Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/103

ⅩⅩⅤ, 41-52 For each one have we struck out parables, and each one have we ruined with utter ruin.

Why, they have come past the cities which were rained on with an evil rain ; have they not seen them ? — nay, they do not hope to be raised up again.

And when they saw thee they only took thee for a jest, ‘ Is this he whom God has sent as an apostle? he well-nigh leads us astray from our gods, had we not been patient about them.’ But they shall know, when they see the torment, who errs most from the path. Dost thou consider him who takes his lusts for his god ? wilt thou then be in charge over him ? or dost thou reckon that most of them will hear or understand? they are only like the cattle, nay, they err more from the way.

Hast thou not looked to thy Lord how He prolongs the shadow ? but had He willed He would have made it stationary ; then We make the sun a guide thereto, then we contract it towards us with an easy contraction.

And He it is who made the night for a garment ; and sleep for repose, and made the day for men to rise up again. And He it is who sent the winds with glad tidings before His mercy ; and we send down from the heavens pure water, to quicken therewith the dead country, and to give it for drink to what we have created, — the cattle and many folk.

We have turned it in various ways amongst them that they may remember; though most men