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مانه زان پیلان گولیم ای گروه ** که اضطراب ماه آردمان شکوه
- O company (of prophets), we are not (to be reckoned) among those stupid elephants who are terrified by the disturbance of the Moon.”
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انبیا گفتند آوه پند جان ** سختتر کرد ای سفیهان بندتان
- The prophets said, “Ah, (our) spiritual admonition has (only) made your (carnal) bondage more grievous, O ye fools!
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جواب گفتن انبیا طعن ایشان را و مثل زدن ایشان را
- How the prophets answered their sneers and uttered parables unto them.
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ای دریغا که دوا در رنجتان ** گشت زهر قهر جان آهنجتان
- Oh, alas that in (the case of) your disease the remedy has become for you the poison of soul-wringing (Divine) vengeance.
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ظلمت افزود این چراغ آن چشم را ** چون خدا بگماشت پردهی خشم را 2755
- This lamp (of spiritual admonition) has increased the darkness of that (diseased) eye, since God has set (over it) the veil of wrath.
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چه رئیسی جست خواهیم از شما ** که ریاستمان فزونست از سما
- What dominion shall we crave from you? for our dominion is greater than the sky.”
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چه شرف یابد ز کشتی بحر در ** خاصه کشتیی ز سرگین گشته پر
- What glory should the sea of pearls acquire from the ship— especially a ship that has been filled with dung?
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ای دریغ آن دیدهی کور و کبود ** آفتابی اندرو ذره نمود
- Oh, alas for that eye blind and blear! Therein a sun seemed as (insignificant as) a mote.
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ز آدمی که بود بی مثل و ندید ** دیده ابلیس جز طینی ندید
- In an Adam who was without like or equal the eye of Iblís discerned naught but a piece of clay.
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چشم دیوانه بهارش دی نمود ** زان طرف جنبید کو را خانه بود 2760
- The devilish eye showed (saw) his (Adam's) spring as winter: it moved in the direction where its (original) home was.
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ای بسا دولت که آید گاه گاه ** پیش بیدولت بگردد او ز راه
- Oh, many a fortune that comes now and then to the unfortunate one, and he turns away (from it)!
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ای بسا معشوق کاید ناشناخت ** پیش بدبختی نداند عشق باخت
- Oh, many a beloved who comes unbeknown to an ill-starred one, and he knows not how to make love!
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این غلطده دیده را حرمان ماست ** وین مقلب قلب را س القضاست
- This that misleads the eye is our (original) damnation, and this that turns the heart (from seeing the truth) is (our) evil destiny.
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چون بت سنگین شما را قبله شد ** لعنت و کوری شما را ظله شد
- Since to you the idol of stone has become an object of adoration, the curse (of God) and blindness have o’ershadowed you.
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چون بشاید سنگتان انباز حق ** چون نشاید عقل و جان همراز حق 2765
- When your stone is a fitting partner for God, how are not intellect and spirit fitting confidants of God?
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پشهی مرده هما را شد شریک ** چون نشاید زنده همراز ملیک
- The dead gnat has become the consort of the humá: how (then) is the living one not fit to be the confidant of the King?
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یا مگر مرده تراشیدهی شماست ** پشهی زنده تراشیدهی خداست
- Or, maybe, (’tis because) the dead one is fashioned by you, (whereas) the living gnat is fashioned by God.
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عاشق خویشید و صنعتکرد خویش ** دم ماران را سر مارست کیش
- Ye are in love with yourselves and the thing manufactured by yourselves: to serpents' tails the serpent's head is a law.
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نه در آن دم دولتی و نعمتی ** نه در آن سر راحتی و لذتی
- In that tail there is no fortune or happiness; in that head there is no pleasure or delight.
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گرد سر گردان بود آن دم مار ** لایقاند و درخورند آن هر دو یار 2770
- That serpent's tail is circling around the head: both those friends are fit and suited (to each other).
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آنچنان گوید حکیم غزنوی ** در الهینامه گر خوش بشنوی
- So says the Sage of Ghazna in the Iláhí-náma, if thou wilt hearken well—
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کم فضولی کن تو در حکم قدر ** درخور آمد شخص خر با گوش خر
- “Do not behave as a (presumptuous) meddler in the decree of (Divine) fore-ordainment: the ass's shape is suited to the ass's ear.”
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شد مناسب عضوها و ابدانها ** شد مناسب وصفها با جانها
- Limbs and bodies are congruous; qualities are congruous with souls.
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وصف هر جانی تناسب باشدش ** بی گمان با جان که حق بتراشدش
- Unquestionably the quality of every soul has congruity with the soul; for God fashions it (accordingly).
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چون صفت با جان قرین کردست او ** پس مناسب دانش همچون چشم و رو 2775
- Inasmuch as He hath joined the quality to the soul, know that it (the quality) is congruous, like eyes and face.
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شد مناسب وصفها در خوب و زشت ** شد مناسب حرفها که حق نبشت
- The (good and evil) qualities are congruous in the good and evil (souls): congruous are the letters that God hath written.