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تن سپید و دل سیاهستش بگیر ** در عوض ده تن سیاه و دل منیر
- He has a white body, but a black heart: take (him), and give (me) in exchange that one whose body is black but whose heart is illumined.”
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پس فرستاد و بیاورد آن همام ** بود الحق سخت زیبا آن غلام
- Then the chieftain (Abú Bakr) sent (a messenger) to fetch him: in sooth that slave was exceedingly comely,
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آنچنان که ماند حیران آن جهود ** آن دل چون سنگش از جا رفت زود 1030
- So that the Jew was dumbfounded: at once his stony heart inclined (towards him).
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حالت صورتپرستان این بود ** سنگشان از صورتی مومین بود
- This is what happens to form-worshippers: their stone is (made) waxen by a (beauteous) form.
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باز کرد استیزه و راضی نشد ** که برین افزون بده بیهیچ بد
- (Then) again he wrangled and would not be satisfied, saying, “Without any evasion, (thou must) give more than this.”
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یک نصاب نقره هم بر وی فزود ** تا که راضی گشت حرص آن جهود
- He offered him in addition a nisáb (two hundred dirhems) of silver, so that the Jew's cupidity was satisfied.
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خندیدن جهود و پنداشتن کی صدیق مغبونست درین عقد
- How the Jew laughed and imagined that the Siddíq had been swindled in this bargain.
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قهقهه زد آن جهود سنگدل ** از سر افسوس و طنز و غش و غل
- The stony-hearted Jew guffawed jeeringly and mockingly in malice and spite.
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گفت صدیقش که این خنده چه بود ** در جواب پرسش او خنده فزود 1035
- The Siddíq said to him, “Why this laughter?” In reply to the question he laughed more loudly,
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گفت اگر جدت نبودی و غرام ** در خریداری این اسود غلام
- And said, “Had it not been for the (extraordinary) earnestness and ardour shown by thee in the purchase of this black slave,
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من ز استیزه نمیجوشیدمی ** خود به عشر اینش بفروشیدمی
- I would not have wrangled excitedly: indeed I would have sold him for a tenth of this (sum),
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کو به نزد من نیرزد نیم دانگ ** تو گران کردی بهایش را به بانگ
- For in my opinion he is not worth half a dáng; (but) thou mad’st his price heavy by (thy) clamour.”
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پس جوابش داد صدیق ای غبی ** گوهری دادی به جوزی چون صبی
- Then the Siddíq answered him, “O simpleton, thou hast given away a pearl in exchange for a walnut, like a (silly) boy;
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کو به نزد من همیارزد دو کون ** من به جانش ناظرستم تو بلون 1040
- For in my opinion he is worth the two worlds: I am regarding his spirit, thou his colour.
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زر سرخست او سیهتاب آمده ** از برای رشک این احمقکده
- He is red gold that has been made (like) black polished iron on account of the enviousness of this abode of fools.
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دیدهی این هفت رنگ جسمها ** در نیابد زین نقاب آن روح را
- The eye that sees these seven bodily colours cannot perceive the spirit because of this veil.
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گر مکیسی کردیی در بیع بیش ** دادمی من جمله ملک و مال خویش
- If thou hadst haggled in the sale more (excessively than thou didst), I would have given the whole of my property and riches;
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ور مکاس افزودیی من ز اهتمام ** دامنی زر کردمی از غیر وام
- And if thou hadst (then) increased thy demands, I would have borrowed a skirtful of gold in my anxiety (to purchase him).
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سهل دادی زانک ارزان یافتی ** در ندیدی حقه را نشکافتی 1045
- Thou gavest (him) up easily because thou gottest (him) cheap: thou didst not see the pearl, thou didst not split the casket.
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حقه سربسته جهل تو بداد ** زود بینی که چه غبنت اوفتاد
- Thy folly gave (me) a sealed casket: thou wilt soon see what a swindle has befallen thee.
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حقهی پر لعل را دادی به باد ** همچو زنگی در سیهرویی تو شاد
- Thou hast given away a casket full of rubies and, like the negro, thou art rejoicing in thy blackness of face (disastrous plight).
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عاقبت وا حسرتا گویی بسی ** بخت ودولت را فروشد خود کسی
- In the end thou wilt utter many a ‘woe is me!’ Does any one, forsooth, sell (his) fortune and felicity?
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بخت با جامهی غلامانه رسید ** چشم بدبختت به جز ظاهر ندید
- Fortune came (to thee) in the garb of a slave, (but) thy unlucky eye saw only the surface.
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او نمودت بندگی خویشتن ** خوی زشتت کرد با او مکر و فن 1050
- He showed unto thee his slavery (alone): thy wicked nature practiced cunning and deceit with him.
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این سیهاسرار تناسپید را ** بتپرستانه بگیر ای ژاژخا
- (Now), O driveller, take idolatrously this (slave) whose secret thoughts are black though his body is white.
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این ترا و آن مرا بردیم سود ** هین لکم دین ولی دین ای جهود
- This one for thee, that one for me: we (both) have profited. Hark, unto you (your) religion and unto me (my) religion, O Jew.”