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کآشنا بودند وقت کودکی ** بر وساده‌‌ی آشنایی متکی
- For they had been acquainted in childhood, reclining (together) on the cushion of acquaintance.
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یاد دادش جور اخوان و حسد ** گفت کان زنجیر بود و ما اسد
- He spoke to him (Joseph) of the injustice and envy of his brethren: Joseph said, “That was (like) a chain, and I was the lion.
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عار نبود شیر را از سلسله ** نیست ما را از قضای حق گله 3160
- The lion is not disgraced by the chain: I do not complain of God's destiny.
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شیر را بر گردن ار زنجیر بود ** بر همه زنجیر سازان میر بود
- If the lion had a chain on his neck, (yet) he was prince over all the chain-makers.”
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گفت چون بودی ز زندان و ز چاه ** گفت همچون در محاق و کاست ماه
- He asked, “How wert thou in regard to the prison and the well?” “Like the moon,” said Joseph, “in the interlunar period (when she is) on the wane.”
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در محاق ار ماه نو گردد دو تا ** نی در آخر بدر گردد بر سما
- If in that period the new moon is bent double, does not she at last become the full moon in the sky?
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گر چه دردانه به هاون کوفتند ** نور چشم و دل شد و بیند بلند
- Though the seed-pearl is pounded in the mortar, it becomes the light of eye and heart and looks aloft.
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گندمی را زیر خاک انداختند ** پس ز خاکش خوشه‌‌ها بر ساختند 3165
- They cast a grain of wheat under earth, then from its earth they raised up ears of corn;
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بار دیگر کوفتندش ز آسیا ** قیمتش افزود و نان شد جان فزا
- Once more they crushed it with the mill: its value increased and it became soul invigorating bread;
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باز نان را زیر دندان کوفتند ** گشت عقل و جان و فهم هوشمند
- Again they crushed the bread under their teeth: it became the mind and spirit and understanding of one endowed with reason;