Discourses of Rumi

316 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIremained hidden. Like a military commanderwho is in charge of a fortress, even when he iskind and generous to the people, if his plan is tothrow off allegiance to the king and become arebel, his kindnesses lose all their worth and luster.Nevertheless, we should not entirely denyGod’s favor to Pharaoh. God’s grace might havebeen secret, causing Pharaoh to be rejected for agood purpose. For a king is both vengeful andgracious. He bestows both robes of honor andprison terms. The Sufis do not deny God’s favorto Pharaoh completely. The literalists, however,consider Pharaoh wholly rejected, and this is finefor the proper maintenance of the external teaching.When a king puts a man on the gallows, hehangs him up high in the presence of the assembledpeople. He could also suspend him indoors,hidden from everyone, by a low nail, but it is necessaryfor the people to see and take warning. Theexecution of the king’s decrees, and the carryingout of his orders should be visible. But not everygallows consists of wood. High rank and worldlyfortune are also a gallows, and a very high one.