Persian Letters
Translated by John Davidson
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The opening
Letter 1 Usbek to his friend Rustan, at Isfahan
Usbek to his friend Rustan, at Isfahan
We stayed only one day at Qom. After having said our prayers before the tomb of the virgin who brought forth twelve prophets, we resumed our journey, and yesterday, the twenty-sixth day since our departure from Ispahan, we came to Tauris.
Rica and myself are perhaps the first Persians who have left their native country urged by the thirst for knowledge; who have abandoned the amenities of a tranquil life for the laborious search after wisdom.
Although born in a prosperous realm, we did not believe that its boundaries should limit our knowledge, and that the lore of the East should alone enlighten us.
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About this edition
- The words
- John Davidson's English translation, copied word for word.
- Copied from
- Left out
- The source website's menus, layout and notices, in 2 places
- The printed table of contents (the app makes its own)
- A preface, foreword or afterword
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 2 places