A Traveler's Narrative
page 34
of Mákú, and remembrance of Him was the best of companions
in the straits of the prison of Chihríq. Thereby He
obtained spiritual enlargements; with His wine was He inebriated;
and at remembrance of Him did He rejoice. All of His
followers too were in expectation of the appearance of these
signs, and each one of His intimates was seeking after the
fulfillment of these forecasts.
Now from the beginning of the manifestation of the Báb
there was in Tihrán (which the Báb called the Holy Land) a
Youth of the family of one of the ministers and of noble
lineage, gifted in every way, and adorned with purity and
nobility. Although He combined lofty lineage with high connection,
and although His ancestors were men of note in
Persia and universally sought after, yet He was not of a race of
doctors or a family of scholars. Now this Youth was from His
earliest adolescence celebrated amongst those of the ministerial
class, both relatives and strangers, for single-mindedness,
and was from childhood pointed out as remarkable for sagacity,
and held in regard in the eyes of the wise. He did not,
however, after the fashion of His ancestors, desire elevation to
lofty ranks nor seek advancement to splendid but transient
positions. His extreme aptitude was nevertheless admitted by
all, and His excessive acuteness and intelligence were universally
avowed. In the eyes of the common folk He enjoyed a
wonderful esteem, and in all gatherings and assemblies He
had a marvelous speech and delivery. Notwithstanding lack of
instruction and education such was the keenness of His penetration
and the readiness of His apprehension that when during
His youthful prime He appeared in assemblies where questions
of divinity and points of metaphysic were being discussed,
and, in presence of a great concourse of doctors and
scholars loosed His tongue, all those present were amazed,
accounting this as a sort of prodigy beyond the discernment
natural to the human race. From His early years He was the
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