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بس کسان را کالت پیکار کشت ** بیرجولیت چنان تیغی به مشت
- Many are they whom implements of war have slain, (since they held) such a sword in their hands, without the manhood (to use it).
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گر بپوشی تو سلاح رستمان ** رفت جانت چون نباشی مرد آن
- If you don the armour of Rustams, your soul goes (your life is lost) when you are not the man for it.
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جان سپر کن تیغ بگذار ای پسر ** هر که بیسر بود از این شه برد سر 3170
- Make your soul a shield and drop the sword, O son: whoever is headless (selfless) saves his head from this King.
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آن سلاحت حیله و مکر تو است ** هم ز تو زایید و هم جان تو خست
- Those weapons of yours are your (selfish) contriving and plotting; they have sprung from you and at the same time have wounded your soul.
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چون نکردی هیچ سودی زین حیل ** ترک حیلت کن که پیش آید دول
- Since you have gained nothing by these contrivings, abandon contrivance, that happy fortunes may meet (you).
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چون که یک لحظه نخوردی بر ز فن ** ترک فن گو میطلب رب المنن
- Since you have not for one moment enjoyed (any) fruit from the arts (of the schools), bid farewell to the arts, and seek always the Lord of bounties.
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چون مبارک نیست بر تو این علوم ** خویشتن گولی کن و بگذر ز شوم
- Since these sciences bring you no blessing, make yourself a dunce and leave ill luck behind.
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چون ملایک گو که لا علم لنا ** یا الهی غیر ما علمتنا 3175
- Like the angels, say, “We have no knowledge, O God, except what Thou hast taught us.”
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قصهی اعرابی و ریگ در جوال کردن و ملامت کردن آن فیلسوف او را
- Story of the desert Arab and his putting sand in the sack and the philosopher's rebuking him.
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یک عرابی بار کرده اشتری ** دو جوال زفت از دانه پری
- A certain Arab of the desert loaded a camel with two big sacks—(there was) one full of grain.
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او نشسته بر سر هر دو جوال ** یک حدیث انداز کرد او را سؤال
- He was seated on the top of both sacks. A glib philosopher questioned him.
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از وطن پرسید و آوردش به گفت ** و اندر آن پرسش بسی درها بسفت
- He asked him about his native land and led him to talk and said many fine things in the course of (his) enquiry.
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بعد از آن گفتش که این هر دو جوال ** چیست آگنده بگو مصدوق حال
- Afterwards he said to him, “What are these two sacks filled with? Tell (me) the truth of the matter.”
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گفت اندر یک جوالم گندم است ** در دگر ریگی نه قوت مردم است 3180
- He replied, “In one sack I have wheat; in the other is some sand—not food for men.”
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گفت تو چون بار کردی این رمال ** گفت تا تنها نماند آن جوال
- “Why,” he asked, “did you load this sand?” “In order that the other sack might not remain alone,” he replied.
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گفت نیم گندم آن تنگ را ** در دگر ریز از پی فرهنگ را
- “For wisdom's sake,” said he, “pour half the wheat of that pannier into the other,
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تا سبک گردد جوال و هم شتر ** گفت شاباش ای حکیم اهل و حر
- So that the sacks may be lightened, and the camel too.” He (the Arab) cried, “Bravo! O clever and noble sage!
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این چنین فکر دقیق و رای خوب ** تو چنین عریان پیاده در لغوب
- Such subtle thought and excellent judgement! And you so naked, (journeying) on foot and in fatigue!”
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رحمتش آمد بر حکیم و عزم کرد ** کش بر اشتر بر نشاند نیک مرد 3185
- The good man took pity on the philosopher and resolved to mount him on the camel.
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باز گفتش ای حکیم خوش سخن ** شمهای از حال خود هم شرح کن
- He said to him again, “O fair-spoken sage, explain a little about your own circumstances as well.
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این چنین عقل و کفایت که تراست ** تو وزیری یا شهی بر گوی راست
- (With) such intelligence and talent as you have, are you a vizier or a king? Tell the truth.”
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گفت این هر دو نیم از عامهام ** بنگر اندر حال و اندر جامهام
- He answered, “I am not (either of) these two: I am of the common folk. Look at my appearance and dress.”
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گفت اشتر چند داری چند گاو ** گفت نه این و نه آن ما را مکاو
- He asked, “How many camels have you? How many oxen?” “I have neither these nor those,” he replied: “do not dig at me.”
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گفت رختت چیست باری در دکان ** گفت ما را کو دکان و کو مکان 3190
- He said, “At any rate, what goods have you in your shop?” He answered, “Where have I a shop, and where a dwelling-place?”
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گفت پس از نقد پرسم نقد چند ** که تویی تنها رو و محبوب پند
- “Then,” said he, “I will ask about money. How much money (have you)?—for you are a solitary wanderer and one whose counsel is prized.
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کیمیای مس عالم با تو است ** عقل و دانش را گهر تو بر تو است
- With you is the elixir which changes the copper of the world (into) gold: your understanding and knowledge are inlaid with pearls.”