undred and] sixty-nine,(19) which corresponds to
the number of the year of 'after a while,' and 'thou shalt see the
mountains which thou thinkest so solid passing away like the passing of
the clouds'(20) shall be fulfilled." In short He so described Him that, in
His own expression, He regarded approach to the divine bounty and
attainment of the highest degrees of perfection in the worlds of humanity
as dependent on love for Him, and so inflamed was He with His flame that
commemoration of Him was the bright candle of His dark nights in the
fortress of Maku, and remembrance of Him was the best of companions in the
straits of the prison of _Ch_ihriq. 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 Bab there was in Tihran
(which the Bab 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 prodig