Later we knew that this was written in the ancient Persian tongue, and as the Doctor was afterward permitted to copy it, I am fortunately able to give the translation here.
“The sun! the sun! Creator! Lord,
God, almighty! Show thy face
and let the earth rejoice.
The moon! the moon! Child
of the earth! Storehouse of
magnetic forces whose face
is forever hidden; bend
thy malevolent gaze not
upon us lest we, thy
brethren, wither and die.
Spirits of the heavens conjure!
Spirits of the earth conjure!
“The stars! the stars! Suns,
worlds, moons innumerable! Oh east,
where is thy beginning?
Oh west, where is thy
ending? North, thou art
not. South, thou never wast.
The comets! the comets!
the flaming swords! Mighty
messengers from the
Omnipotent! Renewers
of magnetic forces; from one
thou takest that thou mayest
give to another, equalizing all.
Spirits of the heavens conjure!
Spirits of the earth conjure!
“The earth! the earth! The
sea! The desert without
water! The rivers! The
mountains! the lofty
mountains! the mountains
of the east, the mountains
of the west! Stand
not between us, oh thou
mighty makers of many
waters, for we would pursue a fleeting soul.
Spirits of the heavens conjure!
Spirits of the earth conjure!
He paused. Seizing the brazen rod he pointed down to to the surface of the black liquid in the dish which Walla’s shapely hands still clasped, seeming to trace upon its surface certain mystic signs.
