Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/266

250 ‘ Verily, we used to call on Him before; verily, He is the righteous, the compassionate !’

Wherefore do thou remind them : for thou art, by the favour of thy Lord, neither a soothsayer nor mad !

Will they say, ‘ A poet ; we wait for him the sad accidents of fate ?’

Say, ‘ Wait ye then ; for I too am of those who wait !’

Do their dreams bid them this ? or are they an outrageous people ?

Or will they say, ‘ He has invented it ?’ — nay, but they do not believe !

But let them bring a discourse like it, if they tell the truth !

Or were they created of nothing, or were they the creators ? Or did they create the heavens and the earth ? — nay, but they are not sure !

Or have they the treasures of thy Lord ? or are they the governors supreme ?

Or have they a ladder whereon they can listen ? — then let their listener bring obvious authority.

Has He daughters, while ye have sons ?

Or dost thou ask them a hire, while they are borne down by debt ?

Or have they the unseen, so that they write it down ?

Or do they desire a plot? — but those who misbelieve it is who are plotted against !