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آن یکی سرسبز نحن المتقون ** وآن دگر همچون بنفشه سرنگون
- One (party) fresh and green, saying, “We are the devout”; and the other drooping their heads like the violet,
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چشمها بیرون جهید از خطر ** گشته ده چشمه ز بیم مستقر
- Their eyes starting out (of the sockets) from (dread of) the danger, and streaming like ten fountains from fear of the appointed end;
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باز مانده دیدهها در انتظار ** تا که نامه ناید از سوی یسار
- Their eyes remaining in (fearful) expectation, lest the scroll (of their deeds) come (to them) from the left side;
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چشم گردان سوی راست و سوی چپ ** زانک نبود بخت نامهی راست زپ 1805
- Their eyes rolling to right and left, because the fortune of the scroll (that comes) from the right (side) is not easy (to win).
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نامهای آید به دست بندهای ** سر سیه از جرم و فسق آگندهای
- (Then) there comes into the hand of (such) a servant (of God) a scroll headed with black and cram-full of crime and wickedness;
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اندرو یک خیر و یک توفیق نه ** جز که آزار دل صدیق نه
- Containing not a single good deed or act of saving grace— nothing but wounds inflicted on the hearts of the saintly;
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پر ز سر تا پای زشتی و گناه ** تسخر و خنبک زدن بر اهل راه
- Filled from top to bottom with foulness and sin, with mockery and jeering at the followers of the Way,
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آن دغلکاری و دزدیهای او ** و آن چو فرعونان انا و انای او
- (With all) his rascalities and thieveries and Pharaoh-like expressions of self-glorification.
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چون بخواند نامهی خود آن ثقیل ** داند او که سوی زندان شد رحیل 1810
- When that odious man reads his scroll, he knows that he is (virtually) on the road to prison.
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پس روان گردد چو دزدان سوی دار ** جرم پیدا بسته راه اعتذار
- Then he sets out, like robbers going to the gallows; his crime manifest, and the way (possibility) of excusing himself barred.
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آن هزاران حجت و گفتار بد ** بر دهانش گشته چون مسمار بد
- The thousands of bad pleas and (false) speeches (made during his life) have become like an evil nail (seal) on his mouth.
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رخت دزدی بر تن و در خانهاش ** گشته پیدا گم شده افسانهاش
- The stolen property has been discovered on his person and in his house: his (plausible) story has vanished.
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پس روان گردد به زندان سعیر ** که نباشد خار را ز آتش گزیر
- He sets out, therefore, to the prison of Hell; for thorns have no means of escape from (being burnt in) the fire.
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چون موکل آن ملایک پیش و پس ** بوده پنهان گشته پیدا چون عسس 1815
- The angels that (formerly) were hidden, (whilst they walked) as custodians before and behind (him), have (now) become visible like policemen.
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میبرندش میسپوزندش به نیش ** که برو ای سگ به کهدانهای خویش
- They take him along, prodding him with the goad and saying, “Begone, O dog, to thy own kennels!”
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میکشد پا بر سر هر راه او ** تا بود که بر جهد زان چاه او
- He drags his feet (lingers) on every road, that perchance he may escape from the pit (of Hell).
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منتظر میایستد تن میزند ** در امیدی روی وا پس میکند
- He stands expectantly, keeping silence and turning his face backward in a (fervent) hope,
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اشک میبارد چون باران خزان ** خشک اومیدی چه دارد او جز آن
- Pouring tears like autumn rain. A mere hope—what has he except that?
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هر زمانی روی وا پس میکند ** رو به درگاه مقدس میکند 1820
- (So) at every moment he is looking back and turning his face to the Holy Court (on high).
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پس ز حق امر آید از اقلیم نور ** که بگوییدش کای بطال عور
- Then from God in the realm of light comes the command— “Say ye to him, ‘O ne’er-do-well destitute (of merit),
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انتظار چیستی ای کان شر ** رو چه وا پس میکنی ای خیرهسر
- What art thou expecting, O mine of mischief? Why art thou looking back, O giddy-headed man?
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نامهات آنست کت آمد به دست ** ای خدا آزار و ای شیطانپرست
- Thy scroll (record) is that which came into thy hand, O offender against God and worshipper of the Devil.
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چون بدیدی نامهی کردار خویش ** چه نگری پس بین جزای کار خویش
- Since thou hast seen the scroll of thy deeds, why dost thou look back? Behold the reward of thy works!
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بیهده چه مول مولی میزنی ** در چنین چه کو امید روشنی 1825
- Why art thou tarrying in vain? Where is hope of light in such a (deep) pit as this?
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نه ترا از روی ظاهر طاعتی ** نه ترا در سر و باطن نیتی
- Neither outwardly hast thou any act of piety (to thy credit), nor inwardly and in thy heart an intention (to perform one);