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
God is saying, “O blind dupe, did not Túr (Sinai) fall in pieces at My Name? حق همیگوید که ای مغرور کور ** نه ز نامم پاره پاره گشت طور
For if We had sent down (revealed) a Book to the mountain, it would have been riven asunder, then cut to pieces, and then it would have departed (disappeared). که لو انزلنا کتابا للجبل ** لانصدع ثم انقطع ثم ارتحل
If Mount Uhud had been acquainted with Me, it would have been shivered to pieces and its heart would have been filled with blood.” 510 از من ار کوه احد واقف بدی ** پاره گشتی و دلش پر خون شدی