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داند و خر را همی‌‌راند خموش ** در رخت خندد برای روی‌‌پوش 3030
- He knows and keeps riding on silently: he smiles in thy face in order to mask (his feelings).
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شیر چون دانست آن وسواسشان ** وانگفت و داشت آن دم پاسشان
- When the lion perceived their bad ideas, he did not declare (his knowledge), and paid (courteous) regard (to them) at the time,
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لیک با خود گفت بنمایم سزا ** مر شما را ای خسیسان گدا
- But he said to himself, “I will show you what (chastisement) ye deserve, O beggarly villains!
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مر شما را بس نیامد رای من ** ظنتان این است در اعطای من
- Was my judgement not enough for you? Is this your opinion of my bounty,
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ای عقول و رایتان از رای من ** از عطاهای جهان آرای من
- O ye whose understanding and judgement are (derived) from my judgement and from my world-adorning gifts?
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نقش با نقاش چه سگالد دگر ** چون سگالش اوش بخشید و خبر 3035
- What else (but good) should the picture think of the painter, since he bestowed thought and knowledge upon it?
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این چنین ظن خسیسانه به من ** مر شما را بود ننگان زمن
- Had ye such a vile opinion of me, O ye who are a scandal to the world?
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ظانین بالله ظن السوء را ** گر نبرم سر بود عین خطا
- If I should not behead them that think ill of God, it would be the essence of wrong.
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وارهانم چرخ را از ننگتان ** تا بماند بر جهان این داستان
- I will deliver the Sphere (of Time) from your disgrace, so that this tale shall remain in the world (as a warning).”
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شیر با این فکر می‌‌زد خنده فاش ** بر تبسمهای شیر ایمن مباش
- While thus meditating, the lion continued to smile visibly: do not trust the smiles of the lion!