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در فرج جویی خرد سر تیز به ** از کمینگاه بلا پرهیز به
- In seeking relief (from sorrow) ’tis better that one's wits should be sharp: ’tis better to abstain from (falling into) the ambuscade of tribulation.”
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گر نمیگفت این سخن را آن پدر ** ور نمیفرمود زان قلعه حذر
- If their father had not spoken these words and had not warned them against that fortress,
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خود بدان قلعه نمیشد خیلشان ** خود نمیافتاد آن سو میلشان 3655
- Their party would never have approached the fortress, their desire would never have inclined towards it;
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کان نبد معروف بس مهجور بود ** از قلاع و از مناهج دور بود
- For it was not well-known: it was exceedingly remote and aloof from the (other) fortresses and the highways.
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چون بکرد آن منع دلشان زان مقال ** در هوس افتاد و در کوی خیال
- (But) when he (the King) uttered that prohibition, their hearts were thrown by his speech into vain desire and into the quarter of phantasy,
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رغبتی زین منع در دلشان برست ** که بباید سر آن را باز جست
- And, because of this prohibition, a craving arose in their hearts to investigate the secret of that (fortress).
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کیست کز ممنوع گردد ممتنع ** چونک الانسان حریص ما منع
- Who is (to be found) that will refrain from the forbidden thing, since man longs eagerly for what is forbidden?
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نهی بر اهل تقی تبغیض شد ** نهی بر اهل هوا تحریض شد 3660
- The veto causes the devout to hate (that which is vetoed); the veto incites the sensual to covet it.
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پس ازین یغوی به قوما کثیر ** هم ازین یهدی به قلبا خبیر
- Therefore He (God) leads many folk astray by this means, and by the same means He guides aright (many) a knowing heart.
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کی رمد از نی حمام آشنا ** بل رمد زان نی حمامات هوا
- How should the friendly dove be scared by the (fowler's) pipe? Nay, (only) the (wild) doves in the air are scared by that pipe.