Mystical poem · 1881

The Mesnevi, Book the First

Translated and versified by James W. Redhouse

by Jalal al-Din Rumi

Translated by James W. Redhouse (1881)

The first book of Rumi's great Persian Sufi teaching poem, opening with the lament of the reed-flute torn from its reed-bed, and moving through tales of the prince and the handmaid, the parrot and the oilman, and the lion and the beasts, each tale unfolding a lesson of love and the soul's return to God.

Contents · 18 parts

• Proem: The Reed-Flute72 lines
• Tale I: The Prince and the Handmaidabout 440 lines
• Tale II: The Oilman and the Parrotabout 160 lines
• Tale III: The Jewish King, Persecutor of the Christiansabout 870 lines
• Tale IV: Another Jewish King, Persecutor of Christiansabout 330 lines
• Tale V: The Lion and the Beastsabout 990 lines
• Tale VI: The Greater (Spiritual) Warfareabout 360 lines
• Tale VII: The Merchant and the Parrotabout 750 lines
• Tale VIII: The Harperabout 720 lines
• Tale IX: The Poor Scenite Arab and his Wifeabout 1390 lines
• Tale X: Patience and Perseverance under a Teacherabout 160 lines
• Tale XI: The Lion’s Hunt, in Companyabout 280 lines
• Tale XII: Joseph and the Mirrorabout 160 lines
• Tale XIII: The Prophet’s First Amanuensisabout 400 lines
• Tale XIV: The Chinese and Roman Artistsabout 150 lines
• Tale XV: Zeyd’s Inspirationabout 450 lines
• Tale XVI: Ali’s Forbearanceabout 540 lines
• Tale XVII: Conclusion28 lines

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