The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

IN PERSIA. 79
existed through all these revolutions of ages, revealed to
a hero, called Caherman, 112 that the first inhabitants were
the Peris, or good beings, and the Dives, or wicked
ones, 113 who waged eternal war with each other, 114 arid
though the former were the most powerful, 115 their contests
for superiority were sometimes so violent as to
throw nature into convulsion, 116 and cover the universe
with dismay. 117 Then succeeded an animated account of
books, says Southey in a note on Thalaba, (B. 11.) is an illuminated
copy of Ferdusi, containing a picture of the Simorgh, who is there
represented as an ugly dragon-looking sort of bird. I should be loth
to believe that she has so bad a physiognomy ; and as, in the same
volume, there are. blue and yellow horses, there is good reason to
conclude that this is not a genuine portrait. When the genius of
the lamp is ordered by Aladin to bring a roc's egg and hang it up in
the hall; he is violently enraged, and exclaims, Wretch, wouldst thou
have me hang up my master .' From
the manner in which rocs are
usually mentioned in the Arabian Tales, the reader feels as much
surprised at this indignation as Aladin was himself. Perhaps the
original may have been Simorgh instead of roc. To think, indeed, of
robbing the* Simorgh' s nest, either for the sake of drilling the eggs,
or of poaching them, would in a believer, whether Shiah or Sunni,
be the height of human impiety."
i2
Vid. Caherman name.
us u Those who wish for success to their works of this life, worship
the Devatas" (Dives.) (Bhagvat Geeta, p. 52.)
14
D'Herbelot in voc. Peri. Kich. Dissert., p. 169.
115 The following description of meeting between two of these
imaginary beings, from the Arabian Night's Entertainments, will
show this fact. " As Maimoune mounted high to the middle region of
the air, she heard a great flapping of wings, which made her fly that
way ; and when she approached, she knew it was a genie who made
the noise ; but it was one of those that are rebellious against God.
As for Maimoune, she belonged to that class whom the great Solomon
compelled to acknowledge him. This genie, whose name was
Danhasch, knew Maimoune, and was seized with fear, being sensible
how much power she had over him by her submission to the Almighty.
He would fain have avoided her, but she was so near, he must either
fight or yield." (Amours of Carmaralzaman and Badoura.)
116 There is a good account of these Peris and Dives in Calmet's
Historical Dictionary under the word Daemons, but too diffuse for
insertion here.
117 "The Peris are described as beautiful and benevolent, and
though guilty of errors which had offended Omnipotence, they are
supposed, in consequence of their penitence, still to enjoy distinguished
marks of divine favour. The Dives, on the contrary, are
depicted as hideous in form, and malignant in mind ; differing only
from the infernal demons in not being confined to hell ;
but roaming
for ever around the world to scatter discord and wretchedness among
the sons of Adam. In the Peris we find a wonderful resemblance to