Baha'u'llah The Houri of Wonder     The beauty of holiness has risen from behind her veil— and that is a wondrous thing; And spirits have fainted from the fire of their attraction, and that is a wondrous affair. Then they awoke and soared into the pavilions of sanctity at the throne of domes, and that is a wondrous mystery. Say: the houri of eternity removed the veil from her face-- exalted be the wondrous beauty of newness! The lights of her visage shone from the earth to the clouds, and that is a wondrous radiance. She threw a glance like a shooting star, and that is a wondrous glance. By the fire of her countenance she burned up all names and designations, and that is a wondrous deed. She cast her gaze upon the people of earth and dust, and that is a wondrous gaze. Behold, the temples of existence quivered and then vanished, and that is a wondrous death. Then a black strand of hair appeared from her, an adornment for the soul in the gloom of hindrances, and that is a wondrous hue. The fragrance of scents and perfumes wafted from her, and that is a wondrous musk. In her right hand she holds red wine and in her left, kebab, and that is a wondrous grace. Her palm is dyed crimson with the blood of lovers, and that is a wondrous thing. She passed around the wine of life in jugs and cups, and that is a wondrous fountain; And sang of the beloved’s name, strumming on lute and rebec, and that is a wondrous song. Then hearts melted from fire and blaze, and that is a wondrous passion. She bestowed the nourishment of beauty without measure, and that is a wondrous food. The sword of allusion struck at necks, and that is a wondrous blow. She smiled, and the pearls of her teeth were manifest, and that is a wondrous gleam. Then the hearts of those who understand cried out, and that is a wondrous self-denial. All those filled with pride and suspicion turned away from her, and that is nothing but a wondrous opponent. When she heard, she returned to her palace in grief and regret, and that is a wondrous sorrow. She went and returned, may her to and fro be exalted, and this is a wondrous decree; And she uttered within her soul a cry that annihilated existence and then was made to vanish, and that is a wondrous grief. She opened her lips for a river of advice and reproof to flow, and that is a wondrous spring.. She said, "Do not reject me, people of the Book." And that is a wondrous affair. "Are you the people of guidance and are you the friends?" And that is a wondrous falsehood. She said, "We shall not return to you, my companions." And that is a wondrous return. "We shall conceal the mysteries of God that are in his scriptures." And this matter is from the All-Glorious, the Giving. "You shall not find me until the promised one appears on the Day of Return." By my life, that is a wondrous abasement.       Source:  Baha’u’llah, Ad`iyyih-‘i Hadrat-i Mahbub (Hofheim-Langenhain: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1980), pp. 153-158.   Lawh-i-al-`Ajab (Tablet of the Wondrous ) trans. Denis MacEoin The Beauty of holiness hath risen from behind the veil. And this is a wondrous thing! And the spirits have fainted away from the flames of attraction. And this is a wondrous matter! They have recovered consciousness and flown unto the pavilion of holiness on the Throne of Domes. And this is a wondrous mystery. Say: the Maid of Eternity hath removed the veil from her face. Exalted be the new and wondrous Beauty! And the lights of her face have shone from the earth unto the clouds. And this is a wondrous light. And she hath cast her glances as shooting stars are cast. And this is a wondrous casting. And all names and all titles have been set aflame by the fire of her face. And this is a wondrous deed. And she hath cast her glance upon the people of earth and dust. And this is a wondrous glance! Whereupon the tabernacles of creation shook and then vanished. And this is a wondrous death. Then there appeared from her a jet-black hair, like the ornament of the spirit in the darkness of torment. And this is a wondrous colour. And there issued forth from her breezes of the spirit and sweet perfumes. And this is a wondrous musk. In her right hand ruby wine and in her left a portion of roast sweetmeats. And this is a wondrous bounty. And her palms were red and stained with the blood of the lovers. And this is a wondrous affair. And she passed round the living wine in long-necked pitchers and goblets. And this is a wondrous fountain. And she sang in the name of the Beloved with lute and rebec. And this is a wondrous melody. Whereupon the hearts melted with tire and flames. And this is a wondrous love. And the sustenance of the Beauty was given them, with neither balance nor measure. And this is a wondrous sustenance. And the sword of her flashing eyes was drawn upon the necks. And this is a wondrous blow. She smiled and there appeared white, shining pearls. And this is a wondrous pearl. Whereupon the hearts of the possessors of minds cried out. And this is a wondrous renunciation. And every proud, disbelieving one turned aside from her. And this is naught but a wondrous rejection. And when she heard this, she returned unto her palace in sadness and affliction. And this is a wondrous grief! She came and she returned; How exalted her coming and going! And this is a wondrous decree. And she cried out in her heart, a cry that caused all existence to expire and vanish. And this is a wondrous sadness. And she opened the fountain of her mouth in discourse and in reproof. And this is a wondrous stream. And she said, "Do not reject me, 0 People of the Book!" And this is a wondrous matter. "Are you the people of guidance and are you the friends?" By God, this is a wondrous lie! And she said, "We shall not return unto you, 0 companions." And this is a wondrous returning. And we shall conceal the secrets of God that are in the Tablets and the Book. And this is a command from a Mighty and Generous One. "And you shall not find Me, save when the Promised One appears in the day of return!" By my life, this is a wondrous abasement!             Adi'a, pp. 153-8 Back to the Temple