How Pharaoh took counsel with ha vizier, Hámán, as to believing in Moses, on whom be peace.

He told Hamán when he saw him alone: Hámán sprang up and rent the bosom of his shirt.

That accursed one uttered loud cries’ and sobs and beat his turban and cap on the ground,

Saying, “How durst he say those vain words so impudently in the face of the king?

Thou hast made the whole world subject (to thy sway); thou, (attended) by fortune, hast made thy estate (brilliant) as gold.

From all parts of the East and West sultans, without (raising); opposition, bring tribute to thee.

Kings are rubbing their lips joyfully on the dust of thy thresh old, O mighty emperor.

When the enemy’s horse sees our horse, it turns its face and flees without flogging’.

Hitherto thou hast been worshipped and adored by the (whole) world: (now) thou wilt become the meanest of slaves.

To go into a thousand fires is better than this, that a lord should become the servant of a slave.

Nay, kill me first, 0 king of China, that mine eye may not be hold this (servility) in the king.

O emperor, behead me first, that mine eye may not behold this ignominy.

Truly never has there been—and never may there be!—such a thing as this, that the earth should become the sky, and the sky become the earth;

(That) our slaves should become our fellow-servants, (and that) our timorous ones should become those who (cruelly) wound our hearts;

(That our) enemies (should be) bright-eyed and (our) friends blind: then (in that case) the rose- garden has become for us (like) the bottom of the tomb.”