These are the exalted females, [or, sublime swans, i.e., mounting nearer and nearer to God] And truly their intercession may be expected. These words, however, which were received by the idolaters with great exultation, were disowned by Muhammad in the course of a few days as a Satanic suggestion, and replaced by the text as it now stands. The probability is that the difficulties of his position led him to attempt a compromise of which he speedily repented. In the Suras subsequent to this period the denunciations of idolatry become much sterner and clearer. The authorities are given by Weil, Sprenger and Muir. See Sura [lxvii.] xvii. 74- 76. 8 Verses 26-33 are probably later than the previous part of the Sura, but inserted with reference to it. Some (as Omar b. Muhammad and 1tq.) consider verse 33, or (as Itq.36) verses 34-42, or (as Omar b. Muhammad) the whole Sura, to have originated at Medina. 9 Ex spermate cum seminatum fuerit. 10 The Dog-star, worshipped by the Arabians. 11 Compare the refrain in Sura lv. p. 74. SURA LXX.-THE STEPS OR ASCENTS [XLVII.] MECCA.-44 Verses In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful A SUITOR sued1 for punishment to light suddenly On the infidels: none can hinder God from inflicting it, the master of those ASCENTS, By which the angels and the spirit ascend to him in a day, whose length is fifty thousand years.2 Be thou patient therefore with becoming patience; They forsooth regard that day as distant, But we see it nigh: The day when the heavens shall become as molten brass, And the mountains shall become like flocks of wool: And friend shall not question of friend, Though they look at one another. Fain would the wicked redeem himself from punishment on that day at the price of his children, Of his spouse and his brother, And of his kindred who shewed affection for him, And of all who are on the earth that then it might deliver him. But no. For the fire, Dragging by the scalp, Shall claim him who turned his back and went away, And amassed and hoarded. Man truly is by creation hasty; When evil befalleth him, impatient; But when good falleth to his lot, tenacious. Not so the prayerful, Who are ever constant at their prayers; And of whose substance there is a due and stated portion For him who asketh, and for him who is ashamed3 to beg; And who own the judgment-day a truth, And who thrill with dread at the chastisement of their Lord- For there is none safe from the chastisement of their Lord- And who control their desires, (Save with their wives or the slaves whom their right hands have won, for there they shall be blameless; But whoever indulge their desires beyond this are transgressors); And who are true to their trusts and their engagements, And who witness uprightly, And who keep strictly the hours of prayer: These shall dwell, laden with honours, amid gardens. But what hath come to the unbelievers that they run at full stretch around thee,