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.
گفت ای ناقه چو هر دو عاشقیم ** ما دو ضد پس همره نالایقیم
He said, “O camel, since we both are lovers, therefore we two contraries are unsuitable fellow-travellers.
نیستت بر وفق من مهر و مهار ** کرد باید از تو صحبت اختیار
Thy affection and toggle (propensity) are not in accord with me: it behoves (me) to choose parting from thy companionship.”
این دو همره یکدگر را راه‌زن ** گمره آن جان کو فرو ناید ز تن
These two fellow-travellers (the reason and the flesh) are brigands waylaying each other: lost is the spirit that does not dismount from the body.
جان ز هجر عرش اندر فاقه‌ای ** تن ز عشق خاربن چون ناقه‌ای1545
The spirit, because of separation from the highest Heaven, is in a (great) want; the body, on account of passion for the thorn-shrub (of sensual pleasure), is like a she-camel.
جان گشاید سوی بالا بالها ** در زده تن در زمین چنگالها
The spirit unfolds its wings (to fly) upwards; the body has stuck its claws in the earth.
تا تو با من باشی ای مرده‌ی وطن ** پس ز لیلی دور ماند جان من
“So long as thou art with me, O thou who art mortally enamoured of thy home, then my spirit will remain far from Laylá.
روزگارم رفت زین گون حالها ** هم‌چو تیه و قوم موسی سالها
From experiences of this kind my life-time, for many years, has gone (to waste), like (that of) the people of Moses in the desert.
خطوتینی بود این ره تا وصال ** مانده‌ام در ره ز شستت شصت سال
This journey to union was (only) a matter of two steps: because of thy noose I have remained sixty years on the way.
راه نزدیک و بماندم سخت دیر ** سیر گشتم زین سواری سیرسیر1550
The way is near (not far), but I have tarried very late: I have become sick of this riding, sick, sick.”
سرنگون خود را از اشتر در فکند ** گفت سوزیدم ز غم تا چندچند
He (Majnún) threw himself headlong from the camel. He said, “I am consumed with grief: how long, how long?”
تنگ شد بر وی بیابان فراخ ** خویشتن افکند اندر سنگلاخ
The wide desert became (too) narrow for him: he flung himself on the stony place.
آنچنان افکند خود را سخت زیر ** که مخلخل گشت جسم آن دلیر
He flung himself down so violently that the body of that courageous man was cracked.
چون چنان افکند خود را سوی پست ** از قضا آن لحظه پایش هم شکست
When he flung himself to the ground thus, at that moment also by (Divine) destiny his leg broke.
پای را بر بست و گفتا گو شوم ** در خم چوگانش غلطان می‌روم1555
He tied up his leg and said, “I will become a ball, I will go rolling along in the curve of His bat.”
زین کند نفرین حکیم خوش‌دهن ** بر سواری کو فرو ناید ز تن
For this cause the sweet-mouthed Sage utters a curse on the rider who does not dismount from the body.
عشق مولی کی کم از لیلی بود ** گوی گشتن بهر او اولی بود
How should love for the Lord be inferior to love for Laylá? To become a ball for His sake is more worthy.
گوی شو می‌گرد بر پهلوی صدق ** غلط غلطان در خم چوگان عشق
Become a ball, turn on the side which is sincerity, (and go) rolling, rolling in the curve of the bat of Love,