The Scented Garden

The venality of the objectors to mysticism. 115 XXXI THE UNICORN They say that in the deserts of Arabia there dwelleth a beast very like a horse, but possessing a great horn. Now I am not at all like a horse, though I am beautiful and swift, but I certainly possess an immense horn.1 Also there is a great bird which, when in danger, placeth its head within the sand, exposing its po- dex. Thou, Habib, though otherwise not at all like a bird, dost expose thy podex, even when in no danger.1 I cannot but think that all this was in the mind of the Mullah, when in his sermon on Friday he reproached us openly with beastliness. It is true that no beast does anything in the hope of receiving money ; it is in my mind to take an hundred dinars2 to this one-eyed dotard, so that the orthodox of Shiraz may speak of the beau- ty and chastity of Habib, the piety of El Qahar, and of the great wisdom and tunefulness of his songs.3 1. These similes are very affected. 2. Dinar — a gold coin worth about 10/- 3. Evidently the reviewer is as old as the world.