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زان همی‌کردم صفوف جنگ چاک ** تا رهانم مر شما را از هلاک
- I was cleaving the battle-ranks for the purpose that I might deliver you from destruction.
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زان نمی‌برم گلوهای بشر ** تا مرا باشد کر و فر و حشر
- I do not cut men's throats in order that power and glory and followers may be mine,
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زان همی‌برم گلویی چند تا ** زان گلوها عالمی یابد رها 4555
- (But) I cut some throats in order that a (whole) world (of people) may obtain deliverance from those throats,
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که شما پروانه‌وار از جهل خویش ** پیش آتش می‌کنید این حمله کیش
- For ye in your ignorance make a habit of rushing thus, like moths, at the fire,
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من همی‌رانم شما را همچو مست ** از در افتادن در آتش با دو دست
- (While) I, (furiously) as a drunken man, drive you away with both hands (to save you) from falling into the fire.
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آنک خود را فتحها پنداشتید ** تخم منحوسی خود می‌کاشتید
- That which ye deemed victories for yourselves—(thereby) ye were sowing the seed of your damnation.
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یکدگر را جد جد می‌خواندید ** سوی اژدرها فرس می‌راندید
- Ye were calling one another most earnestly (to fight against me), (and by doing so) ye were riding your horses towards the dragon.
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قهر می‌کردید و اندر عین قهر ** خود شما مقهور قهر شیر دهر 4560
- Ye were overpowering (me), whilst in the very act of overpowering ye yourselves were being overpowered by the lion (which is) Time.”
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بیان آنک طاغی در عین قاهری مقهورست و در عین منصوری ماسور
- Showing that the rebellious sinner in the very act of overpowering is overpowered, and in the very moment of victory is made captive.
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دزد قهرخواجه کرد و زر کشید ** او بدان مشغول خود والی رسید
- The robber overpowered (murdered) the merchant and carried off the gold: he was just engaged in that (business), (when) the magistrate arrived.
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گر ز خواجه آن زمان بگریختی ** کی برو والی حشر انگیختی
- If at that time he had fled from the merchant, how should the magistrate have set the police on him?