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 مستهان 820

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 بشکسته‌اند 825

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.