said, endured with seemly patience, and have left them to God.  In answer to this particular imputation, however, We have replied, that if that which he affirmeth be true, it behooveth him to be thankful to Him Who is the Lord of all being, and the King of the seen and unseen, for having raised up in Persia One Who, though a prisoner and with none to help and assist Him, hath succeeded in establishing His ascendency over that land, and in drawing from it a yearly revenue.  Such an achievement should be praised rather than censured, if he be of them that judge equitably.  Should anyone seek to be acquainted with the condition of this Wronged One, let him be told that these captives whom the world hath persecuted and the nations wronged have, for days and nights, been entirely denied the barest means of subsistence.  We are loth to mention such things, neither have We had, nor do We have now, any desire to complain against Our accuser.  Within the walls of this prison a highly esteemed man was for some time obliged to break stones that he might earn a living, whilst others had, at times, to nourish themselves with that Divine sustenance which is hunger!  We entreat God—­exalted and glorified be He—­to aid all men to be just and fair-minded, and to graciously assist them to repent and return unto Him.  He, verily, heareth, and is ready to answer.

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God!  Thou seest what hath befallen this Wronged One at the hands of them that have not associated with Me, and who have arisen to harm and abase Me, in a manner which no pen can describe, nor tongue recount, nor can any Tablet sustain its weight.  Thou hearest the cry of Mine heart, and the groaning of Mine inmost being, and the things that have befallen Thy trusted ones in Thy cities and Thy chosen ones in Thy land, at the hands of such as have broken Thy Covenant and Thy Testament.  I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by the sighs of Thy lovers throughout the world, and by their lamentation in their remoteness from the court of Thy presence, and by the blood that hath been shed for love of Thee, and by the hearts that have melted in Thy path, to protect Thy loved ones from the cruelty of such as have remained unaware of the mysteries of Thy Name, the Unconstrained.  Assist them, O my Lord, by Thy power that hath prevailed over all things, and aid them to be patient and long-suffering.  Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.  No God is there but Thee, the Generous, the Lord of grace abounding.

In these days there are some who, far from being just and fair-minded, have assaulted Me with the sword of hatred and the spear of enmity, forgetting that it behooveth every fair-minded person to succor Him Whom the world hath cast away and the nations abandoned, and to lay hold on piety and righteousness.  Most men have until now failed to discover the purpose of this Wronged One, nor have they known the reason for which He hath been willing to endure countless