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سوی آهویی به صیدی تاختی ** خویش را تو صید خوکی ساختی
- You have ridden in chase of a deer and have made yourself the prey of a hog.
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در پی سودی دویده بهر کبس ** نارسیده سود افتاده به حبس 3685
- You have run after some gain for the purpose of stuffing yourself: the gain has not reached (you) and you have been cast into prison.
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چاهها کنده برای دیگران ** خویش را دیده فتاده اندر آن
- You have dug pits for others and have seen yourself fall into them.
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در سبب چون بیمرادت کرد رب ** پس چرا بدظن نگردی در سبب
- Since the Lord has disappointed you in regard to the means (of obtaining your desire), then why do not you become suspicious of the means?
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بس کسی از مکسبی خاقان شده ** دیگری زان مکسبه عریان شده
- Many a one has become an emperor by dint of toil, while (many) another has been made destitute by that (same) toil.
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بس کس از عقد زنان قارون شده ** بس کس از عقد زنان مدیون شده
- Many a one has been made (rich as) Qárún by marriage, and many a one has been made bankrupt by marriage.
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پس سبب گردان چو دم خر بود ** تکیه بر وی کم کنی بهتر بود 3690
- The means, then, is turning about, like the tail of an ass: ’tis better not to rely upon it.
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ور سبب گیری نگیری هم دلیر ** که بس آفتهاست پنهانش به زیر
- And if you take the means, you should not take it boldly, for beneath it there are many hidden banes.
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سر استثناست این حزم و حذر ** زانک خر را بز نماید این قدر
- This prudence and precaution is the gist of the saving clause, for this (Divine) decree (often) makes the ass appear to be a goat.
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آنک چشمش بست گرچه گربزست ** ز احولی اندر دو چشمش خربزست
- Although he whose eye it (the Divine decree) has bandaged is clever, (yet) because of his seeing double, in his eyes the ass is a goat.