چون دهد قاضی به دل رشوت قرار ** کی شناسد ظالم از مظلوم زار

چون دهد قاضی به دل رشوت قرار ** کی شناسد ظالم از مظلوم زار 335

When the cadi lets bribery gain hold of his heart, how should he know the wronger from the wretched victim of wrong?

شاه از حقد جهودانه چنان ** گشت احول کالامان یا رب امان‌‌

The king, from Jewish rancour, became so squint-eyed that (we cry), “Mercy, O Lord, mercy (save us from such an affliction)!”

صد هزاران مومن مظلوم کشت ** که پناهم دین موسی را و پشت‌‌

He slew hundreds of thousands of wronged (innocent) believers, saying, “I am the protection and support of the religion of Moses.”

آموختن وزیر مکر پادشاه را

How the vizier instructed the king to plot.

او وزیری داشت گبر و عشوه‌‌ده ** کاو بر آب از مکر بر بستی گره‌‌

He had a vizier, a miscreant and ogler (deceiver), who by reason of (his exceeding) guile would tie knots on water.

گفت ترسایان پناه جان کنند ** دین خود را از ملک پنهان کنند

“The Christians,” said he, “seek to save their lives; they hide their religion from the king.

کم کش ایشان را که کشتن سود نیست ** دین ندارد بوی، مشک و عود نیست‌‌ 340

Slay them not, for slaying (them) is useless: religion hath no smell, it is not musk and aloes-wood.

سر پنهان است اندر صد غلاف ** ظاهرش با تست و باطن بر خلاف‌‌

The secret is concealed in a hundred coverings: its outward form is (in agreement) with thee, (but) the inward (reality) is (in) disagreement.”

شاه گفتش پس بگو تدبیر چیست ** چاره‌‌ی آن مکر و ان تزویر چیست‌‌

The king said to him: “Tell (me), then, what is the (best) plan? What is the remedy against that deceit and imposture?—

تا نماند در جهان نصرانیی ** نی هویدا دین و نی پنهانیی‌‌

So that there may not remain a single Christian in the world, neither one whose religion is manifest nor one who is concealed.”

گفت ای شه گوش و دستم را ببر ** بینی‌‌ام بشکاف و لب در حکم مر

“O king,” said he, “cut off my ears and hands, rip my nose and lips by bitter (cruel) decree;