The silly scribe imagined ’twas his genius’ flame:
“The texts the Prophet promulgates with rare effect,
Appear verbatim in my mind, without defect.”5
The Prophet was aware of this egregious sin.
The wrath of God descended from high heaven’s welkin.
The scribe renounced his office, and his faith at once.
Religion’s fiercest foe he stood now, for the nonce.
The Prophet questioned him: “Benighted, wretched man!
If light there be in thee, whence this thy darkest plan?
Hadst thou a fountain of God’s truth been, verily,