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این چنین باده همی‌برد آن غلام ** سوی قصر آن امیر نیک‌نام
- The slave was carrying a wine of this sort to the palace of the Amír of good renown,
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پیشش آمد زاهدی غم دیده‌ای ** خشک مغزی در بلا پیچیده‌ای
- (When) an ascetic met him, one who had suffered anguish, whose brain was dry, and who was (writhing) in the coils of affliction;
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تن ز آتشهای دل بگداخته ** خانه از غیر خدا پرداخته
- His body melted by the fires of his heart; the house (of his heart) emptied of all but God.
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گوشمال محنت بی‌زینهار ** داغها بر داغها چندین هزار
- The chastisement of pitiless tribulation (had seared him with) brands on brands, (ever) so many thousands.
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دیده هر ساعت دلش در اجتهاد ** روز و شب چفسیده او بر اجتهاد 3465
- Every hour saw his heart (engaged) in the struggle: by day and night he was firmly attached to (intent upon) the struggle.
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سال و مه در خون و خاک آمیخته ** صبر و حلمش نیم‌شب بگریخته
- During years and months he had been mixed up with dust and blood: (on seeing the slave) at midnight, his patience and forbearance fled (from him).
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گفت زاهد در سبوها چیست آن ** گفت باده گفت آن کیست آن
- “What is that in the jugs?” asked the ascetic. “Wine,” replied the slave. “Whose wine?” said he.
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گفت آن آن فلان میر اجل ** گفت طالب را چنین باشد عمل
- He (the slave) answered, “It belongs to so-and-so, the most honourable Amír.” Said he, “Is the seeker's work like this?
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طالب یزدان و آنگه عیش و نوش ** باده‌ی شیطان و آنگه نیم هوش
- (To be) a seeker of God, and then (indulge in) pleasure and drinking! (To drink) the Devil's wine, and then be (even) semi-intelligent!”
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هوش تو بی می چنین پژمرده است ** هوشها باید بر آن هوش تو بست 3470
- (Even) without wine your intelligence is so shabby (that other) intelligences must be tied (added) to your (present) intelligence.