nigh unto Him Who is the
Day-Spring of Thy names and Thine attributes.

Thou knowest, O my God, that I have severed every tie that bindeth me to
any of Thy creatures except that most exalted tie that uniteth me with
whosoever cleaveth unto Thee, in this the day of the revelation of Thy
most august Self, that hath appeared in Thy name, the All-Glorious. Thou
knowest that I have dissolved every bond that knitteth me to any one of my
kindred except such as have enjoyed near access to Thy most effulgent
face.

I have no will but Thy will, O my Lord, and cherish no desire except Thy
desire. From my pen floweth only the summons which Thine own exalted pen
hath voiced, and my tongue uttereth naught save what the Most Great Spirit
hath itself proclaimed in the kingdom of Thine eternity. I am stirred by
nothing else except the winds of Thy will, and breathe no word except the
words which, by Thy leave and Thine inspiration, I am led to pronounce.

Praise be to Thee, O Thou Who art the Well-Beloved of all that have known
Thee, and the Desire of the hearts of such as are devoted to Thee,
inasmuch as Thou hast made me a target for the ills that I suffer in my
love for Thee, and the object of the assaults launched against me in Thy
path. Thy glory beareth me witness! I can, on no account, feel impatient
of the adversities that I have borne in my love for Thee. From the very
day Thou didst reveal Thyself unto me, I have accepted for myself every
manner of tribulation. Every moment of my life my head crieth out to Thee
and saith: "Would, O my Lord, that I could be raised on the spear-point in
Thy path!" while my blood entreateth Thee saying: "Dye the earth with me,
O my God, for the sake of Thy love and Thy pleasure!" Thou knowest that I
have, at no time, sought to guard my body against any affliction, nay
rather I have continually anticipated the things Thou didst ordain for me
in the Tablet of Thy decree.

Behold, then, O my God, my loneliness among Thy servants and my remoteness
from Thy friends and Thy chosen ones. I beseech Thee, by the showers of
the clouds of Thy mercy, whereby Thou hast caused the blossoms of Thy
praise and utterance and the flowers of Thy wisdom and testimony to spring
forth in the hearts of all them that have recognized Thy oneness, to
supply Thy servants and my kindred with the fruits of the tree of Thy
unity, in these days when Thou hast been established upon the throne of
Thy mercy. Hinder them not, O