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studied not; their schools I entered not. Ask of the city wherein I dwelt,

that thou mayest be well assured that I am not of them who speak falsely.

This is but a leaf which the winds of the will of thy Lord, the Almighty,

the All-Praised, have stirred. Can it be still when the tempestuous winds

are blowing? Nay, by Him Who is the Lord of all Names and Attributes! They

move it as they list. The evanescent is as nothing before Him Who is the

Ever-Abiding. His all-compelling summons hath reached Me, and caused Me to

speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed as one dead when His

behest was uttered. The hand of the will of thy Lord, the Compassionate,

the Merciful, transformed Me. Can any one speak forth of his own accord

that for which all men, both high and low, will protest against him? Nay,

by Him Who taught the Pen the eternal mysteries, save him whom the grace

of the Almighty, the All-Powerful, hath strengthened. The Pen of the Most

High addresseth Me saying: Fear not. Relate unto His Majesty the Shah that

which befell thee. His heart, verily, is between the fingers of thy Lord,

the God of Mercy, that haply the sun of justice and bounty may shine forth

above the horizon of his heart. Thus hath the decree been irrevocably

fixed by Him Who is the All-Wise.



Look upon this Youth, O King, with the eyes of justice; judge thou, then,

with truth concerning what hath befallen Him. Of a verity, God hath made

thee His shadow amongst men, and the sign of His power unto all that dwell

on earth. Judge thou between Us and them that have wronged Us without

proof and without an enlightening Book. They that surround thee love thee

for their own sakes, whereas this Youth loveth thee for thine own sake,

and hath had no desire except to draw thee nigh unto the seat of grace,

and to turn thee toward the right-hand of justice. Thy Lord beareth

witness unto that which I declare.



O King! Wert thou to incline thine ear unto the shrill of the Pen of Glory

and the cooing of the Dove of Eternity which, on the branches of the

Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, uttereth praises to God, the

Maker of all names and Creator of earth and heaven, thou wouldst attain

unto a station from which thou wouldst behold in the world of being naught

save the effulgence of the Adored One, and wouldst regard thy sovereignty

as the most contemptible of thy possessions, abandoning it to whosoever

might desire it, and setting thy face toward the Horizon aglow with the

light of His countenance. Neither wouldst thou ever be willing to bear the

burden of dominion save for the purpose of helping thy Lord, the Exalted,

the Most High. Then would the Concourse on high bless thee. O how

excellent is this most sublime station, couldst thou ascend thereunto

through the power of a sovereignty recognized as derived from the Name of

God!...



O King of the age! The eyes of these refugees are turned towards and fixed

upon the mercy of the Most Merciful. No doubt is there whatever that these

tribulations will be followed by the outpourings of a supreme mercy, and

these dire adversities be succeeded by an overflowing prosperity. We fain

would hope, however, that His Majesty the Shah will himself examine these

matters, and bring hope to the hearts. That which We have submitted to thy

Majesty is indeed for thine highest good. And God, verily, is a sufficient

witness unto Me....



O would that thou wouldst permit Me, O Shah, to send unto thee that which

would cheer the eyes, and tranquillize the souls, and persuade every

fair-minded person that with Him is the knowledge of the Book... But for

the repudiation of the foolish and the connivance of the divines, I would

have uttered a discourse that would have thrilled and carried away the

hearts unto a realm from the murmur of whose winds can be heard: 'No God

is there but He!'...



I have seen, O Shah, in the path of God what eye hath not seen nor ear

heard... How numerous the tribulations which have rained, and will soon

rain, upon Me! I advance with My face set towards Him Who is the Almighty,

the All-Bounteous, whilst behind Me glideth the serpent. Mine eyes have

rained down tears until My bed is drenched. I sorrow not for Myself,

however. By God! Mine head yearneth for the spear out of love for its

Lord. I never passed a tree, but Mine heart addressed it saying: 'O would

that thou wert cut down in My name, and My body crucified upon thee, in

the path of My Lord!'... By God! Though weariness lay Me low, and hunger

consume Me, and the bare rock be My bed, and My fellows the beasts of the

field, I will not complain, but will endure patiently as those endued with

constancy and firmness have endured patiently, through the power of God,

the Eternal King and Creator of the nations, and will render thanks unto

God under all conditions. We pray that, out of His bounty--exalted be He--He

may release, through this imprisonment, the necks of men from chains and

fetters, and cause them to turn, with sincere faces, towards His Face, Who

is the Mighty, the Bounteous. Ready is He to answer whosoever calleth upon

Him, and nigh is He unto such as commune with Him.