might obtain. This Wronged One, however, if He hath done nothing that would redound to the glory of Persia, hath at least acted in a manner that could in no wise disgrace it. That which was done by his late Excellency (Mush íru'd -Dawlih) - may God exalt his station - was not actuated by his friendship towards this Wronged One, but rather was prompted by his own sagacious judgment, and by his desire to accomplish the service he secretly contemplated rendering his Government. I testify that he was so faithful in his service to his Government that dishonesty played no part, and was held in contempt, in the domain of his activities. It was he who was responsible for the arrival of these wronged ones in the Most Great Prison ('Akká). As he was faithful, however, in the discharge of his duty, he deserveth Our commendation. This Wronged One hath, at all times, aimed and striven to exalt and advance the interests of both the government and the people, not to elevate His own station. Anumber of men have, now, gathered others about them, and have arisen to dishonor this Wronged One. He, nevertheless, beseecheth God - hallowed and glorified be He - to aid them to return unto Him, and assist them to compensate for that which escaped them, and repent before the door of His bounty. He, verily, is the Forgiving, the Merciful.	mga regal na makukuha nila. Ang Pinagkasalahang ito, gayumpaman, kung wala man Siyang nagawa na magdudulot ng kaluwalhatian sa Persia, ay kumilos naman sa paraang hindi magbibigay ng kahihiyan doon. Yaong ginawa ng yumaong Kamahalan (Mushriru'd -Dawlih) - naw a'y dakilain ng Diyos ang kaniyang kalagyan - ay hindi ibinunsod ng kaniyang pakikipagkaibigan tungo sa Pinagkasalahang ito, bagkus ay inudyok ng kaniyang marunong na paghatol, at ng kaniyang hangaring matupad ang paglilingkod sa kaniyang Pamahalaan na lihim niyang minumuni-muni. Ako ay sumasaksi na siya ay lubhang matapat sa kaniyang paglilingkod sa kaniyang Pamahalaan na walang bahagi ang pandaraya, at ito ay kinasusuklaman sa larangan ng kaniyang mga gawain. Siya ang may pananagutan sa pagdating nitong mga pniagkasalahan sa Pinakamatinding Piitan ('Akká). Sapagkat siya ay matapat, gayumpaman, sa pagsasagawa ng kaniyang tungkulin, nararapat siya sa Aming papuri. Sa lahat ng panahon, nilayon at sinikap ng Pinagkasalahang ito na dakilain at isulong ang mga kapakanan ng kapuwa pamahalaan at ng sambayanan, at hindi ang iangat ang Kaniyang sariling kalagayan. Sa ngayon, may ilang mga tao ang nagtipon ng mga iba sa palibot nila, at nagsibangon upang hiyain ang Pinagkasalahang ito. Gayumpaman ay isinamo Niya sa Diyos - sambahin at luwalhatiin nawa Siya - na tulungan silang makabalik sa Kaniya, at tulungan silang makabawi doon sa nawala sa kanila, at magsisi sa harap ng pinto ng Kaniyang biyaya. Siya, sa katunayan, ang Mapagpatawad, ang Mahabagin.
O Shaykh! My Pen, verily, lamenteth over Mine own Self, and My Tablet weepeth sore over what hath befallen Me at the hands of one (Mírzá Ya ḥ yá) over whom We watched for successive years, and who, day and night, served in My presence, until he was made to err by one of My servants, named Siyyid Mu ḥ ammad. Unto this bear witness My believing servants who accompanied Me in My exile from Baghdád to this, the Most Great Prison. And there befell Me at the hands of both of them that which made every man of understanding to cry out, and he who is endued with insight to groan	114 O Shaykh! Ang Aking Panulat, sa katotohanan ay nalulumbay sa Aking Sarili, at ang Aking Tableta ay tumatangis sa Aking sinapit sa mga kamay ng isa (Mírzá Yahyá) na kinalinga Namin sa sunod-sunod na mga taon, at sa araw at gabi ang naglingkod sa Aming harapan hanggang siya ay gumawa ng pagkasala bunga ng pagbuyo ng isa sa Aming tagapaglingnkod, na nagngangalang Siyyid Muhammad. Sumasaksi ditto ang nananalig Kong mga tagapaglingkod, na sumama sa Akin sa pagkapatapon sa Akin mula sa Baghdad ungo ditto, ang Pinakamatinding Piitan. At sumapit sa Akin mula sa mga kamay nilang dalawa yaong naging sanhi ng pag-iyak ng bawat taong nakauunawa, at ng pag-

Epistola sa Anak ng Lobo pahina 54