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خلق را گر زندگی خواهی ابد ** سر ببر زین چار مرغ شوم بد
- If thou wish the people to have everlasting life, cut off the heads of these four foul and evil birds,
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بازشان زنده کن از نوعی دگر ** که نباشد بعد از آن زیشان ضرر
- (And then) revive them again in another sort, so that afterwards no harm will be done by them.
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چار مرغ معنوی راهزن ** کردهاند اندر دل خلقان وطن 40
- The four immaterial birds which infest the Way have made their home in the hearts of the people.
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چون امیر جمله دلهای سوی ** اندرین دور ای خلیفهی حق توی
- Since in this epoch thou, O Vicegerent of God, art the commander of all righteous hearts,
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سر ببر این چار مرغ زنده را ** سر مدی کن خلق ناپاینده را
- Cut off the heads of these four live birds and make everlasting the creatures that are not enduring for ever.
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بط و طاوسست و زاغست و خروس ** این مثال چار خلق اندر نفوس
- There is the duck and the peacock and the crow and the cock: these are a parable of the four (evil) dispositions in (human) souls.
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بط حرصست و خروس آن شهوتست ** جاه چون طاوس و زاغ امنیتست
- The duck is greed, and the cock is lust; eminence is like the peacock, and the crow is (worldly) desire.
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منیتش آن که بود اومیدساز ** طامع تابید یا عمر دراز 45
- His (the crow's) object of desire is this, that he forms hopes and wishes for immortality or long life.
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بط حرص آمد که نولش در زمین ** در تر و در خشک میجوید دفین
- The duck is greed, for her bill is always in the ground, seeking what is buried in the wet and dry.
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یک زمان نبود معطل آن گلو ** نشنود از حکم جز امر کلوا
- That gullet (of hers) is never idle for a moment: it hearkens unto naught of the (Divine) ordinance save the command “Eat ye!”
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همچو یغماجیست خانه میکند ** زود زود انبان خود پر میکند
- ’Tis like the looter who digs up (ravages) the house and very quickly fills his bag,
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اندر انبان میفشارد نیک و بد ** دانههای در و حبات نخود
- Cramming into the bag good and bad (indifferently), single pearls and chickpeas,
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تا مبادا یاغیی آید دگر ** میفشارد در جوال او خشک و تر 50
- Cramming dry and wet into the sack, for fear lest another enemy should arrive.
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وقت تنگ و فرصت اندک او مخوف ** در بغل زد هر چه زودتر بیوقوف
- Time presses, the opportunity is small, he is terrified: without delay he heaves it under his arm as speedily as possible.
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لیک مومن ز اعتماد آن حیات ** میکند غارت به مهل و با انات
- But the true believer, from his confidence in that (Divine) Life, conducts his raid in a leisurely manner and with deliberation.
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آمنست از فوت و از یاغی که او ** میشناسد قهر شه را بر عدو
- He hath no fear of missing his chance or of the enemy, for he recognises the King's dominion over the enemy.
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آمنست از خواجهتاشان دگر ** که بیایندش مزاحم صرفهبر 55
- He hath no fear of the other fellow-servants coming to jostle him and gain the advantage,
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عدل شه را دید در ضبط حشم ** که نیارد کرد کس بر کس ستم
- (For) he perceived the King's justice in restraining his followers so that none durst do violence to any one.
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لاجرم نشتابد و ساکن بود ** از فوات حظ خود آمن بود
- Consequently he does not hurry and is calm: he hath no fear of missing his (appointed) portion.
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بس تانی دارد و صبر و شکیب ** چشمسیر و مثرست و پاکجیب
- He hath much deliberation and patience and long-suffering; he is contented and unselfish and pure of heart,
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کین تانی پرتو رحمان بود ** وان شتاب از هزهی شیطان بود
- For this deliberation is the ray of the Merciful (God), while that haste is from the impulse of the Devil,
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زانک شیطانش بترساند ز فقر ** بارگیر صبر را بکشد به عقر 60
- Because the Devil frightens him (the greedy man) away from poverty and kills the beast of burden, patience, by stabbing.
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از نبی بشنو که شیطان در وعید ** میکند تهدیدت از فقر شدید
- Hear from the Qur’án that the Devil in menace is threatening thee with hard poverty,
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تا خوری زشت و بری زشت و شتاب ** نی مروت نیتانی نی ثواب
- That in haste thou mayst eat foul things and take foul things, (having in thee) no generosity, no deliberation, no merit acquired by good works.