روز و شب در جنگ و اندر کش‌مکش ** کرده چالیش آخرش با اولش
Day and night in strife and mutual struggle, his (such a one's) last (state) battles with his first.
چالیش عقل با نفس هم چون تنازع مجنون با ناقه میل مجنون سوی حره میل ناقه واپس سوی کره چنانک گفت مجنون هوا ناقتی خلفی و قدامی الهوی و انی و ایاها لمختلفان
The battle of the reason against the flesh is like the contention of Majnún with his she camel: Majnún's inclination is towards the noble woman (Laylá), while the she camel's inclination is (to go) back towards her foal, as Majnún said (in verse): "My she-camel's love is behind me, while my love is in front of me; and verily I and she are discordant."
هم‌چو مجنون‌اند و چون ناقه‌ش یقین ** می‌کشد آن پیش و این واپس به کین
Assuredly they (the reason and the flesh) are like Majnún and his she-camel: that one is pulling forward and this one backward in (mutual) enmity.
میل مجنون پیش آن لیلی روان ** میل ناقه پس پی کره دوان
Majnún's desire is speeding to the presence of that (beloved) Laylá; the she camel's desire is running back after her foal.
یک دم ار مجنون ز خود غافل بدی ** ناقه گردیدی و واپس آمدی1535
If Majnún forgot himself for one moment, the she-camel would turn and go back.
عشق و سودا چونک پر بودش بدن ** می‌نبودش چاره از بی‌خود شدن
Since his body was full of love and passion, he had no resource but to become beside himself.
آنک او باشد مراقب عقل بود ** عقل را سودای لیلی در ربود
That which is regardful was (ever) reason: passion for Laylá carried (his) reason away.
لیک ناقه بس مراقب بود و چست ** چون بدیدی او مهار خویش سست
But the she-camel was very regardful and alert: whenever she saw her toggle slack
فهم کردی زو که غافل گشت و دنگ ** رو سپس کردی به کره بی‌درنگ
She would at once perceive that he had become heedless and dazed, and would turn her face back to the foal without delay.
چون به خود باز آمدی دیدی ز جا ** کو سپس رفتست بس فرسنگها1540
When he came to himself again, he would see on the spot that she had gone back many leagues.
در سه روزه ره بدین احوالها ** ماند مجنون در تردد سالها
In these conditions Majnún remained going to and fro for years on a three days' journey.