جفت و فرزندانشان جمله سبیل ** ز آنکه بی‌‌عقلند و مردود و ذلیل‌‌

All their wives and children are free spoil, since they are irrational and reprobate and base.

باز عقلی کاو رمد از عقل عقل ** کرد از عقلی به حیوانات نقل‌‌ 3320

Once more, a reason that flees from the Reason of reason (Universal Reason) is transported from rationality to (the grade of) the animals.

اعتماد کردن هاروت و ماروت بر عصمت خویش و آمیزی اهل دنیا خواستن و در فتنه افتادن‌‌

How Hárút and Márút relied upon their immaculateness and desired to mix with the people of this world and fell into temptation.

همچو هاروت و چو ماروت شهیر ** از بطر خوردند زهر آلود تیر

As (for example), because of their arrogance, the celebrated Hárút and Márút were smitten by the poisoned arrow (of Divine wrath).

اعتمادی بودشان بر قدس خویش ** چیست بر شیر اعتماد گاومیش‌‌

They had confidence in their holiness, (but) what (use) is it for the buffalo to have confidence in the lion?

گر چه او با شاخ صد چاره کند ** شاخ شاخش شیر نر پاره کند

Though he make a hundred shifts (to defend himself) with his horn, the fierce lion will tear him to pieces limb by limb.

گر شود پر شاخ همچون خار پشت ** شیر خواهد گاو را ناچار کشت‌‌

(Even) if he become as full of horns (prickles) as a hedgehog, the buffalo will inevitably be killed by the lion.

گر چه صرصر بس درختان می‌‌کند ** با گیاه تر وی احسان می‌‌کند 3325

(But) though the Sarsar wind uproots many trees, it bestows kindness on the wet grass.

بر ضعیفی گیاه آن باد تند ** رحم کرد ای دل تو از قوت ملند

That violent wind had pity on the weakness of the grass: do not thou, O heart, brag vainly of thy strength.

تیشه را ز انبوهی شاخ درخت ** کی هراس آید ببرد لخت لخت‌‌

How should the axe be afraid of the thickness of the branches? It cuts them to pieces.

لیک بر برگی نکوبد خویش را ** جز که بر نیشی نکوبد نیش را

But it does not beat itself against a leaf, it does not beat its edge except against an edge (something hard and solid like itself).