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دست و آلت همچو سنگ و آهن است ** جفت باید جفت شرط زادن است
- Hand and tool are as stone and iron; there must be a pair: (the existence of) a pair is the condition (necessary) for bringing to birth.
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آن که بیجفت است و بیآلت یکی است ** در عدد شک است و آن یک بیشکی است 310
- The One is He who hath no consort and no tool; in number there is doubt, and that One is beyond doubt.
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آن که دو گفت و سه گفت و بیش ازین ** متفق باشند در واحد یقین
- Those who say “two” or “three” or more than these (numbers) are certainly agreed in (affirming the existence of) One.
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احولی چون دفع شد یکسان شوند ** دو سه گویان هم یکی گویان شوند
- When squinting has been put aside (so that they see correctly), they become alike: the assertors of two or three become assertors of Unity.
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گر یکی گویی تو در میدان او ** گرد بر میگرد از چوگان او
- If you are a ball in His polo-field, keep spinning round from (the blows of) His polo-stick.
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گوی آن گه راست و بینقصان شود ** که ز زخم دست شه رقصان شود
- The ball becomes right and flawless (only) at the time when it is made to dance by the stroke of the King's hand.
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گوش دار ای احول اینها را به هوش ** داروی دیده بکش از راه گوش 315
- Give ear heedfully to these (sayings), O squinting one: apply the eye-salve by way of the ear.
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پس کلام پاک در دلهای کور ** مینپاید میرود تا اصل نور
- Holy words, then, do not abide in blind hearts, (but) go to the Light whence they came,
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و آن فسون دیو در دلهای کژ ** میرود چون کفش کژ در پای کژ
- While the (guileful) spell of the Devil goes into crooked (perverse) hearts as a crooked shoe on to a crooked foot.
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گر چه حکمت را به تکرار آوری ** چون تو نااهلی شود از تو بری
- Though you may learn Wisdom by rote, it becomes quit of you when you are unworthy (to receive it);
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ور چه بنویسی نشانش میکنی ** ور چه میلافی بیانش میکنی
- And though you write it and note it (down), and though you brag (about it) and expound it,
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او ز تو رو در کشد ای پر ستیز ** بندها را بگسلد وز تو گریز 320
- It withdraws its face from you, O disputatious one: it snaps its bonds and (takes) flight from you.
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ور نخوانی و ببیند سوز تو ** علم باشد مرغ دستآموز تو
- (But) if you read not and it sees your ardour (of love), Knowledge will be a bird docile (and obedient) to your hand.
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او نپاید پیش هر نااوستا ** همچو طاوسی به خانهی روستا
- It does not abide with every unskilled tiro: (it is) like a peacock (which does not stay) in the house of a peasant.
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یافتن پادشاه باز را به خانهی کمپیر زن
- How the King found his falcon in the house of a decrepit old woman.
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دین نه آن باز است کاو از شه گریخت ** سوی آن کمپیر کاو میآرد بیخت
- Religion is not (like) the falcon that fled from the King to the old crone who was sifting flour
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تا که تتماجی پزد اولاد را ** دید آن باز خوش خوش زاد را
- That she might cook tutmáj for her children. (When) she saw the beautiful well-born falcon,
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پایکش بست و پرش کوتاه کرد ** ناخنش ببرید و قوتش کاه کرد 325
- She tied its little foot and clipped its wings; she cut its talons and fed it with straw.
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گفت نااهلان نکردندت به ساز ** پر فزود از حد و ناخن شد دراز
- “Unworthy folk,” said she, “have not kept thee in (good) trim: thy wings are overgrown and thy talons have become long.
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دست هر نااهل بیمارت کند ** سوی مادر آ که تیمارت کند
- Every unworthy one's hand makes thee ill: come to thy mother that she may take care of thee.”
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مهر جاهل را چنین دان ای رفیق ** کژ رود جاهل همیشه در طریق
- Know, O friend, that such is the affection of the fool: the fool ever walks crookedly on the way.
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روز شه در جستجو بیگاه شد ** سوی آن کمپیر و آن خرگاه شد
- The King's day became late (far-spent) in searching (for the falcon): he went (at last) to the old woman and the tent (where she lived).
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دید ناگه باز را در دود و گرد ** شه بر او بگریست زار و نوحه کرد 330
- Suddenly he espied the falcon amidst smoke and dust: the King wept sorely over it and made lament.
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گفت هر چند این جز ای کار تست ** که نباشی در وفای ما درست
- He said, “Albeit this is the retribution for thy deed, in that thou art not firm in keeping faith with me,
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چون کنی از خلد زی دوزخ فرار ** غافل از لا یستوی اصحاب نار
- (Yet) how shouldst thou take flight from Paradise to Hell, heedless of (the text) the people of the Fire (and those of Paradise) are not equal?
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این سزای آن که از شاه خبیر ** خیره بگریزد به خانهی گنده پیر
- This is the fitting reward for one that unconscionably flees from the King who knows (him) well to the house of an old hag.”