Rumi's Masnavi - The vizier cried out from within, “O disciples, be this made known to you from me,

The vizier cried out from within, “O disciples, be this made known to you from me,

آن وزیر از اندرون آواز داد ** کای مریدان از من این معلوم باد

That Jesus hath given me a such-like message: ‘Be separated from all friends and kinsfolk.

که مرا عیسی چنین پیغام کرد ** کز همه یاران و خویشان باش فرد

Set thy face to the wall, sit alone, and choose to be secluded even from thine own existence.’ 645

روی در دیوار کن تنها نشین ** وز وجود خویش هم خلوت گزین‌‌

After this there is no permission (for me) to speak; after this I have nothing to do with talk.

بعد از این دستوری گفتار نیست ** بعد از این با گفت و گویم کار نیست‌‌

Farewell, O friends! I am dead: I have carried my belongings up to the Fourth Heaven,

الوداع ای دوستان من مرده‌‌ام ** رخت بر چارم فلک بر برده‌‌ام‌‌

In order that beneath the fiery sphere I may not burn like firewood in woe and perdition,

تا به زیر چرخ ناری چون حطب ** من نسوزم در عنا و در عطب‌‌

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

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

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

ولی عهد ساختن وزیر هر یک امیر را جدا جدا

And then he summoned those amírs one by one and conversed with each (of them) alone. 650

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until I am dead, do not reveal this: do not lay claim to sovereignty and dominion. 655

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The text of those scrolls was diverse; all were (different), like the letters from alif to yá. 660

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

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

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

How the vizier killed himself in seclusion.

کشتن وزیر خویشتن را در خلوت

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

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

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

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

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

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

That only God can reckon the number of them—Arabs and Turks and Greeks and Kurds. 665

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

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

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

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

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

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

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