While he lent his ear to the Sage’s discourse. 1250

Then he said: “O wanderer in the lofty sky,

Pledge thyself to be true, for a little, to the earth!

Thou hast lost thy way in wildernesses of speculation,

Thy fearless thought hath passed beyond Heaven.

Be reconciled with earth, O sky-traveller! 1255

Do not wander in quest of the essence of the stars!

I do not bid thee abandon thine idols.

Art thou an unbeliever? Then be worthy of the badge of unbelief![90]

O inheritor of ancient culture,