Rumi's Masnavi - 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.

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

She would at once perceive that he had become heedless and dazed, and would turn her face back to the foal without delay.

فهم کردی زو که غافل گشت و دنگ ** رو سپس کردی به کره بی‌درنگ

When he came to himself again, he would see on the spot that she had gone back many leagues. 1540

چون به خود باز آمدی دیدی ز جا ** کو سپس رفتست بس فرسنگها

In these conditions Majnún remained going to and fro for years on a three days' journey.

در سه روزه ره بدین احوالها ** ماند مجنون در تردد سالها

He said, “O camel, since we both are lovers, therefore we two contraries are unsuitable fellow-travellers.

گفت ای ناقه چو هر دو عاشقیم ** ما دو ضد پس همره نالایقیم