punctually) like those who are true to their promise.
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عاشق خود را فتاده خفته دید ** اندکی از آستین او درید
- He found his lover lying asleep; (thereupon) he tore off a little piece of his (the lover's) sleeve
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گردگانی چندش اندر جیب کرد ** که تو طفلی گیر این می‌باز نرد
- And put some walnuts in his lap, saying, “Thou art a child: take these and play a game of dice.”