جمع آمد صد هزاران ژاژخا ** حلقه کرده پشت پا بر پشت پا

Myriads of idle babblers assembled, forming a ring, sole against sole.

مرد را از زن خبر نه ز ازدحام ** رفته درهم چون قیامت خاص و عام

Man took no heed of woman: on account of the throng they were mingled together like nobles and common folk at the Resurrection.

چون همی حراقه جنبانید او ** می‌کشیدند اهل هنگامه گلو

When he (the snake-catcher) began to move the cloth (which covered the dragon), the people in the crowd strained their throats (necks),

و اژدها کز زمهریر افسرده بود ** زیر صد گونه پلاس و پرده بود

And (saw that) the dragon, which had been frozen by intense cold, was underneath a hundred kinds of coarse woollen cloths and coverlets.

بسته بودش با رسنهای غلیظ ** احتیاطی کرده بودش آن حفیظ 1040

He had bound it with thick ropes: that careful keeper had taken great precaution for it.

در درنگ انتظار و اتفاق ** تافت بر آن مار خورشید عراق

During the delay (interval) of expectation and coming together, the sun of ‘Iráq shone upon the snake.

آفتاب گرم‌سیرش گرم کرد ** رفت از اعضای او اخلاط سرد

The sun of the hot country warmed it; the cold humours went out of its limbs.

مرده بود و زنده گشت او از شگفت ** اژدها بر خویش جنبیدن گرفت

It had been dead, and it revived: from astonishment (at feeling the sun's heat) the dragon began to uncoil itself.

خلق را از جنبش آن مرده مار ** گشتشان آن یک تحیر صد هزار

By the stirring of that dead serpent the people's amazement was multiplied a hundred thousand fold.

با تحیر نعره‌ها انگیختند ** جملگان از جنبشش بگریختند 1045

With amazement they started shrieking and fled en masse from its motion.

می‌سکست او بند و زان بانگ بلند ** هر طرف می‌رفت چاقاچاق بند

It set about bursting the bonds, and at that loud outcry (of the people) the bonds on every side went crack, crack.

بندها بسکست و بیرون شد ز زیر ** اژدهایی زشت غران همچو شیر

It burst the bonds and glided out from beneath—a hideous dragon roaring like a lion.

در هزیمت بس خلایق کشته شد ** از فتاده و کشتگان صد پشته شد

Many people were killed in the rout: a hundred heaps were made of the fallen slain.

مارگیر از ترس بر جا خشک گشت ** که چه آوردم من از کهسار و دشت

The snake-catcher became paralysed with fear on the spot, crying, “What have I brought from the mountains and the desert?”

گرگ را بیدار کرد آن کور میش ** رفت نادان سوی عزرائیل خویش 1050

The blind sheep awakened the wolf: unwittingly it went towards its ‘Azrá’íl (Angel of death).

اژدها یک لقمه کرد آن گیج را ** سهل باشد خون‌خوری حجاج را

The dragon made one mouthful of that dolt: blood-drinking (bloodshed) is easy for Hajjáj.

خویش را بر استنی پیچید و بست ** استخوان خورده را در هم شکست

It wound and fastened itself on a pillar and crunched the bones of the devoured man.

نفست اژدرهاست او کی مرده است ** از غم و بی آلتی افسرده است

The dragon is thy sensual soul: how is it dead? It is (only) frozen by grief and lack of means.

گر بیابد آلت فرعون او ** که بامر او همی‌رفت آب جو

If it obtain the means of Pharaoh, by whose command the water of the river (Nile) would flow,

آنگه او بنیاد فرعونی کند ** راه صد موسی و صد هارون زند 1055

Then it will begin to act like Pharaoh and will waylay a hundred (such as) Moses and Aaron.

کرمکست آن اژدها از دست فقر ** پشه‌ای گردد ز جاه و مال صقر

That dragon, under stress of poverty, is a little worm, (but) a gnat is made a falcon by power and riches.

اژدها را دار در برف فراق ** هین مکش او را به خورشید عراق

Keep the dragon in the snow of separation (from its desires); beware, do not carry it into the sun of ‘Iráq.

تا فسرده می‌بود آن اژدهات ** لقمه‌ی اویی چو او یابد نجات

So long as that dragon of thine remains frozen, (well and good); thou art a mouthful for it, when it gains release.

مات کن او را و آمن شو ز مات ** رحم کم کن نیست او ز اهل صلات

Mortify it and become safe from (spiritual) death; have no mercy: it is not one of them that deserve favours;

کان تف خورشید شهوت بر زند ** آن خفاش مردریگت پر زند 1060

For (when) the heat of the sun of lust strikes upon it, that vile bat of thine flaps its wings.