The tail of this beast you are riding, (namely), your carnal soul, is lust; hence that self-worshipper goes back, back.
دم این استور نفست شهوتست ** زین سبب پس پس رود آن خودپرست
O changer, make its (carnal) lust, which is the tail, to be entirely lust for the world hereafter.
شهوت او را که دم آمد ز بن ** ای مبدل شهوت عقبیش کن
When you bind its lust (and debar it) from the loaf, that lust puts forth its head from (is transformed into) noble reason.
چون ببندی شهوتش را از رغیف ** سر کند آن شهوت از عقل شریف
As, when you lop off a (superfluous) branch from a tree, vigour is imparted to the well-conditioned branches.
همچو شاخی که ببری از درخت ** سر کند قوت ز شاخ نیکبخت
When you have turned its (the carnal steed's) tail in that direction, if it goes backward, it goes to the place of shelter.1125
چونک کردی دم او را آن طرف ** گر رود پس پس رود تا مکتنف
How excellent are the docile horses which go forward, not backward, and are not given over to restiveness,
حبذا اسپان رام پیشرو ** نه سپسرو نه حرونی را گرو
Going hot-foot, like the body of Moses the Kalím, to which (the distance) to the two seas (was) as the breadth of a blanket!
گرمرو چون جسم موسی کلیم ** تا به بحرینش چو پهنای گلیم
Seven hundred years is the duration of the journey on which he set out in the path of Love, (the journey that lasted) for an age.
هست هفصدساله راه آن حقب ** که بکرد او عزم در سیران حب
Since the aspiration (that carried him) on his journey in the body is (as immense as) this, his journey in the spirit must be (even) unto the highestParadise.
همت سیر تنش چون این بود ** سیر جانش تا به علیین بود
The kingly cavaliers sped forward in advance (of all); the boobies unloaded (their beasts of burden) in the stable-yard.1130
شهسواران در سباقت تاختند ** خربطان در پایگه انداختند