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تا همه زان خوش علف فربه شوند ** هین که گرگانند ما را خشم‌مند
- That they may all be fattened by that goodly fodder. Hark, (let them in), for We have wrathful wolves.
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ناله‌ی گرگان خود را موقنیم ** این خران را طعمه‌ی ایشان کنیم 3670
- We surely know the plaintive cry of Our wolves: We make these asses a means of livelihood for them.
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این خران را کیمیای خوش دمی ** از لب تو خواست کردن آدمی
- The gracious alchemy breathed from thy lips wished to make these asses human.
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تو بسی کردی به دعوت لطف و جود ** آن خران را طالع و روزی نبود
- Much kindness and favour didst thou show in calling them (to God), (but) ’twas not the fortune and provision allotted to those asses.
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پس فرو پوشان لحاف نعمتی ** تا بردشان زود خواب غفلتی
- Therefore let the quilt of bounty cover them, that the slumber of forgetfulness may overtake them speedily,
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تا چو بجهند از چنین خواب این رده ** شمع مرده باشد و ساقی شده
- So that, when this troop (of asses) shall start up from suchlike slumber, the candle will have been extinguished and the cup-bearer will have gone.
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داشت طغیانشان ترا در حیرتی ** پس بنوشند از جزا هم حسرتی 3675
- Their rebellious disobedience kept thee in a (great) perplexity: therefore they shall suffer in retribution a (great) sorrow,
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تا که عدل ما قدم بیرون نهد ** در جزا هر زشت را درخور دهد
- To the end that Our justice may step forth and bestow in retribution what is appropriate to every evil-doer;
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که آن شهی که می‌ندیدندیش فاش ** بود با ایشان نهان اندر معاش
- For the King, whom they were not seeing openly, was (always) with them secretly in their lives.”
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چون خرد با تست مشرف بر تنت ** گر چه زو قاصر بود این دیدنت
- Inasmuch as the intellect is with thee, overseeing thy body, and though this perception of thine is unable to apprehend it,