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| WHO knows the heart of the Christian? How does he reason? | |
| What are his measures and balances? Which is his season | |
| For laughter, forbearance or bloodshed, and what devils move him | |
| When he arises to smite us? I do not love him. | |
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| He invites the derision of strangers—he enters all places. | 5 |
| Booted, bareheaded he enters. With shouts and embraces | |
| He asks of us news of the household whom we reckon nameless. | |
| Certainly Allah created him forty-fold shameless! | |
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| So it is not in the Desert. One came to me weeping— | |
| The Avenger of Blood on his track—I took him in keeping. | 10 |
| Demanding not whom he had slain, I refreshed him, I fed him | |
| As he were even a brother. But Eblis had bred him. | |
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| He was the son of an ape, ill at ease in his clothing. | |
| He talked with his head, hands and feet. I endured him with loathing. | |
| Whatever his spirit conceived his countenance showed it | 15 |
| As a frog shows in a mud-puddle. Yet I abode it! | |
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| I fingered my beard and was dumb, in silence confronting him. | |
| His soul was too shallow for silence, e’en with Death hunting him. | |
| I said: “’Tis his weariness speaks,” but, when he had rested, | |
| He chirped in my face like some sparrow, and, presently, jested! | 20 |
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| Wherefore slew I that stranger? He brought me dishonour. | |
| I saddled my mare, Bijli, I set him upon her. | |
| I gave him rice and goat’s flesh. He bared me to laughter. | |
| When he was gone from my tent, swift I followed after, | |
| Taking my sword in my hand. The hot wine had filled him. | 25 |
| Under the stars he mocked me—therefore I killed him! | |
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