| 311 |
This
bird is in every way unique of appearance, nearest in likeness to
the peacock, blissfully mature, of which writings speak. He is not
laggard nor slothful of purpose, lethargic nor ponderous, like certain
birds which flap slowly on their wings through the air, but he is
brisk and swift and extremely lightsome, lovely and pleasant, marked
out for heaven. Everlasting is the Prince who bestows on it that bounty. |
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| 320 |
When
he sets out from this earth to seek the expanses of his ancient dwelling-place,
as the bird flies he reveals himself to the nations, to the multitudes
of men throughout the world. Then they gather from south and north,
from east and west, in flocks; from far and near they journey in troops
of peoples to where they gaze upon the Creator's beauteous gifts in
the bird, according as the true King of victories in the beginning
ordained for him a rarer nature and fairer embellishments beyond the
family of birds. Then people throughout the earth wonder at his form
and stature, and their writings proclaim it and they depict it by
hand in marble, when the day and the hour reveal to the nations the
ornate beauties of the swift-flighted bird. |
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| 335 |
Then
the family of birds throng in flocks on every side; from far-flung
ways they draw near. With song they praise and with loud voices glorify
the brave one, and in a circle surround the holy bird in his flight
aloft; in the midst is the phoenix, thronged about with crowds. The
nations gaze on and in amazement marvel how the devoted company, one
multitude after another, do homage to the wild bird, vigorously proclaim
and glorify as king the cherished lord, and escort in raptures the
prince to his dwelling-place, until the lone being flies away, swift
upon his wings, so that the jubilant company cannot keep up with him.
Then the delight of the peoples departs this earth to seek his homeland. |
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| 350 |
So,
after a time of death, the blessed one goes back to his ancient home,
that lovely land. The birds, mournful of mood, turn from the hero
of the ordeal back to their abode; the princely one then remains,
youthful, in his habitations. God alone, the King almighty, knows
what his gender is, female or male; no one of humankind knows it,
only the ordaining Lord alone, how miraculous are the circumstances,
the admirable dispensation of old, concerning this bird's birth. |
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| 361 |
There
the blessed creature is allowed to enjoy his abode, the springing
streams in the woodlands, and to dwell in the plateau until a thousand
years are run. Then comes the ending of his life; the pyre engulfs
him with his kindled fire. Yet, wondrously awakened, he miraculously
returns to life. Therefore he does not agonize, moping, over death
and painful dissolution, for he knows that after the fury of the flame
there is renewed existence, life after extinction, when he is regenerated
again from ashes in the shape of a bird and grows young afresh beneath
heaven's canopy. He is himself both his own son and dear father, and
always too the inheritor again of his own old remnants. The mighty
Lord of mankind granted him that he should so wondrously become again
the same that he was before, clothed about with plumage, though fire
carry him off. |
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| 381 |
So
each of the blessed chooses for himself, through dark death, that
everlasting life after painful exile, so that after his lifetime he
may enjoy God's favours among unending joys and ever after dwell in
glory as guerdon for his works. The nature of this bird betokens much
similitude to those elect servants of Christ in earth's habitations,
how through the Father's aid they maintain during this perilous time
here below the heavens a radiant happiness, and lay up for themselves
sublime prosperity in the celestial homeland. |
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| 393 |
We
have learned that the Almighty wrought man and woman through his faculty
for wondrous things and established them in the finest of earth's
regions, which the sons of men call Paradise. There was not any blessing
lacking to them there - while they were willing to keep the word of
the Everlasting, the Holy One's dictate - in that new state of happiness.
There envy injured them, the spite of the old enemy who proferred
them food, the fruit of the tree, so that foolishly they both partook
of the apple against the permission of God and tasted the forbidden
fruit. |
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