Dwtw
This verse is certainly full of conundrums. I'll throw out some various observations.
First of all, the verse is numbered 56, and this number has already been mentioned in verse I:24 as the value of Nuit's "word". Notice that following the mention of 'six and fifty', we are told a procedure, namely to 'divide, add, multiply and understand'.
Now the first three words of this procedure could easily form the 'first half' of an equation, i.e., all the numbers and functions on the left hand side of the equals sign. Those procedures are then finalized by the injunction to 'understand', which is clearly not an overt mathematical command.
Now in this verse, numbered 56, we are told that all words are sacred, and all prophets are true...as long as they 'understand a little'. So perhaps the prophet is again being urged to understand, and since this is the second half of the equation mentioned in verses 24-25, the book goes on to say that he, the prophet, should 'solve the first half of the equation' but 'leave the second (half) unattacked'.
Well the funny thing is that it would seem that if you solved one half of the equation, then you would automatically know the answer to the second half, unless of course there is more than one variable in the second half. We know at the very least that the second half is probably connected to the word 'understand'. Perhaps it is also related to 'unattacked'?
Is this yet a further mention of the idea that AC was not going to divine all the mysteries of the Book? Was he being told to work on one part, but don't even try to attack the second half of the problem, it's not yours to solve? It seems that way, given that the verse immediately goes on to say that he has all in the 'clear light', and some, though not all in the 'dark'.
This contrasting of 'some' versus 'all' reminds me of verse 1:47, regarding how one should 'unite by thine art so that all disappear, (which is certainly a way to literally 'solve' a problem).
I think, as I've mentioned before, that verse 24-25 & 46-48 are very closely linked, and this verse seems to take up elements of both of them, and wrap them into yet another enigma. It can certainly be figured out, but it works on so many levels that its hard to make plain sense out of it all, without sounding so abstruse as to bore people. But knowing exactly which 'equation' is being discussed seems to be key to most of this verse.
As for the East and West dichotomy, it's yet another duality to rear its head in this verse:
East - West
words - prophets
first half - second
solve - leave unattacked
clear light - dark
all - some
I suppose it's to be expected, (pun intended), for a verse whose number is 56, which sum people like to add up so that it equals 11, (as all their numbers who are of us), which then reduces again to 2.
Aum can be solved, but Ha?
don't even try it...
Litlluw
RLG