On the other hand, the officials of the Persian Embassy in the Great City
(Constantinople) are energetically and assiduously seeking to exterminate
these wronged ones. They desire one thing, and God desireth another.
Consider now what hath befallen the trusted ones of God in every land. At
one time they have been accused of theft and larceny; at another they have
been calumniated in a manner without parallel in this world. Answer thou
fairly. What could be the results and consequences, in foreign countries,
of the accusation of theft brought by the Persian Embassy against its own
subjects? If this Wronged One was ashamed, it was not because of the
humiliation it brought this servant, but rather because of the shame of
its becoming known to the Ambassadors of foreign countries how incompetent
and lacking in understanding are several eminent officials of the Persian
Embassy. "Flingest thou thy calumnies into the face of Them Whom the one
true God hath made the Trustees of the treasures of His seventh sphere?"
Briefly, instead of seeking, as they should, through Him Who occupieth
this sublime station, to attain unto the most exalted ranks, and to obtain
His advice, they have exerted themselves and are striving their utmost to
put out His light. However, according to what hath been reported, His
Excellency the Ambassador Mu’ínu’l-Mulk, Mírzá Muḥsin _Kh_án—may God
assist him—was, at that time, absent from Constantinople. Such things have
happened because it was believed that His Majesty the _Sh_áh of Persia—may
the All-Merciful assist him—was angry with them that have attained and
revolve round the Sanctuary of Wisdom. God well knoweth and testifieth
that this Wronged One hath, at all times, been cleaving fast unto whatever
would be conducive to the glory of both the government and the people.
God, verily, is sufficient Witness.
Describing the people of Bahá, the Most Sublime Pen hath sent down these
words: "These, verily, are men who if they come to cities of pure gold
will consider them not; and if they meet the fairest and most comely of
women will turn aside." Thus hath it been sent down by the Most Sublime
Pen for the people of Bahá, on the part of Him Who is the Counsellor, the
Omniscient. In the concluding passages of the Tablet to His Majesty the
Emperor of Paris (Napoleon III) these exalted words have been revealed:
"Exultest thou over the treasures thou dost possess, knowing they shall
perish? Rejoicest thou in that thou rulest a span of earth, when the whole
world, in the estimation of the people of Bahá, is worth as much as the
black in the eye of a dead ant? Abandon it unto such as have set their
affections upon it, and turn thou unto Him Who is the Desire of the
world."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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