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پادشاهی مست اندر بزم خوش ** میگذشت آن یک فقیهی بر درش
- (Whilst) a drunken king was feasting merrily, a certain jurist passed by his gate.
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کرد اشارت کش درین مجلس کشید ** وان شراب لعل را با او چشید 3915
- He gave directions, saying, “Bring him into this hall and give him a drink of the ruby wine.”
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پس کشیدندش به شه بیاختیار ** شست در مجلس ترش چون زهر و مار
- So they brought him to the king, (for) he had no choice (power to resist): he sat down in the hall, (looking) sour as poison and snakes.
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عرضه کردش می نپذرفت او به خشم ** از شه و ساقی بگردانید چشم
- (When) he (the cup-bearer) offered him wine, he angrily refused it and averted his eyes from the king and the cup-bearer,
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که به عمر خود نخوردستم شراب ** خوشتر آید از شرابم زهر ناب
- Saying, “I have never drunk wine in my life: rank poison would please me better than wine.
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هین به جای می به من زهری دهید ** تا من از خویش و شما زین وا رهید
- Hey, give me some poison instead of the wine, that I may be delivered from myself and ye from this (impoliteness).”
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می نخورده عربده آغاز کرد ** گشته در مجلس گران چون مرگ و درد 3920
- Without having drunk wine, he began to make a row and became as disagreeable to the company as death and (its) pangs.
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همچو اهل نفس و اهل آب و گل ** در جهان بنشسته با اصحاب دل
- (This is) like (the behaviour of) carnal earthly-minded people in the world when they sit (associate) with spiritual folk.
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حق ندارد خاصگان را در کمون ** از می احرار جز در یشربون
- God keeps His elect (ever) drinking secretly the wine of the free.
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عرضه میدارند بر محجوب جام ** حس نمییابد از آن غیر کلام
- They offer the cup to one who is veiled (uninitiated), (but his) perception apprehends naught thereof except the (literal) words.
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رو همی گرداند از ارشادشان ** که نمیبیند به دیده دادشان
- He averts his face from their guidance because he does not see their gift with his eye.
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گر ز گوشش تا به حلقش ره بدی ** سر نصح اندر درونشان در شدی 3925
- If there were a passage from his ear to his throat, the hidden meaning of their admonition would have entered his inward parts.
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چون همه نارست جانش نیست نور ** که افکند در نار سوزان جز قشور
- Inasmuch as his spirit is wholly fire, not light, who would throw anything but husks into a blazing fire?
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مغز بیرون ماند و قشر گفت رفت ** کی شود از قشر معده گرم و زفت
- The kernel remains outside and the husk, (consisting of mere) words, goes (in): how should the stomach be made warm and stout by husks?
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نار دوزخ جز که قشر افشار نیست ** نار را با هیچ مغزی کار نیست
- The Fire of Hell torments only the husks: the Fire has nothing to do with any kernel;
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ور بود بر مغز ناری شعلهزن ** بهر پختن دان نه بهر سوختن
- And if a fire should dart its flames at the kernel, know that ’tis in order to cook it, not to burn it.
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تا که باشد حق حکیم این قاعده ** مستمر دان در گذشته و نامده 3930
- So long as God is the Wise, know that this law is perpetual (both) in the past and in the time that has not (yet) come.
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مغز نغز و قشرها مغفور ازو ** مغز را پس چون بسوزد دور ازو
- The pure kernels and (also) the husks are pardoned by Him: how, then, should He burn the kernel? Far (be it) from Him!
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از عنایت گر بکوبد بر سرش ** اشتها آید شراب احمرش
- If in His grace He beat the head of him (who resembles the husk), he (such an one) will feel an eager desire for the red wine;
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ور نکوبد ماند او بستهدهان ** چون فقیه از شرب و بزم این شهان
- And if He do not beat him, he will remain, like the jurist, with his mouth closed against the potations and festivity of these (spiritual) kings.
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گفت شه با ساقیش ای نیکپی ** چه خموشی ده به طبعش آر هی
- The king said to his cup-bearer, “O well-conducted (youth), why art thou silent? Give (it him) and put him in good humour.”
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هست پنهان حاکمی بر هر خرد ** هرکه را خواهد به فن از سر برد 3935
- Over every mind there is a hidden Ruler, (who) cunningly diverts from his purpose whomsoever He will.
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آفتاب مشرق و تنویر او ** چون اسیران بسته در زنجیر او
- The sun in the East and his radiance are bound like captives in His chain.
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چرخ را چرخ اندر آرد در زمن ** چون بخواند در دماغش نیم فن
- He causes the (celestial) sphere to revolve immediately when He chants half of a cunning spell in its brain.
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عقل کو عقل دگر را سخره کرد ** مهره زو دارد ویست استاد نرد
- The mind which dominates another mind has (obtains) the dice (of victory) from Him: He is the Master-player.