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گفت اکنون عیبهای او بگو ** آن چنان که گفت او از عیب تو
- The King said, “Now tell his (your fellow-servant's) faults, just as he spoke of yours,
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تا بدانم که تو غم خوار منی ** کدخدای ملکت و کار منی
- That I may know whether you are solicitous for me and a (good) house-steward of my property and business.”
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گفت ای شه من بگویم عیبهاش ** گر چه هست او مر مرا خوش خواجهتاش
- He replied, “O King, I will tell his faults, though he is to me a pleasing fellow-servant.
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عیب او مهر و وفا و مردمی ** عیب او صدق و ذکا و هم دمی 890
- His faults are affection and loyalty and humanity; his faults are sincerity and keen wittedness and cordial comradeship.
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کمترین عیبش جوانمردی و داد ** آن جوانمردی که جان را هم بداد
- His least fault is generosity and bounty—the generosity that even gives up life.”
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صد هزاران جان خدا کرده پدید ** چه جوانمردی بود کان را ندید
- God has brought to view myriads of lives (in return for the life given up): what generosity would there be (in him) that saw not those?
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ور بدیدی کی به جان بخلش بدی ** بهر یک جان کی چنین غمگین شدی
- And if he saw them, how should he grudge his life? How should he become so grieved for the sake of one life?
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بر لب جو بخل آب آن را بود ** کاو ز جوی آب نابینا بود
- On the river-bank, water is grudged by him (alone) that is blind to the stream of water.
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گفت پیغمبر که هر که از یقین ** داند او پاداش خود در یوم دین 895
- The Prophet said, “Whosoever knows for sure his recompense on the day of Resurrection—
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که یکی را ده عوض میآیدش ** هر زمان جودی دگرگون زایدش
- That his compensation will be ten for one—at every moment a different (act of) munificence will issue from him.”