When the capacity, which is the guide (to salvation), is gone from him, every nutriment that he eats is the brain of an ass.
زو چو استعداد شد کان رهبرست ** هر غذایی کو خورد مغز خرست
If he eats anacardium, it becomes (acts upon him as) opium: his apoplexy and dementia are increased.1530
گر بلادر خورد او افیون شود ** سکته و بیعقلیش افزون شود
There remains another sort (of men: they are engaged) in warfare: (they are) half animal, half (spiritually) alive and endowed with good guidance.
ماند یک قسم دگر اندر جهاد ** نیم حیوان نیم حی با رشاد
Day and night in strife and mutual struggle, his (such a one's) last (state) battles with his first.
روز و شب در جنگ و اندر کشمکش ** کرده چالیش آخرش با اولش
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."
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
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.
همچو مجنوناند و چون ناقهش یقین ** میکشد آن پیش و این واپس به کین
Majnún's desire is speeding to the presence of that (beloved) Laylá; the she camel's desire is running back after her foal.
میل مجنون پیش آن لیلی روان ** میل ناقه پس پی کره دوان
If Majnún forgot himself for one moment, the she-camel would turn and go back.1535
یک دم ار مجنون ز خود غافل بدی ** ناقه گردیدی و واپس آمدی
Since his body was full of love and passion, he had no resource but to become beside himself.
عشق و سودا چونک پر بودش بدن ** مینبودش چاره از بیخود شدن
That which is regardful was (ever) reason: passion for Laylá carried (his) reason away.
آنک او باشد مراقب عقل بود ** عقل را سودای لیلی در ربود
But the she-camel was very regardful and alert: whenever she saw her toggle slack
لیک ناقه بس مراقب بود و چست ** چون بدیدی او مهار خویش سست