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گفته بودیم از سقام آن کنیز ** وز طبیبان و قصور فهم نیز
- We had (previously) told of the sickness of the handmaiden and (the story) of the physicians and also their lack of understanding—
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کان طبیبان همچو اسپ بیعذار ** غافل و بیبهره بودند از سوار
- How those physicians were like an unbridled horse, heedless of the rider and having no profit (of him).
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کامشان پر زخم از قرع لگام ** سمشان مجروح از تحویل گام
- (Though) their palates were covered with sores made by the impact of the bit, and their hooves wounded by (continually) changing step,
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ناشده واقف که نک بر پشت ما ** رایض و چستیست استادینما 3675
- They had not become aware (of the truth and never said to themselves), “Lo, on our back is a nimble Trainer who displays masterly skill.
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نیست سرگردانی ما زین لگام ** جز ز تصریف سوار دوستکام
- Our turning the head to and fro is not caused by this bit, but only by the control of a successful Rider.
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ما پی گل سوی بستانها شده ** گل نموده آن و آن خاری بده
- We (are like those who) went into the gardens to gather roses: they seemed to be roses, but they were (really) thorns.”
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هیچشان این نی که گویند از خرد ** بر گلوی ما کی میکوبد لگد
- It never occurred to them to ask, (prompted) by reason, “Who is kicking (bruising) our throats?”
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آن طبیبان آنچنان بندهی سبب ** گشتهاند از مکر یزدان محتجب
- Those (worldly-wise) physicians (are) so enthralled by the secondary cause (that) they have become blind to God's contrivance.
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گر ببندی در صطبلی گاو نر ** باز یابی در مقام گاو خر 3680
- If you tether an ox in a stall and then find an ass in the place of the ox,
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از خری باشد تغافل خفتهوار ** که نجویی تا کیست آن خفیه کار
- ’Twould be asinine carelessness, like (that of) a man in slumber, not to inquire who is the secret agent (that has effected the substitution).
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خود نگفته این مبدل تا کیست ** نیست پیدا او مگر افلاکیست
- (Yet) you never said, “Let me see who this changer is: he is not visible; surely, he is a celestial being.”
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تیر سوی راست پرانیدهای ** سوی چپ رفتست تیرت دیدهای
- You have shot an arrow to the right and have seen your arrow go to the left.
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سوی آهویی به صیدی تاختی ** خویش را تو صید خوکی ساختی
- You have ridden in chase of a deer and have made yourself the prey of a hog.
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در پی سودی دویده بهر کبس ** نارسیده سود افتاده به حبس 3685
- You have run after some gain for the purpose of stuffing yourself: the gain has not reached (you) and you have been cast into prison.
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چاهها کنده برای دیگران ** خویش را دیده فتاده اندر آن
- You have dug pits for others and have seen yourself fall into them.
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در سبب چون بیمرادت کرد رب ** پس چرا بدظن نگردی در سبب
- Since the Lord has disappointed you in regard to the means (of obtaining your desire), then why do not you become suspicious of the means?
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بس کسی از مکسبی خاقان شده ** دیگری زان مکسبه عریان شده
- Many a one has become an emperor by dint of toil, while (many) another has been made destitute by that (same) toil.
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بس کس از عقد زنان قارون شده ** بس کس از عقد زنان مدیون شده
- Many a one has been made (rich as) Qárún by marriage, and many a one has been made bankrupt by marriage.
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پس سبب گردان چو دم خر بود ** تکیه بر وی کم کنی بهتر بود 3690
- The means, then, is turning about, like the tail of an ass: ’tis better not to rely upon it.
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ور سبب گیری نگیری هم دلیر ** که بس آفتهاست پنهانش به زیر
- And if you take the means, you should not take it boldly, for beneath it there are many hidden banes.
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سر استثناست این حزم و حذر ** زانک خر را بز نماید این قدر
- This prudence and precaution is the gist of the saving clause, for this (Divine) decree (often) makes the ass appear to be a goat.
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آنک چشمش بست گرچه گربزست ** ز احولی اندر دو چشمش خربزست
- Although he whose eye it (the Divine decree) has bandaged is clever, (yet) because of his seeing double, in his eyes the ass is a goat.
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چون مقلب حق بود ابصار را ** که بگرداند دل و افکار را
- Since God is the Turner of eyes, who (else) should turn the heart and the thoughts?
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چاه را تو خانهای بینی لطیف ** دام را تو دانهای بینی ظریف 3695
- (Hence) you deem a pit to be a pleasant house, you deem a trap to be a dainty bait.
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این تفسطط نیست تقلیب خداست ** مینماید که حقیقتها کجاست
- This is not sophistry (scepticism), it is God's turning: it shows where the realities are.