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دور باش و نیزه و شمشیرها ** که بلرزند از مهابت شیرها
- Staves and lances and scimitars, so that (even) lions would tremble in awe;
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بانگ چاوشان و آن چوگانها ** که شود سست از نهیبش جانها
- The shouts of sergeants with their maces, by the terror of which (men's) souls are enfeebled.
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این برای خاص وعام رهگذر ** که کندشان از شهنشاهی خبر 3775
- This is for the high and low in the street, to announce to them (the presence of) an emperor.
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از برای عام باشد این شکوه ** تا کلاه کبر ننهند آن گروه
- This pomp is for the sake of the vulgar, that those people may not put on the tiara of arrogance;
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تا من و ماهای ایشان بشکند ** نفس خودبین فتنه و شر کم کند
- That it may break their egoism and that the self-conceited carnal soul may not work mischief and evil.
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شهر از آن آمن شود کان شهریار ** دارد اندر قهر زخم و گیر و دار
- The country is preserved from that by the king's having force and authority to inflict punishment.
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پس بمیرد آن هوسها در نفوس ** هیبت شه مانع آید زان نحوس
- Therefore those vain desires are extinguished in (men's) souls: awe of the king prevents that disaster.
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باز چون آید به سوی بزم خاص ** کی بود آنجا مهابت یا قصاص 3780
- Again, when he (the king) comes to the private banquet, how should awe or retaliation be (in place) there?
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حلم در حلمست و رحمتها به جوش ** نشنوی از غیر چنگ و ناخروش
- There clemency on clemency is (shown) and mercies overflowing; you will hear no noise but that of the harp and flute.
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طبل و کوس هول باشد وقت جنگ ** وقت عشرت با خواص آواز چنگ
- In time of war there is the terrible drum and kettle-drum; in the hour of feasting with favourites there is (only) the sound of the harp.
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هست دیوان محاسب عام را ** وان پری رویان حریف جام را
- The Board of Audit is for the vulgar, while the fair ones resembling peris are for the cup-companion.
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آن زره وآن خود مر چالیشراست ** وین حریر و رود مر تعریشراست
- The coat of mail and the helmet are for the battle, while this silken raiment and music are for the bower.
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این سخن پایان ندارد ای جواد ** ختم کن والله اعلم بالرشاد 3785
- This topic hath no end, O generous one: conclude it, and God best knoweth the right course.
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اندر احمد آن حسی کو غاربست ** خفته این دم زیر خاک یثربست
- The (corporeal) senses in Ahmad (Mohammed), which are mortal, are now laid asleep under the soil of Yathrib (Medina),
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وآن عظیم الخلق او کان صفدرست ** بیتغیر مقعد صدق اندرست
- But that mighty-natured part of him, which is unconquerable, dwells, without having suffered corruption, within the abode of truth (in Paradise).
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جای تغییرات اوصاف تنست ** روح باقی آفتابی روشنست
- The bodily attributes are exposed to corruption; the everlasting spirit is a shining sun,
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بی ز تغییری که لا شرقیة ** بی ز تبدیلی که لا غربیة
- Incorruptible, for it is not of the east; unchangeable, for it is not of the west.
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آفتاب از ذره کی مدهوش شد ** شمع از پروانه کی بیهوش شد 3790
- How was the sun (ever) dumbfounded by a mote? How was the candle (ever) made senseless by a moth?
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جسم احمد را تعلق بد بدآن ** این تغیر آن تن باشد بدان
- The body of Ahmad was liable to that (corruption): know that this corruption belongs (only) to the body,
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همچو رنجوری و همچون خواب و درد ** جان ازین اوصاف باشد پاک و فرد
- Such as sickness and sleep and pain; the spirit is untouched by these affections and wholly detached (from them).
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خود نتانم ور بگويم وصف جان ** زلزله افتد در اين كون و مكان
- Indeed I cannot describe the spirit, and if I describe it, quaking would fall upon this (world of) phenomenal existence and spatiality.
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روبهش گر یک دمی آشفته بود ** شیر جان مانا که آن دم خفته بود
- If its fox (the body) was perturbed for a moment, belike the lion-spirit was then asleep.
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خفته بود آن شیر کز خوابست پاک ** اینت شیر نرمسار سهمناک 3795
- That lion which is immune from sleep was (apparently) asleep: lo, a complaisant terrible lion!
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خفته سازد شیر خود را آنچنان ** که تمامش مرده دانند این سگان
- The lion feigns to be asleep so (well) that those curs think he is quite dead;
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ورنه در عالم کرا زهره بدی ** که ربودی از ضعیفی تربدی
- Else, who in the world would dare to rob a poor man (even) of a grain of turpeth mineral?