- Inasmuch as the stamp of blind imitation is (as) a lock upon the heart;-go, scrape off (dissolve) its lock with tears-;
- ز آن که بر دل نقش تقلید است بند ** رو به آب چشم بندش را برند
- 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
- The source of the former’s words is a glow (of feeling), whereas the imitator is one who learns old things (by rote).
- منبع گفتار این سوزی بود ** و آن مقلد کهنه آموزی بود
- Beware! Be not duped by those sorrowful words” the ox bears the load, but it is the cart that moans (creaks). 495
- هین مشو غره بدان گفت حزین ** بار بر گاو است و بر گردون حنین
- Even the imitator is not disappointed of the (Divine) recompense: the professional mourner gets his wages at the (time of) reckoning.
- هم مقلد نیست محروم از ثواب ** نوحهگر را مزد باشد در حساب
- (Both) infidel and true believer say “God,” but there is a good difference between the two.
- کافر و مومن خدا گویند لیک ** در میان هر دو فرقی هست نیک
- The beggar says “God” for the sake of bread; the devout man says “God” from his soul.
- آن گدا گوید خدا از بهر نان ** متقی گوید خدا از عین جان
- If the beggar distinguished (God as He really is) from his own saying (the name of God), neither less nor more would remain before his eye.
- گر بدانستی گدا از گفت خویش ** پیش چشم او نه کم ماندی نه پیش
- For years that bread-seeker says “god”; like the ass, he carries the Qur’án for the sake of (being fed with) straw. 500
- سالها گوید خدا آن نان خواه ** همچو خر مصحف کشد از بهر کاه
- Had the word on his lips shone forth in his heart, his body would have been shivered to atoms.
- گر بدل در تافتی گفت لبش ** ذره ذره گشته بودی قالبش
- In sorcery the name of a demon finds the way (to success); you are earning a petty coin by means of the Name of God.
- نام دیوی ره برد در ساحری ** تو به نام حق پشیزی میبری
- How a peasant stroked a lion in the dark, because he thought it was his ox.
- خاریدن روستایی در تاریکی شیر را به گمان آن که گاو اوست
- A peasant tied an ox in the stable: a lion ate his ox and sat in its place.
- روستایی گاو در آخر ببست ** شیر گاوش خورد و بر جایش نشست
- The peasant went into the stable to (see) the ox: the man, groping into corners, was seeking the ox at night.
- روستایی شد در آخر سوی گاو ** گاو را میجست شب آن کنج کاو
- He was rubbing his hand on the limbs of the lion, back and side, now above, now below. 505
- دست میمالید بر اعضای شیر ** پشت و پهلو گاه بالا گاه زیر
- The lion said, “If the light were to become greater, his gall-bladder would burst and his heart would turn to blood.
- گفت شیر ار روشنی افزون شدی ** زهرهاش بدریدی و دل خون شدی
- He is stroking me like this so boldly because in this (dark) night he thinks I am the ox.”
- این چنین گستاخ ز آن میخاردم ** کاو درین شب گاو میپنداردم