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1
345-369

  • Then bring me under the gallows, that an intercessor may plead for me. 345
  • Do this deed in the place for (public) proclamation, on a highway where roads run in four directions.
  • Then banish me from thy presence to a distant land, that I may cast mischief and confusion amongst them.
  • How the vizier brought the Christians into doubt and perplexity.
  • Then I will say (to them), ‘I am secretly a Christian. O God who knowest (all) things hidden, Thou knowest me.
  • The king was informed of my (Christian) faith and from bigotry sought to take my life.
  • I wished to hide my religion from the king and profess his religion, 350
  • (But) the king got a scent of my inmost beliefs, and my words were suspected (when I stood) before the king.
  • He said, “Your words are like a needle in bread (specious but pernicious); there is a window between my heart and yours.
  • Through that window I have seen your (real) state: I see your state and will not heed your words.”
  • Had not the spirit of Jesus been my aid, he would in Jewish fashion have torn me to pieces.
  • For Jesus' sake I would yield my life and give my head and lay on myself (confess) myriads of obligations to him. 355
  • I do not grudge Jesus my life, but full well am I versed in the knowledge of his religion.
  • Grief was coming over me (it seemed to me a pity) that that holy religion should perish amongst those who are ignorant (of it).
  • Thanks be to God and to Jesus that I have become a guide to the true faith.
  • I have escaped from Jews and Judaism so (entirely) that I have bound my waist with a (Christian) girdle.
  • The (present) epoch is the epoch of Jesus. O men, hearken with your souls unto the mysteries of his religion!’” 360
  • The king did to him that deed (mutilation) which he had proposed: the people remained in amazement at that hidden (mysterious) plot.
  • He (the king) drove him away to the Christians. After that, he (the vizier) began to proselytise.
  • How the Christians let themselves be duped by the vizier.
  • Myriads of Christian men gathered round him, little by little, in his abode,
  • (While) he secretly expounded to them the mysteries of Gospel and girdle and prayer.
  • Outwardly he was a preacher of (religious) ordinances, but inwardly he was (as) the whistle and snare (of the fowler). 365
  • On this account some Companions (of Mohammed) begged of the Prophet (that he would acquaint them with) the deceitfulness of the ghoul-like soul,
  • Saying, “What of hidden selfish interests does it mingle in acts of worship and in pure spiritual devotion?”
  • They were not seeking from him excellence of piety; they were inquiring where lay the outward defect.
  • Hair by hair, speck by speck, they were recognising the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul as (plainly as the difference of) the rose from parsley.