بخش 75 - تتمهٔ اقرار ابلیس به معاویه مکر خود را

Then ‘Azázíl* said to him, “O noble Amír, I must lay my deceit before (you).

If you had missed the prayers, you would then from heartache have uttered sighs and lamentations,

And that regret and that lamentation and that (sorrowful) yearning would have exceeded (in value) two hundred litanies and prayers.

I awakened you in fear lest such a sigh might burn the veil (of formality),

In order that such a sigh should not be yours; in order that you should not have any way to it.

I am envious: from envy I acted thus. I am the enemy: my (proper) work is deceit and malice.”

He (Mu‘áwiya) said, “Now you have told the truth, you are veracious. This (deceit) comes (naturally) from you: to this you are adapted.

You are a spider, you have flies as your prey; O cur, I am not a fly, (so) do not worry.

I am a white falcon: the King hunts me. How should a spider weave his web about me?

Go now, continue to catch flies as far as you can: invite the flies to (partake of) some buttermilk;

And if you call (them) to honey, that too will certainly be lies and buttermilk (fraud).

You awakened me, (but) it (that awakenment) was (really) slumber: you showed (me) a ship, (but) that was (really) a whirlpool.

You were calling me to good for the purpose that you might drive me away from the better good.”