Contents

PAGE

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

vii

SELECTED ANECDOTES.

CHAP.

I.

Bahā’u-’d-Dīn, Veled, Sultānu-’l-‘Ulemā

3

II.

Seyyid Burhānu-’d-Dīn, Sirr-Dān

13

III.

Mevlānā Jelālu-’d-Dīn, Muhammed

18

IV.

Shemsu-’d-Dīn, Tebrīzī.

99

V.

Sheykh Salāhu-’d-Dīn, Ferīdūn

110

VI.

Chelebī Husāmu-’d-Dīn, Hasan

113

VII.

Bahā’u-’d-Dīn, Sultan Veled

122

VIII.

Chelebī Emīr ‘Ārif

126

IX.

Genealogical

132

THE MESNEVĪ—BOOK I.

PREFACE

i

INTRODUCTION.—PLAINT OF THE REED-FLUTE

1

TALE

I.

The Prince and the Handmaid

4

II.

The Oilman and the Parrot

19

III.

The Jewish King, Persecutor of Christians

25

IV.

Another Jewish King, Persecutor of Christians

55

V.

The Lion and the Beasts

67

VI.

The Greater (Spiritual) Warfare

101

p. vi

TALE

PAGE

VII.

The Merchant and the Parrot

114

VIII.

The Harper

139

IX.

The Poor Scenite Arab and his Wife

165

X.

Patience and Perseverance

212

XI.

The Lion's Hunt

218

XII.

Joseph and the Mirror

228

XIII.

The Prophet's Amanuensis

234

XIV.

The Chinese and Roman Artists

248

XV.

Zeyd's Inspiration

254

XVI.

‘Alī's Forbearance

270

CONCLUSION

289