Page:The-Gathas.pdf/24

 the way well, with their allusions to the final judgment, for the closer reflections in strophes 7—13 upon the prophet's call, uttered at the instigation of the 'obedient will' as inspiring some loyal representative of the acquiescing element in the population of friends, foes and the indifferent. Strophe 16 is a noble stanza looking to a critical eye much like a later addition by the composer himself, as he cast his mind's eye over this and other works in view of the entire course of the connected events. (I insert the digest and paraphrase of the whole after the metrical version; the above remarks should leave us absolutely free to enjoy a rare personal fragment, rewritten in approximate imitation of its original rhythm).