The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 3 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Religion
The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 3 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Iran -- Religion; Religions
_Aghátho démón_,[88] or _Shís_, and _Hermes al hermes_, or
_Idris_,[89] and the philosophers said, that the Almighty Author
created the celestial bodies and the stars in such a manner that, from
their movements, effects may be manifested in the nether world, that
is to say, the events below are subject to their motions, and every
constellation, and every degree of altitude has its particular nature;
which being known by experience, and information having been collected
about the qualities of the degrees, the celestial signs, and their
influences, it is in this manner evident that they are near the
all-just; and that the house of prayer, the Kâbah of truth, and the
Kiblah of conviction is heaven. The wise men believe, that every
master of fame worshipped one of the stars: thus Moses worshipped
Saturn, as Saturday is holy to the Jews, and Moses vanquished the
magicians and enchanters who are subservient to Saturn; Jesus
worshipped the sun, on which account Sunday was sanctified by him, and
finally his soul united with the sun; Muhammed worshipped Venus,
wherefore he fixed upon Friday as a sacred day: as he would not reveal
this meaning to the common people, he kept it secret; but it is
evident from the prophet’s customs that he held Venus in great
veneration; one of these was his passion for perfumes and the
like.[90] We find in the histories of the Persians, that Ferhósh was a
king in the time of Abád, and had poets without number about him; out
of them all he chose seven; each of them, on one day of the week,
recited his verses to the king. On Sunday, which was consecrated to
the great luminary, the monarch used to go to the _Kermábah_[91], and
on his return from thence, having approached the august image of the
great fire, and there performed his worship, he betook himself to his
palace. The chief of the speech-adoring bards, called Shedósh, came
then into the royal presence. As the King professed the religion of
the Yezdáníán, who never hurt an harmless animal, they brought, on
this day sacred to the sun, _Sirdín_, that is “rice,” and _Perdín_,
called in Hindostan _pahatí_, before the King, and peas in the shell,
which were then stript of their integuments. The King asked Shedósh:
“For whom is this food?” The poet answered: “For the friend who, for
the sake of retirement, is naked from head to foot.” The monarch,
being pleased with this answer, filled the poet’s mouth with precious
pearls of the purest water. The Queen, named Shuker, averting her
heart from the King her husband, attached it passionately to the sweet
composer of melodious speeches. When night came on, Shuker, believing
that the King slept, went out by stealth. The King too followed her
steps. When Shuker arrived at the house of Shedósh, many words
occurred between them. Then the poet said to her: “A woman fears
nobody; on that account she ought to be feared. Thou hast left
Ferhosh, the King, and wilt devote thy affections to one like me!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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