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در من آمد آن که دست و پا برد ** رنگ رو و قوت و سیما برد
- There has come upon me that which takes away hand and foot, takes away colour of face and strength and (every outward) mark;
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آن که در هر چه در آید بشکند ** هر درخت از بیخ و بن او بر کند
- That which shatters every thing it comes upon, tears up every tree from root and bottom;
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در من آمد آن که از وی گشت مات ** آدمی و جانور جامد نبات 1275
- There has come upon me that by which man and animal, mineral and plant have been checkmated.
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این خود اجزایند کلیات از او ** زرد کرده رنگ و فاسد کرده بو
- These indeed are (only) parts, (but) wholes (too) are by him (Doom) made yellow in hue and corrupt in odour,
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تا جهان گه صابر است و گه شکور ** بوستان گه حله پوشد گاه عور
- So that the world is now patient, now thankful; the garden now puts on a robe (of verdure) and again is bare.
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آفتابی کاو بر آید نارگون ** ساعتی دیگر شود او سر نگون
- The sun, which rises fire-coloured, at another hour sinks headlong.
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اختران تافته بر چار طاق ** لحظه لحظه مبتلای احتراق
- Stars shining in the four quarters (of the sky) are, from time to time, afflicted with (consumed by) burning.
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ماه کاو افزود ز اختر در جمال ** شد ز رنج دق او همچون خیال 1280
- The moon, which excels the stars in beauty, becomes like a phantom from the malady of a phthisis.
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این زمین با سکون با ادب ** اندر آرد زلزلهش در لرز تب
- This earth, quiet and controlled, is thrown by earthquakes into feverish tremors.
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ای بسا که زین بلای مردهریگ ** گشته است اندر جهان او خرد و ریگ
- Oh, from this inherited woe many a mountain in the world has become tiny fragments and (grains of) sand.
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این هوا با روح آمد مقترن ** چون قضا آید وبا گشت و عفن
- This air is conjoined with the (vital) spirit, (but) when the Divine destiny comes, it turns pestilential and stinking.
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آب خوش کاو روح را همشیره شد ** در غدیری زرد و تلخ و تیره شد
- The sweet water that was a sister (congenial) to the spirit, (after standing) in a pool, became yellow and bitter and turbid.
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آتشی کاو باد دارد در بروت ** هم یکی بادی بر او خواند یموت 1285
- The fire that has wind in its moustache—a single puff of wind calls death upon it.
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حال دریا ز اضطراب و جوش او ** فهم کن تبدیلهای هوش او
- The state of the sea (is such that) from its agitation and commotion (you may) perceive the changes of its mind.
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چرخ سر گردان که اندر جستجوست ** حال او چون حال فرزندان اوست
- The whirling heaven, which is (ever engaged) in seeking and searching—its state is like the state of its children;
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گه حضیض و گه میانه گاه اوج ** اندر او از سعد و نحسی فوج فوج
- Now nadir, now middle, now zenith: therein are host on host of stars fortunate and unlucky.
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از خود ای جزوی ز کلها مختلط ** فهم میکن حالت هر منبسط
- From thyself, O part made up of wholes, apprehend the state of every simple (uncompounded) thing.
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چون که کلیات را رنج است و درد ** جزو ایشان چون نباشد روی زرد 1290
- Inasmuch as wholes suffer grief and pain, how should their part not be pale-faced (sick and subject to decay)?
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خاصه جزوی کاو ز اضداد است جمع ** ز آب و خاک و آتش و باد است جمع
- Especially a part which is composed of contraries—of water and earth and fire and air.
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این عجب نبود که میش از گرگ جست ** این عجب کاین میش دل در گرگ بست
- It is no wonder that the sheep recoiled from the wolf; the wonder is that this sheep set its heart on (became friendly with) the wolf.
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زندگانی آشتی ضدهاست ** مرگ آن کاندر میانشان جنگ خاست
- Life is the peace (harmony) of contraries; death is the fact that war arose between them.
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لطف حق این شیر را و گور را ** الف داده ست این دو ضد دور را
- The grace of God has given amity to this lion and wild-ass— these two far distant contraries.
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چون جهان رنجور و زندانی بود ** چه عجب رنجور اگر فانی بود 1295
- Since the world is sick and a prisoner, what wonder if the sick one is passing away?”
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خواند بر شیر او از این رو پندها ** گفت من پس ماندهام زین بندها
- From this point of view he (the hare) recited counsels to the lion. “I have lagged behind,” said he, “because of these bonds.”
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پرسیدن شیر از سبب پای واپس کشیدن خرگوش
- How the lion asked the reason of the hare's drawing back.
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شیر گفتش تو ز اسباب مرض ** این سبب گو خاص کاین استم غرض
- The lion said to him, “Amongst (all) the causes of your malady tell (me) the special cause, for this is my object.”