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تو نمیدانی که آن اشتر کجاست ** لیک دانی کاین نشانیها خطاست
- You know not where the camel is, but you know that these clues are wrong.
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و انکه اشتر گم نکرد او از مری ** همچو آن گم کرده جوید اشتری 2975
- And he that has not lost a camel—he (too) in contention seeks a camel, just like him who has (really) lost it,
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که بلی من هم شتر گم کردهام ** هر که یابد اجرتش آوردهام
- Saying, “Yes; I too have lost a camel: I have brought a reward for any one who may find it.”
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تا در اشتر با تو انبازی کند ** بهر طمع اشتر این بازی کند
- (He says this) that he may take a partner's share with you in the camel: he plays this trick because of coveting the camel.
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هر چه را گویی خطا بود آن نشان ** او به تقلید تو میگوید همان
- If you say to any one, “That clue was false,” he (the pretender), in imitation of you, says the same.
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او نشان کژ بنشناسد ز راست ** لیک گفتت آن مقلد را عصاست
- He does not know wrong clues from right, but your words are a cue to that imitator.
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چون نشان راست گویند و شبیه ** پس یقین گردد ترا لا ریب فیه 2980
- When they mention right and likely clues, then comes to you the certainty in which there is no doubt.
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آن شفای جان رنجورت شود ** رنگ روی و صحت و زورت شود
- That (clue) becomes balm to your sick soul; it becomes (brings) colour to your face and health and strength to you.
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چشم تو روشن شود پایت دوان ** جسم تو جان گردد و جانت روان
- Your eye becomes bright, your foot nimble; your body becomes (the vital) soul, and your (vital) soul (the rational) spirit.
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پس بگویی راست گفتی ای امین ** این نشانیها بلاغ آمد مبین
- Then you will say, “O trusted (friend), you have spoken the truth: these clues are a clear deliverance (communication and message).
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فیه آیات ثقات بینات ** این براتی باشد و قدر نجات
- Therein are (manifest) signs, sure informations, (distinct) evidences: this is a title-deed and an ordainment of salvation.”
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این نشان چون داد گویی پیش رو ** وقت آهنگ است پیش آهنگ شو 2985
- When he has given this clue, you will say, “Go before (me)! It is time for (setting out on) the enterprise: be thou the leader!
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پی روی تو کنم ای راست گو ** بوی بردی ز اشترم بنما که کو
- I will follow thee, O truth-teller: thou hast got scent of my camel: show (me) where (it is).”
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پیش آن کس که نه صاحب اشتری ست ** کاو در این جست شتر بهر مری ست
- (But) to that person who is not the owner of a camel, and who is (engaged) in this quest of the camel for contention's sake—
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زین نشان راست نفزودش یقین ** جز ز عکس ناقه جوی راستین
- His certainty is not increased by this right clue, save through reflexion from the true camel-seeker.
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بوی برد از جد و گرمیهای او ** که گزافه نیست این هیهای او
- From his (the latter's) earnestness and ardour he (the imitator) gets a scent (inkling) that these wild outcries of his are not (mere) babble.
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اندر این اشتر نبودش حق ولی ** اشتری گم کرده است او هم بلی 2990
- He (the imitator) had no just claim to this camel, but he too has lost a camel; yes, (he has).
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طمع ناقهی غیر رو پوشش شده ** آنچ ازو گم شد فراموشش شده
- Desire for another's camel has become a veil to him, (so that) he has forgotten what he (himself) has lost.
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هر کجا او میدود این میدود ** از طمع هم درد صاحب میشود
- Wherever he (the owner) runs, this one (the imitator) runs: from cupidity, he becomes a partner in the owner's pain.
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کاذبی یا صادقی چون شد روان ** آن دروغش راستی شد ناگهان
- When a liar sets out (to journey) with a truthful man, his falsehood turns to truth of a sudden.
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اندر آن صحرا که آن اشتر شتافت ** اشتر خود نیز آن دیگر بیافت
- In the desert whither that camel had hastened, the other one (the imitator) also found his own camel.
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چون بدیدش یاد آورد آن خویش ** بیطمع شد ز اشتر آن یار و خویش 2995
- As soon as he saw it, he remembered his own, and ceased to covet the camel of that friend and kinsman.
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آن مقلد شد محقق چون بدید ** اشتر خود را که آن جا میچرید
- That imitator became a true searcher when he saw his camel browsing there.
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او طلب کار شتر آن لحظه گشت ** مینجستش تا ندید او را به دشت
- (Only) at that moment did he become a seeker of the camel: he was never (truly) seeking it till he saw it in the desert.
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بعد از آن تنها روی آغاز کرد ** چشم سوی ناقهی خود باز کرد
- After that, he began to go alone: he opened his eyes (and went) towards his own camel.