The Masnavi, Book One (Oxford World's Classics)

The story about the Jewish king who out of
fanaticism would kill Christians
There once was an oppressive Jewish king,
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A foe of Jesus and his following
During the period of his prophethood,
Succeeding Moses, as we’ve understood ––
The cross-eyed king saw them as miles apart
Although as prophets they were one at heart:
A teacher told a cross-eyed boy one day,
‘Go fetch for me a bottle straight away!’
The boy returned, ‘Which bottle did you mean
Of that exactly matching pair I’ve seen?’
The teacher said, ‘There’s only one you fool!
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Have you not learned to add up yet at school?’
The Jewish Vizier who Misled Christians
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The boy protested, ‘Sir, don’t laugh at me!’
The teacher said, ‘Try smashing one to see!’
A single bottle looked to him like two
But when one broke, both vanished from his view!
When he smashed one the other broke as well,
Desire can make you cross-eyed in its spell!
And lust and rage don’t just a
ffect your sight,
They agitate your soul, set it alight,
Virtue’s forgotten when your heart feels lust,
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Veils block your heart and eyes like layers of dust,
So when a judge lets bribery win his heart
He can’t tell guilt and innocence apart.
This king became so cross-eyed through his hate,
The Christians prayed, ‘Save us from his dictate!’
He slew believers, claimed it was correct,
Said, ‘Moses’s faith I have to protect!’
The vizier informs the king of his plot
He had an in
fidel vizier, so sly
That he convinced men even when he’d lie!
He said, ‘The Christians want to save their lives,
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They see that he who hides his faith survives ––
Don’t round them up, that method won’t work well,
You can’t tell people’s faith just by their smell!
They’ve hidden their beliefs inside a sheath,
What smiles at you opposes you beneath.’
The king said, ‘Tell me what you recommend
To wipe out those who play-act and pretend,
To rid this world of every Christian soul,
Hidden or in the open –– that’s my goal!’
He said, ‘Cut o
ff my nose and hands, dear king,
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And split my lip to show my su
ffering,
Then hang me from the gallows publicly
Till someone comes to intercede for me,
The Jewish Vizier who Misled Christians
24

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Set all this up inside the market square
So people 
flock to see from everywhere,
Then banish me to exile far away
And I’ll make mischief for them from that day!
How the vizier deceives the Christians
I’ll say, “I’ve been a Christian in disguise ––
All-knowing God will prove these are not lies:
When he found out my true identity
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That bigot of a king came after me!
To keep my faith a secret from that king
I’d mimic his own brand of worshipping,
But when he did get wind of my belief
Of wicked crimes he charged me like a thief,
Saying, “Your words are needles in my spine!
A window lies between your heart and mine
Through which upon your secrets I can spy,
And so your false claims I’ll no longer buy.”
If Jesus had not saved me from that Jew
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He would have butchered me, I swear to you,
For Christ I’d therefore sacri
fice my head
And pay back all my debts before I’m dead;
Though I would gladly die for our Lord’s sake,
I’ve studied, so it would be a mistake ––
To risk the future of our faith’s not right
Though under heathens we have such a 
fight!
Thanks be to God and Jesus, this I pray,
That I’ve become a guide to lead the way,
That I’ve escaped the cruel, oppressive Jews
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To wear my Christian girdle when I choose!
This is the epoch of our Holy Lord,
Hear now his secrets, live in full accord!” ’
The king did what was needed to destroy
All Christian families with their hidden ploy:
He started to expel them from his land
When the vizier began to preach, as planned.