country, who were reading that book in class with him, stood astonished at the perspicuous quickness of his apprehension and the clearness of his intellect, and his tutor said, “Friends, just as we, in our time, used to rejoice and contend for superiority in the sight of our respected master, so too will this lad, before long, attain to such a degree of respect that the people will look towards him with blessing and benediction, and from his noble and profitable words will gain advantage and excellence.” At last he became a living witness (of the truth of) and (one might say) the source of (the saying), “Blessed is he who hath seen me or hath seen one who hath seen me.” Couplet. “My love, though he went not to school, nor wrote a line, “By means of one glance instructed a hundred teachers in(difficult) problems.” And, having attained the position of a most learned sage he was rejoiced with the good news of the sacred text, “O David, verily have we made thee a vicegerent.” And at the very time when he was employed in the exercise of harsh and severe austerities, having conceived, by means of the attractions of God,—“which are equal to the acts of both men and jinn,”— strong craving after God, his spiritual holiness Ghaus-a-Saqalain (Shaikh Abdul-Qadir Gilani) (may God be pleased with him!) evinced, in all circumstances, great interest in his progress, and became his helper, assister, and guardian, keeping his regard always fixed upon him, openly listening to and returning favourable answers to his petitions, until he perforce drew him, after the manner of beloved ones who are attracted, and attracted ones who are beloved, to the court of saintship, Divine guidance, and perfection, to the closet of propinquity (to God), to the chamber of the grandeur of God, and to the resting-place of the Holiness of the Lord of Majesty. When under the influence of this strong craving after God he used to wander bare-headed and bare-foot in the desert about Dībālpūr, the dwelling-place of beasts of prey, wild animals, and birds, in a spot now known as Shīrgarh:— Hemistich. “We are lovers wandering in the plains of Damascus.” And sometimes when he went to circumambulate* the blessed shrine of that holy Saint, obeyed of all the world, Ganj-i-Shakar, (may God sanctify his tomb!) he would there receive signs, and experience happy