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این مثالت را چو زاغ و بوم دان ** که ازیشان پست شد صد خاندان
- Know that this comparison of thine is like crows and owls by which a hundred households are laid low.
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مثلها زدن قوم نوح باستهزا در زمان کشتی ساختن
- How the people of Noah uttered similitudes derisively at the time of his building the Ark
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نوح اندر بادیه کشتی بساخت ** صد مثل‌گو از پی تسخیر بتاخت 2795
- Noah built an Ark in the desert : a hundred speakers of parables ran up to ridicule (him).
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در بیابانی که چاه آب نیست ** می‌کند کشتی چه نادان و ابلهیست
- He is making a ship (Ark) in the desert where no well of water exists: what an ignorant fool he is!"
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آن یکی می‌گفت ای کشتی بتاز ** و آن یکی می‌گفت پرش هم بساز
- One was saying, "O ship, run!" while another said, "Make wings for it too ! "
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او همی‌گفت این به فرمان خداست ** این بچربکها نخواهد گشت کاست
- He (Noah) said, "This is by the command of God: this will not be defeated by jeers."
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حکایت آن دزد کی پرسیدند چه می‌کنی نیمشب در بن این دیوار گفت دهل می‌زنم
- Story of the thief who was asked, “What are you doing at the bottom of this wall at midnight?” and replied, “I am beating a drum.”
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این مثل بشنو که شب دزدی عنید ** در بن دیوار حفره می‌برید
- Hear this parable—how a wicked thief was cutting a hole at the bottom of a wall.
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نیم‌بیداری که او رنجور بود ** طقطق آهسته‌اش را می‌شنود 2800
- Some one half-awake, who was ill, heard the soft tapping of his (pick),
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رفت بر بام و فرو آویخت سر ** گفت او را در چه کاری ای پدر
- And went on the roof and hung his head down and said to him, “What are you about, O father?
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خیر باشد نیمشب چه می‌کنی ** تو کیی گفتا دهل‌زن ای سنی
- All is well, I hope. What are you doing (here) at midnight? Who are you?” He said, “A drummer, O honourable sir.”
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در چه کاری گفت می‌کوبم دهل ** گفت کو بانگ دهل ای بوسبل
- “What are you about?” He said, “I am beating the drum.” He (the sick man) said, “Where is the noise of the drum, O artful one?”