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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Shemsu-’d-Dīn was extremely bitter in his preachings and lectures to the learned auditory who used to gather around him in Qonya. He likened them to oxen and asses. He reproached them with being further than ever astray from the path of living love, and taxed them with the presumption of supposing themselves the equals of Bāyezīd of Bestām.
He once went to Erzen-of-Rome (Erzrūm), the prince of which city had a son so extremely stupid, though very handsome, that he could be taught nothing, or next thereto.
Shems let no one know who or what he was; but opened a school for children. Inquiries were made by the prince, and Shems undertook to instruct the child, and enable him, in one month, to recite the whole Qur’ān by heart.
He kept his promise. The young prince acquired, further, during the same period, a beautiful handwriting, and sundry other accomplishments.
It began to be suspected, now, that he was a saint in disguise. He therefore quietly slipped away from that city.