Since that time when the highest court

Had given me the prophet’s vision,

In eyes of men I always caught

The images of sin and treason.

Then I began to promulgate

The clear love’s and truth’s commandment:

At me all humans threw for that

Hard sticks and stones, like the madmen.

I put sackcloth and ashes on,

And ran—a beggar—from the town,

And there I live in desert lone,

Like birds, on food that God sends down;

Here earthly creatures serve me right,

The laws of the Lord obeying;

And stars here hear me in night,

With their rays, like babies, playing.

And when to towns’ walls, by chance,

I hurry through the noisy places,

The old men say to younger ones,

With selfish smiles on their faces,

“Look, there is an example for us!

He was expelled from life, like ours:

The fool was forcing us to trust

That God is speaking through his mouth!

So, see, my children: how grim,

Thin, pale he is—with shaggy hair!

Look, how poor he is and bare,

How despise all people him!”