Hence, no disorder or wrong
can enter the circle we have found.”
K. Then, thou art satisfied with what thou hast seen and heard?
E. We are satisfied with what we have seen and heard. We will not
return with thy permission to tarry here.
K. When wilt thou return to thy new friends?
E. When we can do no good here.
K. Thou wilt not expect to convert me?
E. We expect only thy pleasure. It is not our will to control thee, but
to aid thee in the path of true wisdom and happiness.
K. Hast thou not been flattered with new things?
E. We have seen, and do testify, that new things have been discovered
to us.
K. When new things have been found, is it not prudent to test them by
experience before we trust too implicitly in them?
E. Thou wilt not test them, we apprehend, even as we have done.
K. When thou hast tested them, I will hear thee again.
E. Would it not be better for thee to test them by thy own experience?
K. It would not be better, if I disliked the experience.
E. True; but thou wilt have no experience without a trial of them.
K. I will wait thy tests.
E. We will wait thy pleasure.
When he had concluded, we departed to a mind who was not unwilling to
hear, because he had no authority to rule over others. He was wholly
depressed in his mind about relieving himself from his fears.
“Thy fears disturb thy quiet,” said the elder.
M. My fears not only disturb my quiet, but the quiet of others.
E. Why dost thou fear?
M. How can I help my fears, when every thing makes me fear?
E. Thou mayest be aided, so that thy fears will not control thee.
M. Thy confidence I do not realize.
E. My confidence will be thine, when thy fears are removed.
M. That will not soon be realized.
E. I know thy condition, and thou knowest that as thou art, even so I
once was. Dost thou remember me?
M. I have seen thee, but thou dost not wear the same garments? Why
didst thou change?
E. I was with thee, when thou didst first enter within these walls. I
was thy teacher, when thou wast where thou wouldst not return. I saw
thee, when thou wast in a condition that elicited my sympathy. Dost
thou wish farther relief?
M. I would not refuse what thy kindness has to bestow.
E. Thy fears will not be removed without instruction. What thou fearest
is what should be overcome. I will aid thee to see that thy fears are
not true to thee, nor true to thy progress.
M. Thou wilt not say, my sincerity is not true?
E. Thy sincerity is no proof of thy faith.
M. What is well I believe.
E. Thou believest what is not well.
M. What do I believe, which is not well?
E. That which thou fearest is not well.
M. Thou wouldst not banish all fear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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