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گردش او را نه اجر و نه عقاب ** که اختیار آمد هنر وقت حساب
- (Hence) its revolution has neither reward nor punishment, for free-will is (accounted) a merit at the time of the Reckoning.
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جمله عالم خود مسبح آمدند ** نیست آن تسبیح جبری مزدمند
- All created beings indeed are glorifiers (of God), (but) that compulsory glorification is not wage-earning.
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تیغ در دستش نه از عجزش بکن ** تا که غازی گردد او یا راه‌زن 3290
- “Put a sword in his hand, pull him away from weakness (incapacity to choose), so that he may become (either) a holy warrior or a brigand,
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زانک کرمنا شد آدم ز اختیار ** نیم زنبور عسل شد نیم مار
- Because We have honoured Man by (the gift of) free-will: half (of him) is honeybee, half is snake.”
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مومنان کان عسل زنبوروار ** کافران خود کان زهری همچو مار
- The true believers are a store of honey, like the bee; the infidels, in sooth, are a store of poison, like the snake,
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زانک مومن خورد بگزیده نبات ** تا چو نحلی گشت ریق او حیات
- Because the true believer ate choice herbs, so that, like a bee, his spittle became (a means of giving) life;
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باز کافر خورد شربت از صدید ** هم ز قوتش زهر شد در وی پدید
- (While), again, the infidel drank sherbet of filthy water: accordingly from his nourishment poison appeared in him.
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اهل الهام خدا عین الحیات ** اهل تسویل هوا سم الممات 3295
- Those inspired by God are the fountain of life; those allured by the enticements of sensuality are the poison of death.
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در جهان این مدح و شاباش و زهی ** ز اختیارست و حفاظ آگهی
- In the world this praise and “well done!” and “bravo!” are (bestowed) in virtue of free-will and watchful attention.
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جمله رندان چونک در زندان بوند ** متقی و زاهد و حق‌خوان شوند
- All profligates, when they are in prison, become devout and ascetic and invokers of God.
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چونک قدرت رفت کاسد شد عمل ** هین که تا سرمایه نستاند اجل
- When the power (to act freely) is gone, the work becomes unsaleable (worthless). Take heed lest Doom seize the capital (which thou hast).
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قدرتت سرمایه‌ی سودست هین ** وقت قدرت را نگه دار و ببین
- The power (of free action) is thy profit-earning capital. Hark, watch over the moment of power and observe (it well)!
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آدمی بر خنگ کرمنا سوار ** در کف درکش عنان اختیار 3300
- Man rides on the steed of “We have honoured (the sons of Adam)”: the reins of free-will are in the hand of his intelligence.
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باز موسی داد پند او را بمهر ** که مرادت زرد خواهد کرد چهر
- Once more did Moses admonish him kindly, saying, “The thing thou desirest will make thy face pale.
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ترک این سودا بگو وز حق بترس ** دیو دادستت برای مکر درس
- Abandon this vain passion and be afraid of God: the Devil has schooled thee for the purpose of deception.”
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قانع شدن آن طالب به تعلیم زبان مرغ خانگی و سگ و اجابت موسی علیه السلام
- How that seeker was content to be taught the language of domestic fowls and dogs, and how Moses, on whom be peace; complied with his request.
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گفت باری نطق سگ کو بر درست ** نطق مرغ خانگی کاهل پرست
- He said, “At any rate (teach me) the language of the dog which is at the door and the language of the domestic fowl which has wings.”
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گفت موسی هین تو دانی رو رسید ** نطق این هر دو شود بر تو پدید
- “Hark,” said Moses, “thou knowest (best)! Go, it (the fulfilment of thy wish) has arrived: the language of both of these will be revealed to thee.”
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بامدادان از برای امتحان ** ایستاد او منتظر بر آستان 3305
- At daybreak, in order to make trial, he stood waiting on the threshold.
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خادمه سفره بیفشاند و فتاد ** پاره‌ای نان بیات آثار زاد
- The maid-servant shook the table-cloth, and a piece of bread, the remnants of last night's meal, fell out.
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در ربود آن را خروسی چون گرو ** گفت سگ کردی تو بر ما ظلم رو
- A cock snatched it up as (though it were) the stake (in a race). The dog said, “You have done injustice-to me. Begone!
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دانه‌ی گندم توانی خورد و من ** عاجزم در دانه خوردن در وطن
- You can eat a grain of corn, while I am unable to eat grains in my abode.
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گندم و جو را و باقی حبوب ** می‌توانی خورد و من نه ای طروب
- You can eat corn and barley and the rest of the grains, while I cannot, O jubilant one.
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این لب نانی که قسم ماست نان ** می‌ربایی این قدر را از سگان 3310
- This crust of bread, the bread which is our portion—you are taking away from the dogs such a (small) quantity (of food) as this!”
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جواب خروس سگ را
- The cock's answer to the dog.
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پس خروسش گفت تن زن غم مخور ** که خدا بدهد عوض زینت دگر
- Then the cock said to him, “Be silent, do not grieve, for God will give you something else instead of this.
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اسپ این خواجه سقط خواهد شدن ** روز فردا سیر خور کم کن حزن
- The horse of this Khwája is about to die: to-morrow eat your fill and be not sorrowful.