کین دو دایه پوست را افزون کنند ** شحم و لحم و کبر و نخوت آکنند
For these two nurses increase (foster) the skin: they stuff it with fat and flesh and pride and arrogance.
دیده را بر لب لب نفراشتند ** پوست را زان روی لب پنداشتند
They have not raised their eyes to the kernel of the kernel: on that account they have deemed the skin to be the kernel.
پیش‌وا ابلیس بود این راه را ** کو شکار آمد شبیکه‌ی جاه را 1950
Iblís was the leader on this way, for he fell a prey to the net (temptation) of power (eminence).
مال چون مارست و آن جاه اژدها ** سایه‌ی مردان زمرد این دو را
Riches are like a snake, and power is a dragon: the shadow (protection and guidance) of (holy) men is the emerald (which is fatal) to them both.
زان زمرد مار را دیده جهد ** کور گردد مار و ره‌رو وا رهد
At (the sight of) that emerald the snake's eye jumps (out of its head): the snake is blinded and the traveller is delivered (from death).
چون برین ره خار بنهاد آن رئیس ** هر که خست او گفته لعنت بر بلیس
When that Prince (Iblís) had laid thorns on this road, every one that was wounded (by them) cried, “Curse Iblís!”
یعنی این غم بر من از غدر ویست ** غدر را آن مقتدا سابق‌پیست
Meaning to say, “This pain is (fallen) upon me through his treachery”: he (Iblís) who is taken as a model (by the wicked) was the first to tread the path of treason.
بعد ازو خود قرن بر قرن آمدند ** جملگان بر سنت او پا زدند 1955
Truly, generation on generation came (into being) after him, and all set their feet on his way (followed his practice).
هر که بنهد سنت بد ای فتا ** تا در افتد بعد او خلق از عمی
Whosoever institutes an evil practice, O youth, in order that people may blindly fall in after him,
جمع گردد بر وی آن جمله بزه ** کو سری بودست و ایشان دم‌غزه
All their guilt is collected (and piled) on him, for he has been (as) a head (to them), while they are (like) the root of the tail.