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گفت حقست این ولی ای سیبویه ** اتق من شر من احسنت الیه
- He (the townsman) said, “This is true, but, O Síbawayh, be on thy guard against the malice of him to whom thou hast shown kindness.
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دوستی تخم دم آخر بود ** ترسم از وحشت که آن فاسد شود
- Love is the seed (that bears fruit at the moment) of the last breath: I fear that it may be corrupted by estrangement.”
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صحبتی باشد چو شمشیر قطوع ** همچو دی در بوستان و در زروع 265
- There is a friendship like a cutting sword, (destructive) as December in the gardens and cornfields;
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صحبتی باشد چو فصل نوبهار ** زو عمارتها و دخل بیشمار
- There is a friendship like the season of spring, whence (come) restorations and produce incalculable.
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حزم آن باشد که ظن بد بری ** تا گریزی و شوی از بد بری
- Prudence is this, that you think evil, so that you may flee and become quit of evil.
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حزم س الظن گفتست آن رسول ** هر قدم را دام میدان ای فضول
- The Prophet has said, “Prudence is (consists in) thinking evil”: know that for every footstep there is a snare, O fool!
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روی صحرا هست هموار و فراخ ** هر قدم دامیست کم ران اوستاخ
- The surface of the plateau is level and broad, (but at) every step there is a snare: do not advance boldly.
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آن بز کوهی دود که دام کو ** چون بتازد دامش افتد در گلو 270
- The mountain-goat runs on, saying, “Where is the snare?” As it speeds onward, the snare lights on its throat.
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آنک میگفتی که کو اینک ببین ** دشت میدیدی نمیدیدی کمین
- O thou who saidst “Where?” look and see! Thou sawest the plain, (but) thou didst not see the ambush.
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بی کمین و دام و صیاد ای عیار ** دنبه کی باشد میان کشتزار
- Without ambush and snare and hunter, O cunning one, how should there be a sheep's tail (laid in a trap) amidst the cornfield?