8 In making mention of these matters, it is not Our purpose to rouse you from your slumber, since the fury of God’s wrath hath so encompassed you that ye shall never take heed.  Nor is it Our intention to recount the iniquities visited upon these pure and blessed souls, for they have been so intoxicated with the wine of the All-Merciful and are so carried away with the inebriating effect of the living waters of His loving providence that even were they to suffer all the cruelties of the world for His sake, they would remain content and yield thanks unto Him.  These souls have never held, nor shall they ever hold any grievance.  Nay, their blood continually imploreth and beseecheth the Lord of the worlds that it might be spilt upon the dust in His path, and their heads yearn to be borne aloft on spears for the sake of the Beloved of hearts and souls.

9 Several times calamities have overtaken you, and yet ye failed utterly to take heed.  One of them was the conflagration which devoured most of the City(74) with the flames of justice, and concerning which many poems were written, stating that no such fire had ever been witnessed.  And yet, ye waxed more heedless.  Plague, likewise, broke out, and ye still failed to give heed!  Be expectant, however, for the wrath of God is ready to overtake you.  Erelong will ye behold that which hath been sent down from the Pen of My command.

10 Have ye fondly imagined your glory to be imperishable and your dominion to be everlasting?  Nay, by Him Who is the All-Merciful!  Neither will your glory last, nor will Mine abasement endure.  Such abasement, in the estimation of a true man, is the pride of every glory.

11 When I was still a child and had not yet attained the age of maturity, My father made arrangements in Tihran for the marriage of one of My older brothers, and as is customary in that city, the festivities lasted for seven days and seven nights.  On the last day it was announced that the play “Shah Sultan Salim” would be presented.  A large number of princes, dignitaries, and notables of the capital gathered for the occasion.  I was sitting in one of the upper rooms of the building and observing the scene.  Presently a tent was pitched in the courtyard, and before long some small human-like figures, each appearing to be no more than about a hand’s span in height, were seen to emerge from it and raise the call:  “His Majesty is coming!  Arrange the seats at once!” Other figures then came forth, some of whom were seen to be engaged in sweeping, others in sprinkling water, and thereafter another, who was announced as the chief town crier, raised his call and bade the people assemble for an audience with the king.  Next, several groups of figures made their appearance and took their places, the first attired in hats and sashes after the Persian fashion, the second wielding battleaxes, and the third comprising a number of footmen and executioners carrying bastinados.  Finally there appeared, arrayed in regal majesty and crowned with a royal diadem, a kingly figure, bearing himself with the utmost haughtiness and grandeur, at turns advancing and pausing in his progress, who proceeded with great solemnity, poise and dignity to seat himself upon his throne.