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نک بدان سو آب دیدم هین شتاب ** تا رویم آنجا و آن باشد سراب
- Lo, I see water yonder: hark, make haste that we may go there”—and ’tis (only) the mirage.
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هر قدم زین آب تازی دورتر ** دو دوان سوی سراب با غرر
- At every step you hurry farther away from the water, whilst you keep running on towards the perilous mirage.
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عین آن عزمت حجاب این شده ** که به تو پیوسته است و آمده
- Your very setting-out has become the barrier (which prevents you) from (seeing) this that has come close to you.
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بس کسا عزمی به جایی می‌کند ** از مقامی کان غرض در وی بود
- Oh, many a one sets out to some place from the spot where the object of his quest is (to be found).
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دید و لاف خفته می‌ناید به کار ** جز خیالی نیست دست از وی بدار 3235
- The (far) sight and boasting of the sleeper is of no avail; it is naught but a phantasy: hold aloof from it.
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خوابناکی لیک هم بر راه خسپ ** الله الله بر ره الله خسپ
- Thou art sleepy, but anyhow sleep on the Way: for God's sake, for God's sake, sleep on the Way of God,
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تا بود که سالکی بر تو زند ** از خیالات نعاست بر کند
- That perchance a Traveller (on the Way) may attach himself to thee and tear thee from the phantasies of slumber.
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خفته را گر فکر گردد هم‌چو موی ** او از آن دقت نیابد راه کوی
- (Even) if the sleeper's thought become (subtle) as a hair, he will not find the way to the Abode by that subtlety.
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فکر خفته گر دوتا و گر سه‌تاست ** هم خطا اندر خطا اندر خطاست
- Whether the sleeper's thought is twofold or threefold, still it is error on error on error.
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موج بر وی می‌زند بی‌احتراز ** خفته پویان در بیابان دراز 3240
- The waves are beating upon him without restraint, (whilst) he asleep is running in the long wilderness.