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یک حکایت بشنو از تاریخگوی ** تا بری زین راز سرپوشیده بوی
- Listen to a tale of the chronicler, in order that you may get an inkling of this veiled mystery.
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مارگیری رفت سوی کوهسار ** تا بگیرد او به افسونهاش مار
- A snake-catcher went to the mountains to catch a snake by his incantations.
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گر گران و گر شتابنده بود ** آنک جویندست یابنده بود
- Whether one be slow or speedy (in movement), he that is a seeker will be a finder.
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در طلب زن دایما تو هر دو دست ** که طلب در راه نیکو رهبرست
- Always apply yourself with both hands (with all your might) to seeking, for search is an excellent guide on the way.
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لنگ و لوک و خفتهشکل و بیادب ** سوی او میغیژ و او را میطلب 980
- (Though you be) lame and limping and bent in figure and unmannerly, ever creep towards Him and be in quest of Him.
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گه بگفت و گه بخاموشی و گه ** بوی کردن گیر هر سو بوی شه
- Now by speech and now by silence and now by smelling, catch in every quarter the scent of the King.
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گفت آن یعقوب با اولاد خویش ** جستن یوسف کنید از حد بیش
- Jacob said to his sons, “Make search for Joseph beyond (all) bounds.
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هر حس خود را درین جستن بجد ** هر طرف رانید شکل مستعد
- In this search earnestly direct your every sense towards every side, like one that is ready.”
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گفت از روح خدا لا تیاسوا ** همچو گم کرده پسر رو سو بسو
- He (Jacob) said, “Do not despair of God's breath (mercy)”; go thou (also) to and fro as one that has lost his son.
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از ره حس دهان پرسان شوید ** گوش را بر چار راه آن نهید 985
- Inquire by means of the sense of the mouth, and lay your ears on the four roads of that (which ye seek).
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هر کجا بوی خوش آید بو برید ** سوی آن سر کاشنای آن سرید
- Whenever a sweet scent comes, smell in the direction of that mystery, for ye are acquainted with that direction.
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هر کجا لطفی ببینی از کسی ** سوی اصل لطف ره یابی عسی
- Whenever thou art aware of a kindness from any one, ’tis possible thou mayst find the way to the source of the kindness.
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این همه خوشها ز دریاییست ژرف ** جزو را بگذار و بر کل دار طرف
- All these lovely things are from a deep Sea: leave the part and keep thine eye (fixed) upon the Whole.
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جنگهای خلق بهر خوبیست ** برگ بی برگی نشان طوبیست
- The wars of mankind are for the sake of Beauty; the garniture of ungarnishedness is the sign of the Túbá tree.
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خشمهای خلق بهر آشتیست ** دام راحت دایما بیراحتیست 990
- The angers of mankind are for the sake of Peace; restlessness is ever the snare for Rest.
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هر زدن بهر نوازش را بود ** هر گله از شکر آگه میکند
- Every blow is for the sake of fondness; every complaint makes (thee) aware of gratitude (due for benefits received).
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بوی بر از جزو تا کل ای کریم ** بوی بر از ضد تا ضد ای حکیم
- Smell (all the way) from the part to the Whole, O noble one; smell (all the way) from opposite to opposite, O wise one.
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جنگها می آشتی آرد درست ** مار گیر از بهر یاری مار جست
- Assuredly wars bring peace; the snake-catcher sought the snake for the purpose of friendship.
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بهر یاری مار جوید آدمی ** غم خورد بهر حریف بیغمی
- Man seeks a snake for the purpose of friendship and cares for one that is without care (for him).
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او همیجستی یکی ماری شگرف ** گرد کوهستان و در ایام برف 995
- He (the snake-catcher) was searching for a big snake round about the mountains and in the days of snow.
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اژدهایی مرده دید آنجا عظیم ** که دلش از شکل او شد پر ز بیم
- He espied there a huge dead dragon, at the aspect whereof his heart was filled with fear.
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مارگیر اندر زمستان شدید ** مار میجست اژدهایی مرده دید
- (Whilst) the snake-catcher was looking for snakes in the hard winter, he espied a dead dragon.
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مارگیر از بهر حیرانی خلق ** مار گیرد اینت نادانی خلق
- The snake-catcher catches snakes in order to amaze the people—behold the foolishness of the people!
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آدمی کوهیست چون مفتون شود ** کوه اندر مار حیران چون شود
- Man is a mountain: how should he be led into temptation? How should a mountain become amazed at a snake?
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خویشتن نشناخت مسکین آدمی ** از فزونی آمد و شد در کمی 1000
- Wretched Man does not know himself: he has come from a high estate and fallen into lowlihood.