O King! We heard the words thou didst utter in answer to the
Czar of Russia, concerning the decision made regarding the war. [1] Thy Lord, verily, knoweth, is informed of
all. Thou didst say: “I lay asleep upon my couch, when the cry of the
oppressed, who were drowned in the Black Sea, wakened me.” This is what We
heard thee say, and, verily, thy Lord is witness unto what I say. We testify
that that which wakened thee was not their cry but the promptings of thine own
passions, for We tested thee, and found thee wanting. Comprehend the meaning of
My words, and be thou of the discerning. It is not Our wish to address thee
words of condemnation, out of regard for the dignity We conferred upon thee in
this mortal life. We, verily, have chosen courtesy, and made it the true mark
of such as are nigh unto Him. Courtesy is, in truth, a raiment which fitteth
all men, whether young or old. Well is
it with him that adorneth his temple therewith, and woe unto him who is
deprived of this great bounty. Hadst thou been sincere in thy words, thou
wouldst have not cast behind thy back the Book of God, when it was sent unto
thee by Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Wise. We have proved thee through it,
and found thee other than that which thou didst profess. Arise, and make amends
for that which escaped thee. Erelong the
world and all that thou possessest will perish, and the kingdom will remain
unto God, thy Lord and the Lord of thy fathers of old. It behoveth thee not to
conduct thine affairs according to the dictates of thy desires. Fear the sighs of this Wronged One, and
shield Him from the darts of such as act unjustly.
For what thou hast done, thy kingdom shall be thrown into confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a punishment for that which thou hast wrought. [2] Then wilt thou know how thou hast plainly erred. Commotions shall seize all the people in that land, unless thou arisest to help this Cause, and followest Him Who is the Spirit of God in this, the Straight Path. Hath thy pomp made thee proud? By My Life! It shall not endure; nay, it shall soon pass away, unless thou holdest fast to this firm Cord. We see abasement hastening after thee, whilst thou art of the heedless. It behoveth thee when thou hearest His Voice calling from the seat of glory to cast away all that thou possessest, and cry out: “Here am I, O Lord of all that is in heaven and all that is on earth!”
- Baha'u'llah (Tablet to Napoleon III, Suriy-i-Haykal
[Tablet of Temple]; ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
[1] The Crimean War 1853-1856
[1] The Crimean War 1853-1856
[2] Within the year Napoleon III was defeated at the Battle
of Sedan (1870) and sent into exile.
