ccount of _Hai Ebn Yokdhan,_ and his manner of
living; so that People flock'd to him from every side, and admir'd and
reverenc'd him. Then _Asal_ told him that this Sect was superiour to all
other sorts of Men in Knowledge and Sagacity; and that if he could not
work upon them, there were much lesser Hopes of doing any Good upon the
Vulgar.

Sec. 115. Now _Salaman_ (_Asal_'s Friend, who we told you chose
Conversation, rather than Solitude and Retirement, which he judg'd
unlawful) was Prince and Sovereign of this Island. So _Hai Ebn Yokdhan_
began to teach them, and explain the Mysteries of Wisdom to them; but so
soon as e'er he began to raise his Discourse above External Things a
little, and to inculcate that, the contrary whereof had been settled,
and deeply rooted in their Minds; they began to withdraw themselves from
him, and their Minds had an Abhorrence for what he spake. And though
they carried themselves civilly to him, both because he was a Stranger,
and out of the Observance which they thought due to their Friend _Asal_,
yet they were angry with him inwardly in their Hearts. However, he
continu'd reasoning with them mildly Night and Day, and teaching them
the TRUTH, both in Private and Publick, which only increas'd their
Hatred towards him, and made them avoid his Company, though otherwise
they were Lovers of Goodness, and desirous of Truth. However, through
the Defect of their Nature, they did not search for it after the right
manner, nor apprehend it as they should do; but sought the Knowledge of
it after the common way, like the rest of the World. So that he
despaired of doing any Good upon them, and all his Hopes of amending
them were defeated, because they were not willing to receive what he
taught them.

Sec. 116. And afterwards, taking a View of the several Ranks and Orders of
Men, he perceiv'd that every sort of them plac'd their Delight in those
Things which they possess'd at present, and that their Appetites were
their God, and that they lost themselves in gathering up the little
Things of this World; and that the Desire of getting more, kept them
employ'd till they came to their Graves; and that all good Counsel was
lost upon them; and that disputing with them had only this Effect, that
it made them the more obstinate. And as for Wisdom, there was no way for
them to attain it, neither had they any Share in it. _For Folly has
over-whelmed them, and, what they have sought after, has covered their
Hear