an he did at first, and continu'd in
it the second time longer than at the first. Then he return'd to the
Sensible World; and then again endeavour'd to recover his Station, which
he found easier than at the first and second time, and that he continu'd
in it longer; and thus it grew easier and easier, and his Continuance in
it longer and longer, time after, time, till at last he could attain it
when he pleas'd, and stay in it as long as he pleas'd. In this State he
firmly kept himself, and never retir'd from it, but when the Necessities
of his Body requir'd it, which he had brought into as narrow a Compass
as was possible. And whilst he was thus exercis'd, he us'd to with that
it would please God to deliver him altogether from this Body of his,
which detain'd him from that State; that he might have nothing to do but
to give himself up wholly to his Delight, and be freed from all that
Torment with which he was afflicted, as often as he was forc'd to avert
his Mind from that State, by attending on the Necessities of Nature. And
thus he continu'd, till he was past the seventh Septenary of his Age;
that is, till he was about fifty Years of Age, and then he happen'd to
be acquainted with _Asal_. The Narrative of which meeting of theirs, we
shall now (God willing) relate.

Sec. 98. They say that there was an Island not far from that where _Hai Ebn
Yokdhan_ was born (no matter according to which of those two different
Accounts they give of his Birth) into which one of those good Sects,
which had some one of the ancient Prophets (of pious Memory) for its
Author, had retir'd. A Sect which us'd to discourse of all things in
Nature, by way of Parable and Similitude, and by that means represent
the Images of them to the Imagination, and fix the Impressions of them
in Men's Minds, as is customary in such Discourses as are made to the
Vulgar. This Sect so spread it self in this Island, and prevail'd and
grew so eminent, that at last the King not only embrac'd it himself, but
oblig'd his Subjects to do so too.

Sec. 99. Now there were born in this Island, two Men of extraordinary
Endowments, and Lovers of that which is Good; the Name of the one was
_Asal_, and the other _Salaman_, who meeting with this Sect, embrac'd it
heartily, and oblig'd themselves to the punctual Observance of all its
Ordinances, and the daily Exercise of what was practis'd in it; and to
this end they enter'd into a League of Friendship with each other. Now
among