Note 16 — THE TALE OF ZAYN AL-ASNAM. (ARABIC.)

A Hadís says, “The dream is the inspiration of the True Believer;” but also here, as the sequel shows, the Prince believed the Shaykh to be the Prophet, concerning whom a second Hadis declares, “Whoso seeth me in his sleep seeth me truly, for Satan may not assume my semblance.” See vol. iv. 287. The dream as an inspiration shows early in literature, e.g.

—καὶ γάρ ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν (Il. i. 63).

and

—Θεἶός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἠλθεν Ὄνειρος (Il. ii. 55).

in which the Dream is Διὸς ἄγγελος.