How the vizier started another plan to mislead the (Christian) folk.
The vizier formed in his mind another plan: he abandoned preaching and sat alone in seclusion.
He inspired ardour in his disciples from (their) longing (to see him); he remained in seclusion forty or fifty days.
The people became mad from longing for him and on account of being separated from his (spiritual) feeling and discourse and intuition.
They were making supplication and lament, while he in solitude was bent double by austerities.
They said, “Without thee we have no light: how (what) is the state of a blind man without a leader?
By way of showing favour (to us) and for God's sake, do not keep us parted from thee any longer.
We are as children and thou art our nurse: do thou spread over us that shadow (of thy protection).”
He said, “My soul is not far from them that love (me), but there is no permission to come forth.”
Those amírs came for intercession, and the disciples came in reproach,
Saying, “O noble sir, what a misfortune is this for us! Without thee we are left orphaned (deprived) of our hearts and our religion.
Thou art making a pretence while we in grief are heaving cold (fruitless) sighs from the burning heat of our hearts.
We have become accustomed to thy sweet discourse, we have drunk of the milk of thy wisdom.
Allah! Allah! do not thou (O vizier) treat us with such cruelty: show kindness to-day, do not (put off till) to-morrow.
Does thy heart give to thee (consent) that these who have lost their hearts (to thee) should at last, being without thee, become (numbered) amongst them that have nothing left?
They all are writhing like fishes on dry land: let loose the water, remove the dam from the stream.
O thou like whom there is none in the world, for God's sake, for God's sake, come to the aid of thy people!”
