At
midnight the
would-be ascetic announced:
"This
is the time to give up my home and seek for God. Ah, who has held me so
long in delusion here?"
God
whispered, "I," but the ears of the man were stopped.
With
a baby asleep at her breast lay his wife, peacefully sleeping on one
side of the bed.
The
man said, "Who are you that have fooled me so long?"
The
voice said again, "They are God," but he heard if not.
The
baby cried out in its dream, nesting close to its mother.
God
commanded, "Stop, fool, leave not thy home," but still he
heart not.
God
sighed and complained, "Why does my servant wander to seek me,
forsaking me?"