therein. But should a touchstone be found, truth would be distinguished from falsehood, light from darkness, and sun from shadow.
Among the sciences which this man professes is that of Alchemy. We earnestly desire that a king or a man of influence should require him to demonstrate this science from the world of words into the world of actuality, and this humble and unlearned one who hath not professed such sciences, nor considered their possession or lack either conducive to knowledge or ignorance, would undertake the same achievement in order that the truth and falsehood might be known. But of what avail! We have experienced nothing from the people of this day but the wounds of spears, and tasted naught else but deadly poison. The marks made by iron are still visible upon the neck, and the signs of oppression are still apparent upon the whole body.
Concerning the grades of his learning, ignorance, knowledge and assurance, it is recorded in a Book, from which nothing is omitted, "Verily (the fruit of) the tree of El-Zakkum[1] (shall be) the food of the Atheem (sinner)" (K. S. 44). Then other statements are made, ending in this saying: "Taste thou this, thou art the mighty Karim" (honorable person) . Notice how clearly and explicitly his description is given in the Perspicuous Book. In his own book this person hath called himself the "Atheem servant," by
- ↑ A tree in Inferno.
