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;

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.

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.

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.

تلبیس وزیر با نصارا

How the vizier brought the Christians into doubt and perplexity.

پس بگویم من به سر نصرانی‌‌ام ** ای خدای راز دان می‌‌دانی‌‌ام‌‌

Then I will say (to them), ‘I am secretly a Christian. O God who knowest (all) things hidden, Thou knowest me.

شاه واقف گشت از ایمان من ** وز تعصب کرد قصد جان من‌‌

The king was informed of my (Christian) faith and from bigotry sought to take my life.

خواستم تا دین ز شه پنهان کنم ** آن که دین اوست ظاهر آن کنم‌‌ 350

I wished to hide my religion from the king and profess his religion,

شاه بویی برد از اسرار من ** متهم شد پیش شه گفتار من‌‌

(But) the king got a scent of my inmost beliefs, and my words were suspected (when I stood) before the king.

گفت گفت تو چو در نان سوزن است ** از دل من تا دل تو روزن است‌‌

He said, “Your words are like a needle in bread (specious but pernicious); there is a window between my heart and yours.

من از آن روزن بدیدم حال تو ** حال تو دیدم ننوشم قال تو

Through that window I have seen your (real) state: I see your state and will not heed your words.”

گر نبودی جان عیسی چاره‌‌ام ** او جهودانه بکردی پاره‌‌ام‌‌

Had not the spirit of Jesus been my aid, he would in Jewish fashion have torn me to pieces.

بهر عیسی جان سپارم سر دهم ** صد هزاران منتش بر خود نهم‌‌ 355

For Jesus' sake I would yield my life and give my head and lay on myself (confess) myriads of obligations to him.

جان دریغم نیست از عیسی و لیک ** واقفم بر علم دینش نیک نیک‌‌

I do not grudge Jesus my life, but full well am I versed in the knowledge of his religion.

حیف می‌‌آمد مرا کان دین پاک ** در میان جاهلان گردد هلاک‌‌

Grief was coming over me (it seemed to me a pity) that that holy religion should perish amongst those who are ignorant (of it).

شکر ایزد را و عیسی را که ما ** گشته‌‌ایم آن کیش حق را رهنما

Thanks be to God and to Jesus that I have become a guide to the true faith.

از جهود و از جهودی رسته‌‌ام ** تا به زناری میان را بسته‌‌ام‌‌

I have escaped from Jews and Judaism so (entirely) that I have bound my waist with a (Christian) girdle.

دور دور عیسی است ای مردمان ** بشنوید اسرار کیش او به جان‌‌ 360

The (present) epoch is the epoch of Jesus. O men, hearken with your souls unto the mysteries of his religion!’”

کرد با وی شاه آن کاری که گفت ** خلق حیران مانده ز ان مکر نهفت‌‌

The king did to him that deed (mutilation) which he had proposed: the people remained in amazement at that hidden (mysterious) plot.

راند او را جانب نصرانیان ** کرد در دعوت شروع او بعد از آن‌‌

He (the king) drove him away to the Christians. After that, he (the vizier) began to proselytise.

قبول کردن نصارا مکر وزیر را

How the Christians let themselves be duped by the vizier.

صد هزاران مرد ترسا سوی او ** اندک اندک جمع شد در کوی او

Myriads of Christian men gathered round him, little by little, in his abode,