- Inasmuch as imitation is the bane of every good quality; imitation is (but) a straw, (even) if it is a mighty mountain.
- ز آن که تقلید آفت هر نیکویی است ** که بود تقلید اگر کوه قوی است
- If a blind man is big and choleric, deem him (only) a piece of flesh, since he has no eye (eye-sight). 485
- گر ضریری لمترست و تیز خشم ** گوشت پارهش دان چو او را نیست چشم
- Though he (the blind imitator) speak words finer than a hair, his heart has no knowledge of these words.
- گر سخن گوید ز مو باریکتر ** آن سرش را ز آن سخن نبود خبر
- He has a certain intoxication from his own words, but there is a good way (distance) between him and the Wine.
- مستیی دارد ز گفت خود و لیک ** از بر وی تا به می راهی است نیک
- He is like a river-bed: it does not drink any water; the water passes through it to the water-drinkers.
- همچو جوی است او نه او آبی خورد ** آب از او بر آب خواران بگذرد
- The water does not settle in the river-bed because the river-bed is not thirsty and water-drinking.
- آب در جو ز آن نمیگیرد قرار ** ز آن که آن جو نیست تشنه و آب خوار
- Like a reed-flute, he makes a piteous lament, but he (only) seeks a purchaser (admirer). 490
- همچو نایی نالهی زاری کند ** لیک بیگار خریداری کند
- The imitator in his discourse is (like) a professional mourner: that wicked man has no motive except cupidity.
- نوحهگر باشد مقلد در حدیث ** جز طمع نبود مراد آن خبیث
- The professional mourner utters burning words (of grief), but where is the glow of heart (heartfelt sorrow) and the rent skirt?
- نوحهگر گوید حدیث سوزناک ** لیک کو سوز دل و دامان چاک
- Between the true knower and the blind imitator there are (great) differences, for the former is like David, while the other is (but) an echo.
- از محقق تا مقلد فرقهاست ** کاین چو داود است و آن دیگر صداست