یک کمین و امتحان در راه بود ** صرصرش چون کاه که را می‌ربود805
(But) in their road there was one ambush and trial: its mighty wind would sweep the mountain away like straw.
امتحان می‌کردشان زیر و زبر ** کی بود سرمست را زینها خبر
The (Divine) trial was turning them upside down, (but) how should one that is drunken have consciousness of these things?
خندق و میدان بپیش او یکیست ** چاه و خندق پیش او خوش مسلکیست
To him pit and open field are one, to him dungeon and pit are a pleasant path to tread.
آن بز کوهی بر آن کوه بلند ** بر دود از بهر خوردی بی‌گزند
The mountain-goat runs up that high mountain for the sake of (getting) some harmless food.
تا علف چیند ببیند ناگهان ** بازیی دیگر ز حکم آسمان
Whilst he browses, suddenly he sees another trick played by the ordinance of Heaven.
بر کهی دیگر بر اندازد نظر ** ماده بز بیند بر آن کوه دگر810
He casts his gaze upon another mountain: on that other mountain he espies a she-goat.
چشم او تاریک گردد در زمان ** بر جهد سرمست زین که تا بدان
Straightway his eye is darkened: he leaps madly from this mountain to that.
آنچنان نزدیک بنماید ورا ** که دویدن گرد بالوعه‌ی سرا
To him it seems as near (and easy) as to run round the sink (in the court) of a house.
آن هزاران گز دو گز بنمایدش ** تا ز مستی میل جستن آیدش
Those thousands of ells (are made to) appear to him (as) two ells, in order that from mad infatuation the impulse to leap may come to him.
چونک بجهد در فتد اندر میان ** در میان هر دو کوه بی امان
As soon as he leaps, he falls midway between the two pitiless mountains.
او ز صیادان به که بگریخته ** خود پناهش خون او را ریخته815
He had fled to the mountain (to escape) from the hunters: his very refuge shed his blood.
شسته صیادان میان آن دو کوه ** انتظار این قضای با شکوه
The hunters are seated between the two mountains in expectation of this awesome decree (of God).
باشد اغلب صید این بز همچنین ** ورنه چالاکست و چست و خصم‌بین
The capture of this (mountain-)goat is, for the most part, (accomplished) in this manner; else (it would be difficult, for) he is agile and nimble and quick to see the enemy.
رستم ارچه با سر و سبلت بود ** دام پاگیرش یقین شهوت بود
Though Rustam have (a huge) head and moustache, lust will certainly be the snare to catch his feet.
همچو من از مستی شهوت ببر ** مستی شهوت ببین اندر شتر
Be cut off, like me, from the intoxication of lust: look at the intoxication of lust in the camel!
باز این مستی شهوت در جهان ** پیش مستی ملک دان مستهان820
Know, again, that this intoxication of lust in the (terrestrial) world is (to be) deemed of small account beside the intoxication of the angels.
مستی آن مستی این بشکند ** او به شهوت التفاتی کی کند
The intoxication of that one (the angel) breaks (reduces to insignificance) the intoxication of this one (the human being): how should he (the angel) show any propensity to lust?
آب شیرین تا نخوردی آب شور ** خوش بود خوش چون درون دیده نور
Until you have drunk sweet water, briny water is sweet, sweet as the light in the eye;
قطره‌ای از باده‌های آسمان ** بر کند جان را ز می وز ساقیان
(But) a single drop of the wines of Heaven causes the soul to be rapt away from the wine and cupbearers (of this world)—
تا چه مستیها بود املاک را ** وز جلالت روحهای پاک را
So that (you may imagine) what intoxications befall the angels and the spirits purified by the Divine glory,
که به بوی دل در آن می بسته‌اند ** خم باده‌ی این جهان بشکسته‌اند825
Who have set their hearts on that wine at one smell (of it), and have broken the jar of this world's wine;—
جز مگر آنها که نومیدند و دور ** همچو کفاری نهفته در قبور
Except, maybe, them that are in despair and far (from God), (outcasts) like infidels hidden (buried) in graves,
ناامید از هر دو عالم گشته‌اند ** خارهای بی‌نهایت کشته‌اند
(Them that) have lost all hope of both worlds and have sown thorns without end.
پس ز مستیها بگفتند ای دریغ ** بر زمین باران بدادیمی چو میغ
Therefore they (Hárút and Márút), because of their feelings of intoxication, said, “Alas, we would rain upon the earth, like clouds;
گستریدیمی درین بی‌داد جا ** عدل و انصاف و عبادات و وفا
We would spread in this place of injustice (a carpet of) justice and equity and devotions and faithfulness.”