inasmuch as he is fully aware that the thing which is the source of his prosperity, his wealth, his might, his exaltation, his advancement and power is, as ordained by God, the very earth which is trodden beneath the feet of all men.  There can be no doubt that whoever is cognizant of this truth, is cleansed and sanctified from all pride, arrogance, and vainglory.  Whatever hath been said hath come from God.  Unto this, He, verily, hath borne, and beareth now, witness, and He, in truth, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Beseech God to grant unto men hearing ears, and sharp sight, and dilated breasts, and receptive hearts, that haply His servants may attain unto their hearts’ Desire, and set their faces towards their Beloved.  Troubles, such as no eye hath beheld, have touched this Wronged One.  In proclaiming His Cause, He, in no wise, hesitated.  Addressing Himself unto the kings and rulers of the earth—­may God, exalted be He, assist them—­He imparted unto them that which is the cause of the well-being, the unity, the harmony, and the reconstruction of the world, and of the tranquillity of the nations.  Among them was Napoleon III, who is reported to have made a certain statement, as a result of which We sent him Our Tablet while in Adrianople.  To this, however, he did not reply.  After Our arrival in the Most Great Prison there reached Us a letter from his Minister, the first part of which was in Persian, and the latter in his own handwriting.  In it he was cordial, and wrote the following:  “I have, as requested by you, delivered your letter, and until now have received no answer.  We have, however, issued the necessary recommendations to our Minister in Constantinople and our consuls in those regions.  If there be anything you wish done, inform us, and we will carry it out.”

From his words it became apparent that he understood the purpose of this Servant to have been a request for material assistance.  We, therefore, revealed in his (Napoleon III’s) name verses in the Suratu’l-Haykal, some of which We now quote, that thou mayest know that the Cause of this Wronged One hath been revealed for the sake of God, and hath come from Him: 

“O King of Paris!  Tell the priest to ring the bells no longer.  By God, the True One!  The Most Mighty Bell hath appeared in the form of Him Who is the Most Great Name, and the fingers of the will of Thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most High, toll it out in the heaven of Immortality, in His name, the All-Glorious.  Thus have the mighty verses of Thy Lord been again sent down unto thee, that thou mayest arise to remember God, the Creator of earth and heaven, in these days when all the tribes of the earth have mourned, and the foundations of the cities have trembled, and the dust of irreligion hath enwrapped all men, except such as God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, was pleased to spare.  Say:  He Who is the Unconditioned is come, in the clouds of light, that He may quicken all created things with the breezes