The wasp and the bee eat and drink from the fields...

The wasp and the bee eat and drink from the fields; The one stings, the other sweet honey still yields. The deer of both sorts browse the same mountain's side; 25 The one gives rich musk; dung the other; go, hide. The canes of two species in one land may grow; Quite empty that one; from this, sugar will flow. By thousands, examples of pairs thus are known, Which differ as much as does cheese from the moon.

Our bread, in one case, turns to dirt in our meat; Another produces the mind, God's own seat. His food the one man swells with envy and greed; By like means another gains virtue indeed. One soil is productive; one barren and salt; One angel's in heaven; the other's at fault. 30 In form, many pairs may appear as though one, Clear water is sometimes as hard as a stone. Excepting the taster by practice, who knows The wholesome from unwholesome water that flows?

Supposing saints’ miracles tricks, magic-wrought, They fancy them both the result of deep thought. Magicians, at bidding of Pharaoh, did cast Their wands down, to Moses’ rod as a repast. From his rod to their wands a chasm there must be; From his act to theirs we an interval see. 35 God's curse on their witchcraft and devilish art! His blessing on Moses, who chose the best part! To me, like as apes are man's miscreants all; 1 To speak of them causes me, straight, sick to fall!

Whatever men practise, apes will copy still; Our actions they mimic; of thought they know nil . They cunningly do what they've seen that man did; The reason they seek not; from them that is hid. A man acts from reason; an ape from mere whim. Perdition may seize all such actors, and him! 40 The hypocrite 2 worships 3 as aping the saint, For form's sake, or worse. His religion's mere feint. In pilgrimage, worship, and fasting, and alms, 1 Believers and hypocrites vie, as in psalms.

Believers shall win in the last judgment day; The hypocrites then shall receive their due pay. The two are contending one great game of deeds, As factions of Mervites and Rāzites 2 with creeds. They each shall go there, where their party shall stand; 45 And each shall be classed as their actions demand. 3 Just style these "Believers," their hearts fill with glee; But dub them all "Hypocrites," rage then thou’lt see.

The first one's ashamed of the last one's true self; This last-named's a plague to the first, like an elf. No virtue in mere words or letters is found; "Believer" ’s a word in itself but a sound.