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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.”
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باز میمالید پر بر دست شاه ** بیزبان میگفت من کردم گناه
- (Meanwhile) the falcon was rubbing its wings against the King's hand: without tongue it was saying, “I have sinned.”
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پس کجا زارد کجا نالد لئیم ** گر تو نپذیری بجز نیک ای کریم 335
- Where then should the vile (sinner) plead piteously, where should he moan, if Thou wilt accept naught but good, O bountiful (King)?
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لطف شه جان را جنایت جو کند ** ز آنکه شه هر زشت را نیکو کند
- The King's grace makes the soul sin-seeking, because the King makes every foul thing fair.
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رو مکن زشتی که نیکیهای ما ** زشت آمد پیش آن زیبای ما
- Go, do not commit foulness, for (even) our fair deeds appear foul in the sight of our beauteous (Loved One).
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خدمت خود را سزا پنداشتی ** تو لوای جرم از آن افراشتی
- You deemed your service worthy: thereby you raised the banner of sin.
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چون ترا ذکر و دعا دستور شد ** ز آن دعاکردن دلت مغرور شد
- Forasmuch as praise and prayer were vouchsafed to you, through making that prayer your heart became vainglorious.
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هم سخن دیدی تو خود را با خدا ** ای بسا کاو زین گمان افتد جدا 340
- You regarded yourself as speaking (confidentially) with God. Oh, (there is) many a one that becomes separated (from God) by this opinion.
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گر چه با تو شه نشیند بر زمین ** خویشتن بشناس و نیکوتر نشین
- Although the King sit with you on the ground, know yourself and sit better (with more decorum and reverence).
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باز گفت ای شه پشیمان میشوم ** توبه کردم نو مسلمان میشوم
- The falcon said, “O King, I am penitent, I am converted, I am embracing Islam anew.
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آن که تو مستش کنی و شیر گیر ** گر ز مستی کج رود عذرش پذیر
- He whom Thou makest drunken and pot-valiant—if from drunkenness he walk crookedly, do Thou accept his excuse.
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گر چه ناخن رفت چون باشی مرا ** بر کنم من پرچم خورشید را
- Though my talons are gone, when thou art mine I tear off the forelock of the sun;
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ور چه پرم رفت چون بنوازیم ** چرخ بازی گم کند در بازیم 345
- And though my wings are gone, when Thou art kind to me the heavenly sphere loses its play (ceases to revolve).
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گر کمر بخشیم که را بر کنم ** گر دهی کلکی علمها بشکنم
- If Thou bestow a belt on me, I will uproot the mountain; if Thou give me a pen, I will break the banners.
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آخر از پشه نه کم باشد تنم ** ملک نمرودی به پر بر هم زنم
- After all, my body is not inferior to (that of) a gnat: with my wings I confound the kingdom of Nimrod.