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گفت آن طالب که آخر یک نفس ** ای سواره بر نی این سو ران فرس 2400
- That seeker said, “O thou mounted on the cane, pray, ride thy horse this way for one moment.”
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راند سوی او که هین زوتر بگو ** کاسب من بس توسن است و تند خو
- He rode towards him, crying, “Hark, say as quick as you can (what you want), for my horse is very restive and fierce-tempered.
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تا لگد بر تو نکوبد زود باش ** از چه میپرسی بیانش کن تو فاش
- Be quick, lest he kick you: explain clearly what you are asking about.”
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او مجال راز دل گفتن ندید ** زو برون شو کرد و در لاغش کشید
- He (the inquirer) saw no opportunity to tell his heart's secret: he at once made an evasion and drew him into jesting talk.
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گفت میخواهم در این کوچه زنی ** کیست لایق از برای چون منی
- He said, “I wish to marry a woman in this street: who is suitable for one like me?”
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گفت سه گونه زناند اندر جهان ** آن دو رنج و این یکی گنج روان 2405
- “There are three kinds of women in the world,” said he: “two of those are a sorrow, and one is the soul's treasure.
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آن یکی را چون بخواهی کل تراست ** و آن دگر نیمی ترا نیمی جداست
- The first, when you marry her, is wholly yours; and the second is half yours and half separate (from you);
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و آن سوم هیچ او ترا نبود بدان ** این شنودی دور شو رفتم روان
- And the third, know she is not yours at all. You have heard this. Away (with you)!—I start in a trice—
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تا ترا اسبم نپراند لگد ** که بیفتی بر نخیزی تا ابد
- Lest my horse let fly a kick at you, so that you fall and never rise up (again).”
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شیخ راند اندر میان کودکان ** بانگ زد بار دگر او را جوان
- The Shaykh rode off amongst the children, (but) the young man shouted to him once more,
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که بیا آخر بگو تفسیر این ** این زنان سه نوع گفتی بر گزین 2410
- “Come, prithee declare the exposition of this. Thou hast said that these women are of three kinds: pick (them) out.”
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راند سوی او و گفتش بکر خاص ** کل ترا باشد ز غم یابی خلاص
- He rode towards him and said to him, “The virgin of your choice will be wholly yours, and you will gain freedom from sorrow;
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و انکه نیمی آن تو بیوه بود ** و انکه هیچست آن عیال با ولد
- And she that is half yours is the (childless) widow; and she that is nothing (to you) is the married woman with a child:
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چون ز شوی اولش کودک بود ** مهر و کل خاطرش آن سو رود
- When she has a child by her first husband, her love and whole heart will go to that quarter.
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دور شو تا اسب نندازد لگد ** سم اسب توسنم بر تو رسد
- (Now) get away, lest my horse launch a kick, and the hoof of my restive horse land upon you.”
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های و هویی کرد شیخ و باز راند ** کودکان را باز سوی خویش خواند 2415
- The Shaykh gave a loud cry of jubilation and rode back: he again called the children to him.
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باز بانگش کرد آن سایل بیا ** یک سؤالم ماند ای شاه کیا
- That inquirer shouted to him once more, “Come (hither), I have one question left, O sovereign king.”
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باز راند این سو بگو زودتر چه بود ** که ز میدان آن بچه گویم ربود
- He rode back in this direction. “Say what it is,” he cried, “as quick as you can, for yonder child has enraptured my heart.”
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گفت ای شه با چنین عقل و ادب ** این چه شیداست این چه فعل است ای عجب
- Said the other, “O king, with such intelligence and erudition (as thou hast), what dissimulation is this? What acting is this? Oh, ’tis a marvel!
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تو ورای عقل کلی در بیان ** آفتابی در جنون چونی نهان
- Thou transcendest the Universal Intellect in (thy power of) elucidation. Thou art a sun: how art thou hid in madness?”
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گفت این اوباش رایی میزنند ** تا در این شهر خودم قاضی کنند 2420
- He replied, “These rascals are proposing to make me Cadi in this their city.
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دفع میگفتم مرا گفتند نی ** نیست چون تو عالمی صاحب فنی
- I raised objections, (but) they said to me, ‘Nay, there is none so learned and accomplished as thou.
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با وجود تو حرام است و خبیث ** که کم از تو در قضا گوید حدیث
- Whilst thou art in existence, it is unlawful and wicked that any one inferior to thee should cite Prophetic Traditions in the office of Cadi.
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در شریعت نیست دستوری که ما ** کمتر از تو شه کنیم و پیشوا
- Permission is not (given) in the Law, that we should appoint one less than thee as (our) prince and leader.’
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زین ضرورت گیج و دیوانه شدم ** لیک در باطن همانم که بدم
- By this necessity I was made distraught and mad (in appearance), but inwardly I am just the same as I was.