The Dabistan

159

wisdom, and that he considers well the end of his
actions; so that he has never to repent of any one of
his words or deeds, which is a sign of knowledge.

The tree zaMm,i represents the tree of nature, a
branch of which extends to every corner, that is to
say, whatever power a man (actuated by it) exerts,
he never considers the end of the action which he
does, and has therefore always to repent of his words
and deeds, which is a sign of ignorance.

As to an explanation about the Bar and Kas'ur, it
is to be known that both names relate to secrets of
hidden things and sciences, which are concealed frorn
the eyes of the profane by a veil, or by the pavilions
of sublimity:

" The Hur and Kasur are concealed in the pavilions."

The hand of men with an elegant and fanciful
conception has never reached, nor shall ever reach,
them.

" Nobody has ever touched them before, neither men nor genii."

For these Hur and Kas ur belong to men endowed
with sanctity and truth ; as often as these perfect
personages approach them, they find also virgins,
and enjoy each time a pleasure such as they never

1 This tree is imagined to spring from the bottom of hell. There is a
thorny tree, called zaku'm, which grows in Tahama, and bears fruit like
an almond, but extremely bitter; and therefore the same name is given
to this infernal tree. —(See Sale's Koran, pp. 104, 310.)