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رست کشتی از دم آن پهلوان ** واهل کشتی را بجهد خود گمان 2225
- Through the breath (prayer) of that (spiritual) hero the ship was saved, while the people in the ship thought (they were saved) by their own efforts,
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که مگر بازوی ایشان در حذر ** بر هدف انداخت تیری از هنر
- (Supposing) that maybe in (the hour of) dread their arm had skilfully shot an arrow at the target.
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پا رهاند روبهان را در شکار ** و آن زدم دانند روباهان غرار
- Foxes, in the chase, are saved by their legs, but the foxes inconsiderately deem that (safety to proceed) from their tails.
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عشقها با دم خود بازند کین ** میرهاند جان ما را در کمین
- (Hence) they play fondly with their tails, thinking, “These save our lives in the ambuscade (of calamity).”
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روبها پا را نگه دار از کلوخ ** پا چو نبود دم چه سود ای چشمشوخ
- O fox, preserve your legs from (being broken by) brickbats; when you have no legs, what use is your tail, O bold-eyed one?
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ما چو روباهان و پای ما کرام ** میرهاندمان ز صدگون انتقام 2230
- We are like foxes, and the noble (saints) are (as) our legs: they save us from a hundred kinds of vengeance.
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حیلهی باریک ما چون دم ماست ** عشقها بازیم با دم چپ و راست
- Our subtle contrivance is as our tails: we play fondly with our tails, left and right.
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دم بجنبانیم ز استدلال و مکر ** تا که حیران ماند از ما زید و بکر
- We wag our tails in argumentation and cunning, in order that Zayd and Bakr may remain amazed at us.
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طالب حیرانی خلقان شدیم ** دست طمع اندر الوهیت زدیم
- We have sought to excite the amazement of the people; we have eagerly grasped at Divinity,
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تا بافسون مالک دلها شویم ** این نمیبینیم ما کاندر گویم
- That by means of guile we may gain possession of (the people's) hearts; we do not see that we are in a ditch.
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در گوی و در چهی ای قلتبان ** دست وا دار از سبال دیگران 2235
- You are in the ditch and in the pit, O scoundrel: keep your hands off the moustache of others!
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چون به بستانی رسی زیبا و خوش ** بعد از آن دامان خلقان گیر و کش
- When you arrive at a fair and beauteous garden, after that lay hold of the people's skirts and lead them.
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ای مقیم حبس چار و پنج و شش ** نغز جایی دیگران را هم بکش
- O you who dwell in the prison of the four (elements) and the five (senses) and the six (directions), lead others also to (such) a goodly place!
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ای چو خربنده حریف کون خر ** بوسه گاهی یافتی ما را ببر
- O you who, like an ass-servant, are the comrade of the ass's rump, you have found a (fine) spot to kiss: take us (to it)!
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چون ندادت بندگی دوست دست ** میل شاهی از کجاات خاستست
- Since (true) servitude to the Beloved has not been granted you, whence has arisen in you the wish for sovereignty?
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در هوای آنک گویندت زهی ** بستهای در گردن جانت زهی 2240
- In your desire that they should say to you “Bravo!” you have tied a bowstring on the neck of your soul.
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روبها این دم حیلت را بهل ** وقف کن دل بر خداوندان دل
- O fox, abandon this tail, (which is) contrivance, and devote your heart to the lords of the heart (the saints).
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در پناه شیر کم ناید کباب ** روبها تو سوی جیفه کم شتاب
- (Whilst you are) under the protection of the lion, roast-meat will not fail;O fox, do not hasten towards the carcase.
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تو دلا منظور حق آنگه شوی ** که چو جزوی سوی کل خود روی
- O heart, thou wilt be regarded (with favour) by God at the moment when, like a part, thou goest towards thy Whole.
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حق همیگوید نظرمان در دلست ** نیست بر صورت که آن آب و گلست
- God saith, “Our regard is (bestowed) on the heart; it is not (bestowed) on the external form, which is (only) water and earth.”
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تو همیگویی مرا دل نیز هست ** دل فراز عرش باشد نه به پست 2245
- You say, “I too have a heart”; (but) the heart is above the empyrean, it is not below.
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در گل تیره یقین هم آب هست ** لیک زان آبت نشاید آبدست
- Certainly in the dark earth also there is water, but ’tis not proper for you to wash your hands with that water,
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زانک گر آبست مغلوب گلست ** پس دل خود را مگو کین هم دلست
- Because, though it is water, it is overcome by the earth. Do not, then, say of your heart, “This too is a heart.”
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آن دلی کز آسمانها برترست ** آن دل ابدال یا پیغامبرست
- The heart that is higher than the heavens is the heart of the saint or the prophet.
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پاک گشته آن ز گل صافی شده ** در فزونی آمده وافی شده
- That (heart) has become cleansed of earth and purified; it has come to (full) growth and has been made complete.