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از پی سوراخ بینی رست گل ** بو وظیفه‌ی بینی آمد ای عتل
- The rose grew for the sake of the nostrils: sweet scent is the stipend of the nose, O churl.
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بوی گل بهر مشامست ای دلیر ** جای آن بو نیست این سوراخ زیر
- The scent of the rose is for organs of smell, O bold man: this hole below is not the place for that scent.
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کی ازین جا بوی خلد آید ترا ** بو ز موضع جو اگر باید ترا
- How should the scent of Paradise come to thee from this place? If thou requirest the (sweet) scent, seek it from its (proper) place.
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هم‌چنین حب الوطن باشد درست ** تو وطن بشناس ای خواجه نخست 2230
- Likewise, “love of country” is right, (but) first, O master, know (what really is) thy country.
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گفت آن ماهی زیرک ره کنم ** دل ز رای و مشورتشان بر کنم
- That sagacious fish said, “I will journey, I will withdraw my heart from their advice and counsel.”
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نیست وقت مشورت هین راه کن ** چون علی تو آه اندر چاه کن
- ’Tis no time for counsel. Hark, journey! Like ‘Alí, sigh (the secret) into the well.
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محرم آن آه کم‌یابست بس ** شب رو و پنهان‌روی کن چون عسس
- Very seldom is there found a fit confidant for that sigh: go by night and let thy movement be hidden, like (that of) the night-patrol.
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سوی دریا عزم کن زین آب‌گیر ** بحر جو و ترک این گرداب گیر
- Set out from this lake towards the sea: seek the sea and take leave of this whirlpool.
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سینه را پا ساخت می‌رفت آن حذور ** از مقام با خطر تا بحر نور 2235
- That wary (fish) made its breast o afoot (swam away) and was going from its perilous abode to the sea of light,
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هم‌چو آهو کز پی او سگ بود ** می‌دود تا در تنش یک رگ بود
- Like the deer of which a dog is in pursuit and which keeps running so long as there is a single nerve in its body.