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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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?—
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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.”
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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;
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بعد از آن در زیر دار آور مرا ** تا بخواهد یک شفاعت‌‌گر مرا 345
- Then bring me under the gallows, that an intercessor may plead for me.
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بر منادی گاه کن این کار تو ** بر سر راهی که باشد چار سو
- Do this deed in the place for (public) proclamation, on a highway where roads run in four directions.
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آن گهم از خود بران تا شهر دور ** تا در اندازم در ایشان شر و شور
- Then banish me from thy presence to a distant land, that I may cast mischief and confusion amongst them.
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تلبیس وزیر با نصارا
- How the vizier brought the Christians into doubt and perplexity.