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گفت اگر جدت نبودی و غرام ** در خریداری این اسود غلام
- And said, “Had it not been for the (extraordinary) earnestness and ardour shown by thee in the purchase of this black slave,
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من ز استیزه نمی‌جوشیدمی ** خود به عشر اینش بفروشیدمی
- I would not have wrangled excitedly: indeed I would have sold him for a tenth of this (sum),
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کو به نزد من نیرزد نیم دانگ ** تو گران کردی بهایش را به بانگ
- For in my opinion he is not worth half a dáng; (but) thou mad’st his price heavy by (thy) clamour.”
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پس جوابش داد صدیق ای غبی ** گوهری دادی به جوزی چون صبی
- Then the Siddíq answered him, “O simpleton, thou hast given away a pearl in exchange for a walnut, like a (silly) boy;
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کو به نزد من همی‌ارزد دو کون ** من به جانش ناظرستم تو بلون 1040
- For in my opinion he is worth the two worlds: I am regarding his spirit, thou his colour.
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زر سرخست او سیه‌تاب آمده ** از برای رشک این احمق‌کده
- He is red gold that has been made (like) black polished iron on account of the enviousness of this abode of fools.
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دیده‌ی این هفت رنگ جسمها ** در نیابد زین نقاب آن روح را
- The eye that sees these seven bodily colours cannot perceive the spirit because of this veil.
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گر مکیسی کردیی در بیع بیش ** دادمی من جمله ملک و مال خویش
- If thou hadst haggled in the sale more (excessively than thou didst), I would have given the whole of my property and riches;
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ور مکاس افزودیی من ز اهتمام ** دامنی زر کردمی از غیر وام
- And if thou hadst (then) increased thy demands, I would have borrowed a skirtful of gold in my anxiety (to purchase him).
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سهل دادی زانک ارزان یافتی ** در ندیدی حقه را نشکافتی 1045
- Thou gavest (him) up easily because thou gottest (him) cheap: thou didst not see the pearl, thou didst not split the casket.