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شیری اندر راه قصد بنده کرد ** قصد هر دو همره آینده کرد 1170
- On the road a lion attacked thy humble slave, attacked both the companions in travel who were coming (to thee).
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گفتمش ما بندهی شاهنشهایم ** خواجهتاشان که آن درگهایم
- I said to him, ‘We are the slaves of the King of kings, the lowly fellow-servants of that (exalted) court.’
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گفت شاهنشه که باشد شرم دار ** پیش من تو یاد هر ناکس میار
- He said, ‘The King of kings! Who is he? Be ashamed! Do not make mention of every base loon in my presence.
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هم ترا و هم شهت را بر درم ** گر تو با یارت بگردید از درم
- Both thee and thy king I will tear to pieces, if thou and thy friend turn back from my door.’
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گفتمش بگذار تا بار دگر ** روی شه بینم برم از تو خبر
- I said to him, ‘Let me behold once more the face of the king and bear the news of thee (to him).’
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گفت همره را گرو نه پیش من ** ور نه قربانی تو اندر کیش من 1175
- He said, ‘Place thy comrade with me (in my keeping) as a pledge; otherwise, thou art a sacrifice (thy life is forfeit) according to my law.’
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لابه کردیمش بسی سودی نکرد ** یار من بستد مرا بگذاشت فرد
- We entreated him much: it was no use. He seized my friend and left me to go alone.
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یارم از زفتی دو چندان بد که من ** هم به لطف و هم به خوبی هم به تن
- My friend, from his plumpness, made two of me both in comeliness and beauty and (size of) body.
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بعد از این ز آن شیر این ره بسته شد ** رشتهی ایمان ما بگسسته شد
- Henceforth this road is barred by that lion: this is what happened to me, and it has been told to thee (just as it happened).
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از وظیفه بعد از این اومید بر ** حق همیگویم ترا و الحق مر
- Cut off (abandon) hope of the allowance henceforth; I am telling thee the truth, and truth is bitter.
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گر وظیفه بایدت ره پاک کن ** هین بیا و دفع آن بیباک کن 1180
- If thou want the allowance, clear the way! hey, come on and repel that irreverent one!”
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جواب گفتن شیر خرگوش را و روان شدن با او
- How the lion answered the hare and set off with him.
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گفت بسم الله بیا تا او کجاست ** پیش در شو گر همیگویی تو راست
- “Come on in God's name,” said he, “let me see where he is! Go thou in front, if thou art speaking truth,
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تا سزای او و صد چون او دهم ** ور دروغ است این سزای تو دهم
- That I may give him and a hundred like him the punishment they deserve, or if this is a lie, that I may give thy deserts to thee.”
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اندر آمد چون قلاووزی به پیش ** تا برد او را به سوی دام خویش
- The hare set out on the way, (going) in front like a guide, that he might lead him towards his snare,
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سوی چاهی کاو نشانش کرده بود ** چاه مغ را دام جانش کرده بود
- Towards the well which he had designated: he had made the deep well a snare for his (the lion's) life.
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میشدند این هر دو تا نزدیک چاه ** اینت خرگوشی چو آبی زیر کاه 1185
- (Thus) were these twain going till (they arrived) near the well. Look, you, (this was) a hare (deceitful) as a (pool of) water (hidden) under straw.
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آب کاهی را به هامون میبرد ** آب کوهی را عجب چون میبرد
- The water bears a blade of straw (down) to the plain: how, I wonder, will the water bear away a mountain?
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دام مکر او کمند شیر بود ** طرفه خرگوشی که شیری میربود
- The snare of his (the hare's) guile was a noose for the lion: a marvellous hare (he), who was carrying off a lion (as his prey)!
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موسیی فرعون را با رود نیل ** میکشد با لشکر و جمع ثقیل
- A Moses kills Pharaoh, with his army and mighty host, by means of (a sea like) the river Nile.
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پشهای نمرود را با نیم پر ** میشکافد بیمحابا درز سر
- A single gnat with half a wing cleaves intrepidly the suture of Nimrod's skull.
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حال آن کاو قول دشمن را شنود ** بین جزای آن که شد یار حسود 1190
- Behold the state of him who hearkened to the words of his enemy, and the retribution of him who became the friend of the envious one—
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حال فرعونی که هامان را شنود ** حال نمرودی که شیطان را شنود
- The state of a Pharaoh who hearkened to Haman, and the state of a Nimrod who hearkened to Satan.
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دشمن ار چه دوستانه گویدت ** دام دان گر چه ز دانه گویدت
- Albeit the enemy speak to thee in friendly wise, know (his words to be) the snare, though he speak to thee of the grain (bait).
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گر ترا قندی دهد آن زهر دان ** گر به تن لطفی کند آن قهر دان
- If he give thee some candy, regard it as poison; if he do a kindness to thy body, regard it as cruelty.
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چون قضا آید نبینی غیر پوست ** دشمنان را باز نشناسی ز دوست
- When the (Divine) destiny comes to pass, you see naught but the skin (outward appearance): you do not distinguish enemies from friends.