The High Mobad Silences Mani

From D8.1.11, The False Prophet Mani Preaches to Shapur. It illustrates D8.1.11.11–22 (to D8.1.11.27):

D8.1.11.11
The Shah then summoned him; the sage drew near;He spoke at length, his argument made clear.
D8.1.11.12
The high Mobad spoke of the ancient lore;And Mani faltered, checked, and said no more.
D8.1.11.13
“You worshipper of pictures, why raise highYour rash hand against God who made the sky?
D8.1.11.14
He made the lofty heavens in their prime,And set within them all of space and time.
D8.1.11.15
Within those heavens light and darkness meet;Above them all His essence stands complete.
D8.1.11.16
Those nights and days that heaven’s wheel suppliesBring safety, loss, and grief before our eyes.
D8.1.11.17
Why take a painted image as your guide,And cast the counsel of the Faith aside?
D8.1.11.18
The Faithful say: serve God, the only One;No other path is right beneath the sun.
D8.1.11.19
If you can make your painted figures move,Then show what those same moving forms can prove.
D8.1.11.20
Your proof is nothing; none will call it sound,Nor hold your painted argument profound.
D8.1.11.21
If Ahriman could equal God in might,Then darkest night would be like day in light.
D8.1.11.22
Through all the year their equal lengths would reign,And neither wax nor wane through loss or gain.