In this post, Hazrat Inayat Khan speaks of the ancient Persian poet Firdausi (c 940-1020 CE) reconstructing the history of the kings in the Shah Nameh as an  example of inspiration in art, and of the connection of the individual mind with the infinite mind of God.  Here is Hazrat Inayat’s own retelling of that anecdote.  

There was a poet of Persia, Firdausi, who was asked by the king to write the history of the country. The king promised him a gold coin for every verse.

Firdausi went into solitude and wrote down the traditions of centuries; characters, lives, deeds–he saw it all as a play, and he wrote of it in verse.

When he returned to the court, the king was most impressed; he thought it wonderful.

But there are always many in the world who will reject such things. The truth  is only accepted by the few. At the court he was much criticised, and many showed skepticism. It went so far that they told the king that it was all Firdausi’s imagination.

It hurt him terribly. He took the one who had spoken most against him, and held his hand upon his head, and said to him, “Now, close your eyes and look.” And what this man saw was like a moving picture and he exclaimed, “I have seen.”

But the poet’s heart was wounded, and he would not accept the gold coins.