A worthless one falls into the snare of its deceit; (for) from every base fellow the thought pops up,3850
افتد اندر دام مکرش ناکسی ** این گمان سر بر زند از هر خسی
That if this were not genuine coin, how should it have become eager for the touchstone?
کین اگر نه نقد پاکیزه بدی ** کی به سنگ امتحان راغب شدی
It desires the touchstone, but one of such a kind that its falseness will not be clearly exposed thereby.
او محک میخواهد اما آنچنان ** که نگردد قلبی او زان عیان
The touchstone that keeps hidden the quality (of that which is tested) is not a (true) touchstone, nor (is it) the (discriminating) light of knowledge.
آن محک که او نهان دارد صفت ** نی محک باشد نه نور معرفت
The mirror that keeps hidden the defects of the face to flatter every cuckold
آینه کو عیب رو دارد نهان ** از برای خاطر هر قلتبان
Is not a (true) mirror; it is hypocritical. Do not seek such a mirror so long as you can (help).3855
آینه نبود منافق باشد او ** این چنین آیینه تا توانی مجو