The Improvement of Human Reason: Exhibited in the Life of Hai Ebn YokdhanIbn Tufayl, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Malik
Islamic
The Improvement of Human Reason: Exhibited in the Life of Hai Ebn Yokdhan
Ibn Tufayl, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Malik
Islamic philosophy -- Early works to 1800
Sec. 105. When _Asal_ look'd upon him, and saw him cloath'd with the Skins
of wild Beasts with the Hair on, and his own Hair so long as to cover a
great part of his Body, and observ'd his great Swiftness and Strength,
he was very much afraid of him, and began to pacifie him with stroaking
him, and entreating him, but _Hai Ebn Yokdhan_ did not understand one
word he said, nor knew any thing of his meaning, only he perceiv'd that
he was afraid, and endeavour'd to allay his Fear with such Voices as he
had learn'd of some of the Beasts, and stroak'd his Head, and both Sides
of his Neck, and shew'd Kindness to him, and express'd a great deal of
Gladness and Joy; till at last _Asal_'s Fear was laid aside, and he knew
that he meant him no harm.
Sec. 106. Now _Asal_ long before, out of his earnest Desire of searching
into the meaning of Things, had studied most Languages, and was well
skill'd in them. So he began to speak to _Hai Ebn Yokdhan_ in all the
Languages which he understood, and ask him Questions concerning his way
of Life, and took pains to make him understand him; but all in vain, for
_Hai Ebn Yokdhan_ stood all the while wondring at what he heard, and did
not know what was the meaning of it, only he perceiv'd that _Asal_ was
pleas'd, and well-affected towards him. And thus they stood wondring one
at another.
Sec. 107. Now _Asal_ had by him some Remainder of the Provision which he
had brought along with him, from the inhabited Island from whence he
came; and he offer'd it to _Hai Ebn Yokdhan_, who did not know what to
make on't, for he had never seen any such before. Then _Asal_ eat some
of it himself, and invited _Hai Ebn Yokdhan_ by Signs to eat too. But
_Hai Ebn Yokdhan_ bethought himself of those Rules which he had
prescrib'd to himself, as to matter of Diet; and not knowing the Nature
of that which he offer'd him, nor whether it was lawful for him to
partake of it or not, he refus'd it. _Asal_ still continu'd urgent, and
invited him kindly: Now _Hai Ebn Yokdhan_ had a great Desire to be
acquainted with him, and was afraid that his continuing too stiff in his
Refusal, might alienate his Affections from him; so he ventured upon it,
and eat some. And when he had tasted of it, and lik'd it, he perceiv'd
that he had done amiss, in breaking those Promises which he had made to
himself concerning Diet. And he repented himself of what he had done,
and had Thoughts of withdrawing himself from _Asal_, and retreating to
his former State of Contemplation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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