Chapter 2
In those days when an army captured a large city, slaying the people, they carried back the spoil to So-qi, king of Oas, capital of Par’si’e, and received rewards according to the amount of plunder. The wars were between the different nations of I’huans. The sacred people, the I’hins, had nothing to be plundered; and they were unmolested.
I said: Whoever lays up treasures in this world, shall find no peace! But you have built so great a city, you hope nothing can break it down. Now I will show you, O king: Your city shall prove to be the weakest of cities. I will raise up one man out of the seed of the I’hins; and Oas, the mighty city, shall fall before his hand.
I’hua’Mazda, God of heaven, sent certain loo’is, highly knowledgeable angels, to look around, and afterward he called them and asked what they saw. They said: Work! Work! I’hua’Mazda said: Work it shall be! Go, you holy masters of generations, down to mortals close about the city of Oas. And search out seed of the I’hin race, and by inspiration lead them to the fairest daughters of I’hua, in the city of Oas; and they shall be tempted, and soon a quickened fruit shall ripen in the city, sons and daughters. Again go to the I’hins, and by inspiration bring others and have them tempted by the improved fruit. And yet again repeat this method, and in the sixth generation you shall raise up a son having the gifts of su’is and sar’gis, and you shall call him Zarathustra.
The loo’is, the angels who were guardians over mortals for such purpose, went and accomplished what had been commanded by God. And the child’s mother’s name was Too’che, and the father’s name Lo’ab. Too’che herself was su’is born, and before she conceived, was obsessed by Sa’moan, an angel; and during the time of maternity she was not suffered to wake from her unconscious trance. And by the loo’is, her soul was often taken to high heaven (etherea) to see its glories, and then returned to inhabit her own body. Thus, the child was born of All Light, and at that same time the obsession fled, and Too’che proclaimed within the city that no man was father to the child, but that she conceived from All Light, believing so, because she was unconscious during gestation.
The learned men cast the horoscope, but found nothing in the stars to alarm the kings, found nothing to support the maiden’s story. The loo’is went before God, saying: Behold, a child is born, capable of All Light. Then God spoke, saying: I will come; go and lead the way.
When the child was still a nursling, I’hua’Mazda spoke through the child, while its own spirit slept. Then again came the learned men, chief of whom was Asha, son of Zista, learned in a thousand stars and all living creatures and in the bones of animals no longer living. So Asha spoke to Too’che, saying: Can your suckling talk? And God answered him, saying:
Not the child, but I, I’hua’Mazda. Do not think, O man, these small lips utter words prompted by this child’s soul. I come to stop the cruel hand of war; to make man know there is an Unseen Master. Behold, this child has no sex! He is an Yeshuah (Iesu), a passionless birth.
To which Asha said: Can it be this woman has a man hidden under her cloak, and hopes to evade the just punishment of the king! O harlot! You who told a shameful tale of conception without a man! Your lies are now added to others to make good the first. Out of the city, wretch! or you shall be stoned to death, and your child with you!
Too’che made no answer, except with a flood of tears. Then I’hua’Mazda spoke, saying: Hold your hand on these lips; and perceive how I
Then Asha feared, but wanted to hide his fear and so took the child, while I’hua’Mazda spoke, saying: O man, if only you could behold the spirit, and would temper your judgment with patience and wisdom!
Asha said: If in truth you are the Mazda of the I’huan race, why have you come in such questionable weakness? What can a child do? Can you wield a sword with these little hands? I would have hoped to see a God come in stronger shape, and in majesty of a thousand angels, winged, and in flames of fire!
I’hua’Mazda said: My wisdom is not man’s wisdom; my weapons, not arrows and sharp swords. What is great in man’s judgment is as nothing to me; what is as nothing to man, I will make great, for I shall overturn this mighty city. Because I come in peace and love, the city shall be divided, man against man, and bloody war run riot in this walled kingdom.
Asha said: To what end have you come? For if it is true you are a God born in this questionable shape, you have some greater motive than to overthrow the town. I charge you, then, most precocious youth, tell me what your purpose is, so justice may be done?
I’hua’Mazda said: The cities of man are as nothing in my sight; I come to teach man of other worlds, and that the souls of the righteous shall live forever; I come to deliver man from darkness into everlasting light.
Asha said: Your words are wisdom, or else my sudden surprise has affected my judgment. I will go now, so that I may reflect on this wonder. Tomorrow I will come again. Keep this matter private. For if it is known that I, of such high estate, have talked with tolerance regarding spiritual things, I will be doomed to death.