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مرغ مرده پیش بنهاده که این ** می‌کند این بانگ و آواز و حنین
- He has put forward a dead bird, (pretending) that this (bird) is making this plaintive noise and cry.
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مرغ پندارد که جنس اوست او ** جمع آید بر دردشان پوست او
- The birds think he is one of their kind: they gather round, and he rends their skins—
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جز مگر مرغی که حزمش داد حق ** تا نگردد گیج آن دانه و ملق
- Except, no doubt, the bird on which God has bestowed prudence, so that it may not be fooled by that bait and enticement.
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هست بی حزمی پشیمانی یقین ** بشنو این افسانه را در شرح این 235
- Imprudence is assuredly (attended by) repentance. Hear the following story in explanation of this.
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فریفتن روستایی شهری را و بدعوت خواندن بلابه و الحاح بسیار
- How the countryman deceived the townsman and invited him with humble entreaties and great importunity.
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ای برادر بود اندر ما مضی ** شهریی با روستایی آشنا
- In the past, O brother, there was a townsman (who was) intimate with a countryman.
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روستایی چون سوی شهر آمدی ** خرگه اندر کوی آن شهری زدی
- Whenever the countryman came to town, he would pitch his tent in the street of the townsman.
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دو مه و سه ماه مهمانش بدی ** بر دکان او و بر خوانش بدی
- He would be his guest for two or three months, he would be in his shop and at his table,
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هر حوایج را که بودش آن زمان ** راست کردی مرد شهری رایگان
- And the townsman would provide, free of cost, everything that he wanted during that time.
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رو به شهری کرد و گفت ای خواجه تو ** هیچ می‌نایی سوی ده فرجه‌جو 240
- (Once) he turned to the townsman and said, “Sire, are you never coming to the country for a holiday?
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الله الله جمله فرزندان بیار ** کین زمان گلشنست و نوبهار
- Bring all your children, (I beg you) in God's name, for this is the time of the rose-garden and the springtide;