Know that your fleshly soul is woman and worse than woman, because woman is a part (of evil), but your fleshly soul is evil entire.
نفس خود را زن شناس از زن بتر ** ز انکه زن جزوی است نفست کل شر
If you take counsel with your fleshly soul, oppose that vile one (in) whatsoever she may say.
مشورت با نفس خود گر میکنی ** هر چه گوید کن خلاف آن دنی
If she bid you pray and fast-the fleshly soul is a great plotter, she will bring some plot against you to birth.
گر نماز و روزه میفرمایدت ** نفس مکار است مکری زایدت
(When you take) counsel with your fleshly soul concerning (your) actions––whatsoever she tells (you to do), the reverse of that is perfectly right.2275
مشورت با نفس خویش اندر فعال ** هر چه گوید عکس آن باشد کمال
(If) you cannot cope with her and her contumacy, go to a friend and mix with him.
بر نیایی با وی و استیز او ** رو بر یاری بگیر آمیز او
Mind gains strength from another mind: the sugar-cane is made perfect by the sugar-cane.
عقل قوت گیرد از عقل دگر ** نی شکر کامل شود از نیشکر
I have seen (wondrous) things (arising) from the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul, for by her magic she takes away the faculties of discernment.
من ز مکر نفس دیدم چیزها ** کاو برد از سحر خود تمییزها
She will proffer afresh to you promises that she has broken thousands of times.
وعدهها بدهد ترا تازه به دست ** که هزاران بار آنها را شکست
If your life be prolonged even for a hundred years, she will lay before you a new pretext every day.2280
عمر اگر صد سال خود مهلت دهد ** اوت هر روزی بهانهی نو نهد
She utters cold (vain) promises (as though) warm (from the heart); (she is) a witch, she ties up the manhood of a man.
گرم گوید وعدههای سرد را ** جادویی مردی ببندد مرد را