Queen Belacane is dying. As a last act, she inscribes a book of counsels, or princes mirror, to guide her newborn son on his lifes path. The Queens counsels illuminate the way of futuwwa, a tradition of mystical chivalry traced to the Prophet Abraham. If the Prince would unite the chivalries of both Christendom and Islam and attain the Cup Mixed with Camphor, he must fulfil the pillars of his faith, and uphold the universal virtues of wisdom, courage, temperance, and generosity.

An excellent translation of Nizami's 12th century poetic masterpiece of the legend of the romantic fool. Tale of the ideal lover, and allegory of the soul's search for God.

Queen Belacane is dying. As a last act, she inscribes a book of counsels, or princes mirror, to guide her newborn son on his lifes path. The Queens counsels illuminate the way of futuwwa, a tradition of mystical chivalry traced to the Prophet Abraham. If the Prince would unite the chivalries of both Christendom and Islam and attain the Cup Mixed with Camphor, he must fulfil the pillars of his faith, and uphold the universal virtues of wisdom, courage, temperance, and generosity.

In the Sufism of ancient Iran, the quest for the dawning of light in the cosmic North symbolises the mystic's search for realisation. In this spiritual journey, the light arising in man's inner darkness -- the Northern Light or Midnight Sun -- represents the impartial but brilliant light of truth, that which sets us free from egotism and from slavery to material existence.