Miryai Saga
Miryai is Expelled from Jewry
A Variant of the Above from the Oxford Manuscript
The Exiled Community Settle on the Euphrates
The Jews Persecute the Mandaeans
They Beg Then to Return
Yahi-Yohanna Saga
Portents of John`s Birth
John`s Proclamation concerning himself
and his assumption of the Prophet's mantle
John`s Light-Ship
John the Ascetic
Of Judgement Day
The Letter of Truth
John`s Invulnerability
John and the Baptism of Jesus
John's Marriage
John on His own Passing
John's Birth , Uprising, and First Appearance
John's Answer to Jesus Concerning the Angel of Death
Fisher Saga
The Fisher of Souls Saga
The Light Ship of the Fisher
The Good Fisher Rejects the Overtures
of the Evil Ones and Overwhelms Them
The Final Submission of the Evil Fishers
Good Shepherd Prayers
THE LOVING SHEPHERDS
OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Odds and Ends
The Song of the Poor's Exhaltation
Exhortations
In the Beginning
The Treasury of Life
WITH JUDAISM
ON THE EUPHRATES
Miryai am I, a vine, a tree, who stands at the mouth of Euphrates (Frash). The tree's leaves are precions stones, the tree's fruits pearls. The vine-tree's foliage is glory, its shoots precious light. Among the trees its scent it diffuses, and it spreads over all the worlds. The birds of the air scented it; a flock settled down on the tree. A flock on it down-settled, and they would build their nest there. They flutter about in it and settle not down in it firmly. Of its foliage they eat …from its inner part they drink wine. They eat what is not to be cast away, and drink what was not wine.
While the birds sat on the vine, winds and tempests broke loose. They shook the good birdlets awake, they smote 'gainst the tree: on all sides they scattered the leaves of the vine-tree and scared the birds out of their place, Many a bird there was who flew not away, but held on fast with claws and with wings, till the winds and the tempests were over. Many again held not on fast and were hurried away….Woe unto those who did not hold fast, but were dashed from the tree and flew off. How fair is the tree of Life and fair the birds who dwell on it !
The winds and the tempests passed and rest came over the world.
As the birds sit there and chirp and would be a-building their nest, as the birds sit on the vine, an eagle wheeled and flew hither. A white eagle-bird came, looked down and caught sight of the birds. Round wheeled he, sped down on them with his wings, and came and sat on the tree. In converse with him joined the birds, and said to him.
"By thy Life, Eagle! On this tree were we birds without number.---But there broke loose against them the winds, and on the tree came raging tempests. They shook them off, from the tree, so that they tore their wings from them (nearly). Many a one held fast, whom the winds and tempests could not tear away: but many a one flew off at top speed---We speak to thee, therefore O Eagle, we ask thee respecting the birds, because thou art sharp of sight and dost see all in this world: What have the winds and the tempests done with those birds, our brothers? What spyest thou out (?) over them? "
Then made be answer unto them: "You had better not to have known, my brothers, what has become of those birds. Sling-shots drove them far from me, their wings broke: torn off were they, broken off; the), they went hence and relied on the bird-catcher's. The harrier and hawk wheeled round them, tore pieces out of their flesh and fed on those who were fat. Woe to those who fell prey to the water: if there was no portion for them at the crossing. Well for you, ye birds, who bald fast to this vine (here): you become a, companionship of Miryai the vine, who stands at the mouth of Euphrates. See and satisfy yourselves, ye birds, that I have come to you. I have come to my brothers to be a support for them in this world. I have come to heal Miryai (come) to bring mater to the good, beloved plants, to the vines, who stand at the mouth of Euphrates. In a white pail I draw water and bring it to my plants. I bear and I hold (it) on the arms of glory which are my own. I bear and I hold (it) and give (them) to drink. Well for him who has drunk of my mater. He drinks, finds healing and confirmation, and grows to double (his stature). The vines who drank water, brought forth good fruit. Their leaves turned on high and made a brave show. The branches, which drank no water, brought forth bitter herbs and wormwood (?). Woe to those who have not gone forward upon the Way; woe to those who here not passed on by the way-stone! They hated Life's Treasure-House: Miryai, the dear Truth.
" My brothers, hold fast, be a companionship of Miryai. I will look round in the world, let Life's call sound forth and rouse the sleeping and make [them]."
The eagle flew off from the tree: he wheeled round and instructed his friends. He speaks to them: "Give ear to me, my brothers! Stay fast and endure persecution. Be a companionship to Miryai. Woe to the Jews, who were a persecution for Miryai. Woe to Elizar, the great house, the pillar that props the temple. Woe to Zatan, the pillar,' who has witnessed lies against Miryai!
Mandaean John-Book by G.R.S. Mead pages 65-67
