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من چه دارم که فداات نیست آن ** که ز من فریاد داری هر زمان 4480
- What do I possess that is not sacrificed to thee: (why, then, is it) that thou art always crying out at me?
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بر لب خشکم گشادستی زبان ** گاه مفلس خوانیم گه قلتبان
- Thou hast let loose thy tongue at my dry crusts: now thou callest me ‘pauper,’ now ‘cuckold.’
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این دو علت گر بود ای جان مرا ** آن یکی از تست و دیگر از خدا
- If, my dear, I suffer from these two maladies, one (the latter) comes from thee and the other from God.
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من چه دارم غیر آن صندوق که آن ** هست مایهی تهمت و پایهی گمان
- What do I possess but that chest, which is a source of suspicion and a ground for (evil) surmise?
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خلق پندارند زر دارم درون ** داد واگیرند از من زین ظنون
- People think I keep gold in it, and because of these (false) opinions charity is withheld from me.
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صورت صندوق بس زیباست لیک ** از عروض و سیم و ز خالیست نیک 4485
- The appearance of the chest is very pleasing, but it is quite empty of goods and silver and gold.
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چون تن زراق خوب و با وقار ** اندر آن سله نیابی غیر مار
- (’Tis) like the person of a hypocrite, (one who is) handsome and dignified; (but) in the basket you will find nothing except a snake.
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من برم صندوق را فردا به کو ** پس بسوزم در میان چارسو
- To-morrow I will take the chest into the street and burn it in the midst of the market at the cross-ways,
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تا ببیند مومن و گبر و جهود ** که درین صندوق جز لعنت نبود
- That true believer and Zoroastrian and Jew may see there was nothing in this chest but (cause for) cursing.”
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گفت زن هی در گذر ای مرد ازین ** خورد سوگندان که نکنم جز چنین
- “O husband,” cried the woman, “come now, give up this (idea)!” (However), he swore several times that he would do just as he had said.