164 ?& Persian Travels Book IV. 



Of their Original, avd their Prophets. 



THey &y that the Father of their Prophet was a Fra^by Nation , whofe Name 

 was Az.er y and a Carver by Trade. That he left his own Country to live in theirs 

 which at that time was the City of Babylon ; where he took a Wife who calPd her ielf 

 Qtghdou. That one night his Wife dreamt that God had lent an Angel from Para- 

 diieto vifit her, who brought her very rich Cloathcs , which (he put on. That a 

 Celeftial Ught prefently ovcr-fpread her Face, and render'd her as beautiful as the 

 Sun j and that when fhe wak'd {he found her ielf with Child, which Child prov'd .to 

 be the Prophet Ebrahim-z,er-Jteucbt. That the Aftrologers of that time , by their 

 skill in the Stars knew of the Birth of tfiat Infant lent by God , who was to govern 

 Men , and reign in their Hearts. That thofe Aftrologers went and declar'd the fame 

 thing to the King, telling him that there was a Child fuddenly to be born, that 

 would one day deprive him of his Crown. W hereupon the faid King , call'd Neu- 

 bronty and a great Tyrant, caus'd all the Womentyith Child to be put to death, through 

 the whole extent of his Dominions. 



But by a Miracle the big Belly of the Mother of their Prophet not appearing , (he 

 remain'd undifcover'd , and brought forth a Son. Her Husband, who knew nothing 

 of this My ft ery, fearing he (hould lof'e his head if he did notdifcover the bufmefs to 

 the King, before he found it out another way, went and confefs'd that he had a Child 

 born , but that he knew nothing of her being with Child. 



Now you muft know, that contrary to the cuftom of other Children , that cry fo 

 foon as they come out of the Mothers womb, this Child laugh'd lb foon as he was born. 

 For being to triumph over the Hearts ©f the people, he was to (hew figns of joy \ fo 

 that the people began already to re Joyce in their future felicities. This being fignifi'd 

 to the King, he call'd his Aftrologers together, to tell him the meaning of fo extraor- 

 dinary a thing, and what would become of the Infant. But the Aftrologers not 

 being able to latisrle him, he fent for the Infant, and would have flain him with a Sword 

 with his own hand ; but God dry'd up his Arm immediately, lb that he could not. 

 However, not terrifi'd with fo great a punifhment, tranfported with Choler, he caus'd 

 a great Fire to be kindled , and commanded the Infant to be thrown into it. But by 

 the power of God, the Fire which he had prepar'd to confume the Infant turn'd into 

 a Bed of Rofes, where the Child moft lweetly repos'd. 



They who from that hour began to honour the little Prophet, took away fome of 

 that Fire, which has been preferv'd to this time. They keep it, fay they, in honour of 

 lb great a Miracle •, and they have it in great veneration , becaufe it difcover'd the 

 merit of their Prophet. 



Neverthelefs the King ftop'd not there, but ftill obftinate in his impiety, notwith- 

 standing all theie Miracles, he prepar'd new torments for the little Infant ^ but God 

 chaftisM his incredulity and that of his people very feverely, by fending fuch an infinite 



tinu'd in hisimpcnitency, an exemplary fate befel him. For one of thole Flics flinging 

 him in one of his Ears, he dy'd a moft tormenting death. 



His Succeffor was Sba-Glocbtes. He alfo at the beginning of his Reign began to 

 perfecute the little In fant, who now began to increafc in years and virtue. The King 

 imprifon'd him: but he was aftonifh'd when he heard that one of his Horfes, which 

 jie always confided in when he went to Battel , as being affur'd of Victory when he 

 rode him, had loft his four legs. Thereupon, wifer than his Prcdcceffor, and acknow- 

 ledging from whence fo dire a Correction proceeded , he lent for the Prophet out of 

 Priibn , ask'd pardon for his incredulity, and pray'd him by his intercefiion to rcftore 

 his Horfe his legs again. The Prophet willing to do him that favour, pray'd to God 

 four times, and every time he pray'd one leg return 'd to the Horfe again. The King 

 beholding fuch a Miracle, was half converted •, but being defirous to be farther con- 

 vine'd, he defir'd the Prophet to throw himfelf into a Bath of melted Silver , which 

 he would provide for him •, promifing, if he came out fafe, that he and all his People 

 would receive him as one fent from God , and be obedient to his Precepts in all things. 

 The Prophet refolutely undertook his offer, and the Bath being ready, caft himfelf 



fear lefty 



