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صوفیان در جوع بودند و فقیر ** کاد فقر أن یعی کفرا یبیر
- The Súfís were destitute and poor: poverty almost comprises an infidelity that brings (the soul) to perdition.
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ای توانگر که تو سیری هین مخند ** بر کجی آن فقیر دردمند
- O thou rich man who art full fed, beware of laughing at the unrighteousness of the suffering poor.
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از سر تقصیر آن صوفی رمه ** خر فروشی در گرفتند آن همه
- On account of their destitution that Súfí flock, all of them, adopted (the expedient of) selling the ass,
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کز ضرورت هست مرداری مباح ** بس فسادی کز ضرورت شد صلاح 520
- Saying, “(In case) of necessity a carcase is lawful (food); (there is) many a vicious act that necessity made a virtuous one.”
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هم در آن دم آن خرک بفروختند ** لوت آوردند و شمع افروختند
- They instantly sold the little ass; they fetched dainty viands and lit candles.
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ولوله افتاد اندر خانقه ** کامشبان لوت و سماع است و شره
- Jubilation arose in the monastery: (they cried), “To-night there are dainties and music and dancing and voracity.
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چند از این صبر و از این سه روزه چند ** چند از این زنبیل و این دریوزه چند
- How much (more) of this (carrying the) wallet and this beggary? How much (more) of this patience and of this three-day fasting?
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ما هم از خلقیم و جان داریم ما ** دولت امشب میهمان داریم ما
- We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”
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تخم باطل را از آن میکاشتند ** کان که آن جان نیست جان پنداشتند 525
- Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul.
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و آن مسافر نیز از راه دراز ** خسته بود و دید آن اقبال و ناز
- And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).