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کو کسی که پیش شه بندد کمر ** تا کسی که هست بیرون سوی در
- Where is one that girds himself (for service) before the king to (i.e. how far superior is he to) one that is outside the door?
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چون گزیدی پیر نازک دل مباش ** سست و ریزیده چو آب و گل مباش
- When thou hast chosen thy Pír, be not faint-hearted, be not weak as water and crumbly as earth.
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گر بهر زخمی تو پر کینه شوی ** پس کجا بی‌‌صیقل آیینه شوی 2980
- If thou art enraged by every blow, then how wilt thou become a (clear) mirror without being polished?
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کبودی زدن قزوینی بر شانگاه صورت شیر و پشیمان شدن او به سبب زخم سوزن
- How the man of Qazwín was tattooing the figure of a lion in blue on his shoulders, and (then) repenting because of the (pain of the) needle-pricks.
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این حکایت بشنو از صاحب بیان ** در طریق و عادت قزوینیان
- Hear from the narrator this story about the way and custom of the people of Qazwín.
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بر تن و دست و کتفها بی‌‌گزند ** از سر سوزن کبودیها زنند
- They tattoo themselves in blue with the point of a needle on body and hand and shoulders, so as to suffer no injury.
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سوی دلاکی بشد قزوینیی ** که کبودم زن بکن شیرینیی
- A certain man of Qazwín went to a barber and said, “Tattoo me (and) do it charmingly (artistically).”
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گفت چه صورت زنم ای پهلوان ** گفت بر زن صورت شیر ژیان
- “O valiant sir,” said he, “what figure shall I tattoo?” He answered, “Prick in the figure of a furious lion.
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طالعم شیر است نقش شیر زن ** جهد کن رنگ کبودی سیر زن 2985
- Leo is my ascendant: tattoo the form of a lion. Exert yourself, prick in plenty of the blue dye.”
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گفت بر چه موضعت صورت زنم ** گفت بر شانه‌‌گهم زن آن رقم
- “On what place,” he asked, “shall I tattoo you?” Said he, “Prick the design on my shoulder-blade.”
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چون که او سوزن فرو بردن گرفت ** درد آن در شانگه مسکن گرفت
- As soon as he began to stick in the needle, the pain of it settled in the shoulder,