The Persian Travels 



Book IV 



Of their Original, and their Prophets. 



THey fay that the Father of their Prophet was a Frankjay Nation , whofe Name 

 was Az.er, 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 call'd her ielf 

 Doghdon. That one night his Wife dreamt that God had fent an Angel from Para- 

 diie to vifit her , who brought her very rich Cloathes , which (he put on. That a 

 Celeftial Light preiently over-fpread her Face, and render'd her as beautiful as the 

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

 be the Prophet Bbrahim-ner-Jteucbt. That the Aftrologers of that time , by their 

 skill in the Stars knew of the Birth of that Infant fent by God , who was to govern 

 Men , and reign in their Hearts. That thole 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. Whereupon the faid King , call'd A7>#- 

 brout> and a great Tyrant, caus'd all the Women with 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 , fhe 

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

 of this Myftery, fearing he fhould lofe his head if he did not difcover the bufinefs to 

 the King, before he found it out anôther way, went and confeis'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 fo foon as he was born. 

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

 that the people began already to rejoyce 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 fatisfie 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, fo 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 mo'ft fweetly 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 

 fo 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- 

 ftanding all thefe Miracles, he prepar'd new torments for the little Infant -, but God 

 chaftis'd his incredulity and that of his people very feverely, by fending fuch an infinite 

 number of Flies, and that of fuch a peftiferous nature, that who-ever were ftung with 

 them dy'd without remedy, unlefs they immediately came and worfhip'd the Prophet, 

 and kifs'd his Feet, in teftimony of their repentance. As for the King , who ftill con- 

 tinué in hisimpenitency, an exemplary fate befel him. For one of thofe Flies flinging 

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



His SuccefiTor was Sha-Glochtes. He alfo at the beginning of his Reign began to 

 perfecute the little Infant, who now began to increafe in years and virtue. The King 

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

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

 i ode him, had loft his four legs. Thereupon, wifer than his Predeceflbr, and acknow- 

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

 Pril'on , ask'd pardon for his incredulity, and pray'd him by his interceffion to reftore 

 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 



fearlefly 



