A literary history of Persia

156 THE SASANIAN PERIODphenomenon, then afterwards phenomena were produced. And theDarkness anticipated the Light in this admixture, for they were [atfirst] in mutual contact like the shadow and the sun and;the proofof this is the impossibility of the production of anything save fromsomething else. And the Darkness anticipated the Light in admixture,because, since the admixture of the Darkness with the Lightwas injurious to the latter, it is impossible that the Light shouldhave made the first beginning [therein] for the Light is by its;nature the Good. And the proof that these two, Good and Evil, wereeternal, is that if one substance be posited, two opposite actionswill not proceed from it Thus, for example, Fire [which is], hotand burning, cannot refrigerate, while that which refrigerates cannotheat ;and that wherefrom good results cannot produce evil, whilefrom that which produces evil good cannot result. And the proofthat these two principles are living and active is that good resultsfrom the action of this, and evil from the action of that." So Shapur accepted this doctrine from him, and urged hissubjects to do the same. And this thing was grievous unto them,and the wise men from amongst the people of his kingdom united indissuading him from this, but he did not do [what they demanded].And Mani composed books wherein he affirmed the Two Principles ;and of his writings was the book which he entitled Kanzyu'l Ihydthe Treasure (' of *Vivification/ wherein he describes what of)salvation wrought by the Light and of corruption wrought bythe Darkness exists in the soul, and refers reprehensible actionsto the Darkness ;and a book which he named Shdburqdn, whereinhe describes the delivered soul and that which is mingledwith the devils and with defects, and makes out heaven to bea flat surface, and asserts that the world is on a sloping mountainon which the high heaven revolves ;and a book which henamed Kiidbu'l-Hudd wat-Tadbir ('the Book of Guidance andAdministration'), and the 'Twelve Gospels,' whereof he named eachafter one of the letters of the alphabet, and described Prayer, andwhat must be done for the deliverance of the soul ;and the Sifru'l-Asrdr ('Book of 2Secrets'), wherein he finds fault with the miraclesof the prophets ;and the Sifni'l-Jabdbira ('Book of the Giants ') ;besides which he has many other books and epistles." So Shapur continued in this doctrine for some ten years. Then'the Miibadh (Fire-priest) came to him and said, This man hath1See Fliigel's Mani, n. 324, Qtjaavpbe ZUTJG.3 See Flugel, op. cit., pp. 102-103, where the contents of this book arebriefly stated from the Fihrist.It contained eighteen chapters.