c circle, and the
fame of the awesome presence of her King of Kings humbled the rulers of
Greece and Rome. The greatest of the world's philosophers marveled at the
wisdom of her government, and her political system became the model for
all the kings of the four continents then known. She was distinguished
among all peoples for the scope of her dominion, she was honored by all
for her praiseworthy culture and civilization. She was as the pivot of the
world, she was the source and center of sciences and arts, the wellspring
of great inventions and discoveries, the rich mine of human virtues and
perfections. The intellect, the wisdom of the individual members of this
excellent nation dazzled the minds of other peoples, the brilliance and
perceptive genius that characterized all this noble race aroused the envy
of the whole world.

Aside from that which is a matter of record in Persian histories, it is
stated in the Old Testament--established today, among all European peoples,
as a sacred and canonical Text--that in the time of Cyrus, called in
Iranian works Bahman son of Isfandiyar, the three hundred and sixty
divisions of the Persian Empire extended from the inner confines of India
and China to the farthermost reaches of Yemen and Ethiopia.(8) The Greek
accounts, as well, relate how this proud sovereign came against them with
an innumerable host, and left their own till then victorious dominion
level with the dust. He made the pillars of all the governments to quake;
according to that authoritative Arab work, the history of Abu'l-Fida, he
took over the entire known world. It is likewise recorded in this same
text and elsewhere, that Firaydun, a king of the Pi_sh_dadiyan Dynasty--who
was indeed, for his inherent perfections, his powers of judgment, the
scope of his knowledge, and his long series of continual victories, unique
among all the rulers who preceded and followed him--divided the whole known
world among his three sons.

As attested by the annals of the world's most illustrious peoples, the
first government to be established on earth, the foremost empire to be
organized among the nations, was Persia's throne and diadem.

O people of Persia! Awake from your drunken sleep! Rise up from your
lethargy! Be fair in your judgment: will the dictates of honor permit this
holy land, once the wellspring of world civilization, the source of glory
and joy for all mankind, the envy of East and West, to remain an object of
pity