The quarrel of the amírs concerning the succession.

One of those amírs advanced and went before that loyal-minded people.

“Behold,” said he, “I am that man's vicar: I am the vicar of Jesus at the present time.

Look, this scroll is my proof that after him the vicarate belongs to me.”

Another amír came forth from ambush: his pretension regarding the vicegerency was the same;

He too produced a scroll from under his arm, so that in both (amírs) there arose the Jewish anger.

The rest of the amírs, one after another, drawing swords of keen mettle,

Each with a sword and a scroll in his hand, fell to combat like raging elephants.

Hundreds of thousands of Christians were slain, so that there were mounds of severed heads;

Blood flowed, on left and right, like a torrent; mountains of this dust (of battle) rose in the air.

The seeds of dissension which he (the vizier) had sown had become a calamity (cause of destruction) to their heads.

The walnuts (bodies) were broken, and those which had the kernel had, after being slain, a spirit pure and fair.

Slaughter and death which befalls the bodily frame is like breaking pomegranates and apples:

That which is sweet becomes pomegranate-syrup, and that which is rotten is naught but noise:

That which has reality is made manifest (after death), and that which is rotten is put to shame.

Go, strive after reality, O worshipper of form, inasmuch as reality is the wing on form's body.

Consort with the followers of reality, that you may both win the gift and be generous (in giving yourself up to God).

Beyond dispute, in this body the spirit devoid of reality is even as a wooden sword in the sheath:

Whilst it remains in the sheath, it is (apparently) valuable, (but) when it has come forth it is an implement (only fit) for burning.

Do not take a wooden sword into the battle! First see (whether your sword is a real one), in order that your plight may not be wretched.

If it is made of wood, go, seek another; and if it is adamant, march forward joyously.

The sword (of reality) is in the armoury of the saints: to see (and associate with) them is for you (as precious as) the Elixir.

All the wise have said this same thing: the wise man is a (Divine) mercy to created beings.

If you would buy a pomegranate, buy (it when it is) laughing (having its rind cleft open), so that its laughter (openness) may give information as to its seeds.

Oh, blessed is its laughter, for through its mouth it shows the heart, like a pearl from the casket of the spirit.

Unblest was the laughter (openness) of the red anemone, from whose mouth appeared the blackness of its heart.

The laughing pomegranate makes the garden laughing (gay and blooming): companionship with (holy) men makes you one of the (holy) men.

Though you be rock or marble, you will become a jewel when you reach the man of heart (the saint).

Plant the love of the holy ones within your spirit; do not give your heart (to aught) save to the love of them whose hearts are glad.

Go not to the neighbourhood of despair: there are hopes. Go not in the direction of darkness: there are suns.

The heart leads you into the neighbourhood of the men of heart (the saints); the body leads you into the prison of water and earth.

Oh, give your heart food from (conversation with) one who is in accord with it; go, seek (spiritual) advancement from one who is advanced.