پهلوی عیسی نشینم بعد از این ** بر فراز آسمان چارمین‌‌

(But) henceforth may sit beside Jesus at the top of the Fourth Heaven.”

ولی عهد ساختن وزیر هر یک امیر را جدا جدا

How the vizier appointed each one of the amírs separately as his successor.

و آن گهانی آن امیران را بخواند ** یک به یک تنها به هر یک حرف راند 650

And then he summoned those amírs one by one and conversed with each (of them) alone.

گفت هر یک را به دین عیسوی ** نایب حق و خلیفه‌‌ی من توی‌‌

He said to each one, “In the religion of Jesus thou art the vicar of God and my khalífa (vicegerent),

و آن امیران دگر اتباع تو ** کرد عیسی جمله را اشیاع تو

And those other amírs are thy followers: Jesus hath made all of them thy assistants.

هر امیری کو کشید گردن بگیر ** یا بکش یا خود همی‌‌دارش اسیر

Any amír who lifts his neck (in rebellion), seize him and either kill him or hold him captive;

لیک تا من زنده‌‌ام این وامگو ** تا نمیرم این ریاست را مجو

But do not declare this whilst I am alive: do not seek this supreme authority until I am dead.

تا نمیرم من تو این پیدا مکن ** دعوی شاهی و استیلا مکن‌‌ 655

Until I am dead, do not reveal this: do not lay claim to sovereignty and dominion.

اینک این طومار و احکام مسیح ** یک به یک بر خوان تو بر امت فصیح‌‌

Here is this scroll and the ordinances of the Messiah: recite them distinctly, one by one, to his people.”

هر امیری را چنین گفت او جدا ** نیست نایب جز تو در دین خدا

Thus he spoke to each amír separately, (saying), “There is no vicar in the religion of God except thee.”

هر یکی را کرد او یک یک عزیز ** هر چه آن را گفت این را گفت نیز

He honoured each, one by one, (in this way): whatever he said to that (amír) he also said to this.

هر یکی را او یکی طومار داد ** هر یکی ضد دگر بود المراد

To each he gave one scroll: every one was purposely the contrary of the other.

جملگی طومارها بد مختلف ** چون حروف آن جمله از یا تا الف‌‌ 660

The text of those scrolls was diverse; all were (different), like the letters from alif to yá.

حکم این طومار ضد حکم آن ** پیش از این کردیم این ضد را بیان‌‌

The rule (laid down) in this scroll was contrary to the rule in that: we have already explained (the nature of) this contradiction.

کشتن وزیر خویشتن را در خلوت

How the vizier killed himself in seclusion.

بعد از آن چل روز دیگر در ببست ** خویش کشت و از وجود خود برست‌‌

After that, he shut the door for other forty days (and then) killed himself and escaped from his existence.

چون که خلق از مرگ او آگاه شد ** بر سر گورش قیامت‌‌گاه شد

When the people learned of his death, there came to pass at his grave the scene of the Resurrection.

خلق چندان جمع شد بر گور او ** موکنان جامه دران در شور او

So great a multitude gathered at his grave, tearing their hair, rending their garments in wild grief for him,

کان عدد را هم خدا داند شمرد ** از عرب وز ترک و از رومی و کرد 665

That only God can reckon the number of them—Arabs and Turks and Greeks and Kurds.

خاک او کردند بر سرهای خویش ** درد او دیدند درمان جای خویش‌‌

They put his (grave's) earth on their heads; they deemed anguish for him to be the remedy for themselves.

آن خلایق بر سر گورش مهی ** کرده خون را از دو چشم خود رهی‌‌

During a month those multitudes over his grave made a way for blood from their eyes (shed tears of anguish).

طلب کردن امت عیسی علیه السلام از امرا که ولی عهد از شما کدام است

How the people of Jesus—on him be peace!—asked the amírs, “Which one of you is the successor?”

بعد ماهی خلق گفتند ای مهان ** از امیران کیست بر جایش نشان‌‌

After a month the people said, “O chiefs, which of (the) amírs is designated in his place,

تا به جای او شناسیمش امام ** دست و دامن را بدست او دهیم‌‌

That we may acknowledge him as our religious leader instead of him (the vizier), and give our hands and skirts into his hand?

چون که شد خورشید و ما را کرد داغ ** چاره نبود بر مقامش از چراغ‌‌ 670

Since the sun is gone and has branded us (left the brand of sorrow in our hearts), is not a lamp the (only) resource in his stead?

چون که شد از پیش دیده وصل یار ** نایبی باید از او مان یادگار

Since union with the beloved has vanished from before our eyes, we must needs have a vicar as a memorial of him (i.e. one who will recall him to our memory).

چون که گل بگذشت و گلشن شد خراب ** بوی گل را از که یابیم از گلاب‌‌

Since the rose is past and the garden ravaged, from whom shall we get the perfume of the rose? From rosewater.”

چون خدا اندر نیاید در عیان ** نایب حق‌‌اند این پیغمبران‌‌

Inasmuch as God comes not into sight, these prophets are the vicars of God.