هر دو گفتند ای خدا فرمان تراست ** بی‌‌امان تو امانی خود کجاست‌‌

They both said, “O God, Thine is the command: without Thy security (protection) where indeed is any security?”

این همی‌‌گفتند و دلشان می‌‌طپید ** بد کجا آید ز ما نعم العبید

They were saying this, but their hearts were throbbing (with desire)—“How should evil come from us? Good servants (of God) are we!”

خار خار دو فرشته هم نهشت ** تا که تخم خویش بینی را نکشت‌‌ 3420

The prick of desire in the two angels did not leave (them) until it sowed the seed of self-conceit.

پس همی‌‌گفتند کای ارکانیان ** بی‌‌خبر از پاکی روحانیان‌‌

Then they were saying, “O ye that are composed of the (four) elements (and are) unacquainted with the purity of the spiritual beings,

ما بر این گردون تتقها می‌‌تنیم ** بر زمین آییم و شادروان زنیم‌‌

We will draw curtains (of light) over this (terrestrial) sky, we will come to earth and set up the canopy,

عدل توزیم و عبادت آوریم ** باز هر شب سوی گردون بر پریم‌‌

We will deal justice and perform worship and every night we will fly up again to Heaven,

تا شویم اعجوبه‌‌ی دور زمان ** تا نهیم اندر زمین امن و امان‌‌

That we may become the wonder of the world, that we may establish safety and security on the earth.”

آن قیاس حال گردون بر زمین ** راست ناید فرق دارد در کمین‌‌ 3425

The analogy between the state of Heaven and (that of) the earth is inexact: it has a concealed difference.

در بیان آن که حال خود و مستی خود پنهان باید داشت از جاهلان‌‌

Explaining that one must keep one's own (spiritual) state and (mystical) intoxication hidden from the ignorant.

بشنو الفاظ حکیم پرده‌‌ای ** سر همانجا نه که باده خورده‌‌ای‌‌

Hearken to the words of the Sage (Hakím) who lived in seclusion, “Lay thy head in the same place where thou hast drunk the wine.”

چون که از میخانه مستی ضال شد ** تسخر و بازیچه‌‌ی اطفال شد

When the drunken man has gone astray from a tavern, he becomes the children's laughing-stock and plaything.