O thou who art enraptured by the sweet breathings of the Lord! I have
noted the contents of thine eloquent letter, and have learned that thou
sheddest tears and thy heart is afire from grieving over the imprisonment
of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
O thou handmaid of God! This prison is sweeter to me and more to be
desired than a garden of flowers; to me, this bondage is better than the
freedom to go my way, and I find this narrow place more spacious than wide
and open plains. Do not grieve over me. And should my Lord decree that I
be blessed with sweet martyrdom's cup, this would but mean receiving what
I long for most.
Fear not if this Branch be severed from this material world and cast aside
its leaves; nay, the leaves thereof shall flourish, for this Branch will
grow after it is cut off from this world below, it shall reach the
loftiest pinnacles of glory, and it shall bear such fruits as will perfume
the world with their fragrance.