,,the ,,sacred ,,books ,,and ,,early ,,literature ,,of ,,the ,,east ,,with ,,historical ,,surveys ,,of ,,the ,,chief ,,writings ,,of ,,each ,,nation ,translations1 ,bibliographies1 etc41 by the following ,leading ,orientalists3 ,,in ,,america3 ,,morris ,,jastrow1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,semitic ,languages1 ,university of ,pennsylvania2 ,,james ,h4 ,,breasted1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,egyptology1 ,university of ,chicago2 ,,charles ,c4 ,,torrey1 ,d4,d41 ,professor of ,semitic ,languages1 ,yale ,university2 ,a4 ,v4 ,w4 ,,jackson1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,indo-,iranian1 ,columbia ,university2 ,,charles ,r4 ,,lanman1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,sanskrit1 ,harvard ,university2 ,,rev4 ,,charles ,f4 ,,aiken1 ,s4,t4,d41 ,dean of the ,faculty of ,theology1 ,catholic ,university2 ,,friedrich ,,hirth1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,chinese1 ,columbia ,university2 ,,rev4 ,,william ,e4 ,,griffis1 ,d4,d41 former ,professor at the ,imperial ,university1 ,tokio4 ,,in ,,europe3 ,e4 ,a4 ,w4 ,,budge1 ,f4,s4,a41 ,director of ,egyptology in the ,british ,museum2 ,,sir ,,gaston ,,maspero1 ,d4,c4,l41 ,member of the ,royal ,institute of ,france2 ,,rev4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,sayce1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,comparative ,philology1 ,oxford ,university2 ,w4 ,,flinders-,,petrie1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,egyptology1 ,university ,college1 ,london2 ,,stephen ,,langdon1 ,ph4,d41 ,professor of ,assyriology1 ,oxford ,university2 ,,sir ,,ernest ,,satow1 ,,ll4,d41 ,g4,c4,m4,g4 ,british ,minister to ,japan2 ,h4 ,,oldenberg1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,sanskrit1 ,kiel ,university2 ,t4 ,w4 ,,rhys-,,davids1 ,,ll4,d1 ,librarian of the ,royal ,asiatic ,society2 ,,arminius ,,vamb,,ry1 ,,ll4,d1 ,professor of ,oriental ,languages1 ,university of ,budapest4 ,,in ,,asia3 ,,sir ,m4 ,,coomara ,,swamy1 ,legislative ,council of ,ceylon2 ,,romesh ,,chunder ,,dutt1 ,c4,i4,e1 ,author of the ,history of ,civilization in ,ancient ,india2 ,,darab ,d4 ,p4 ,,sanjana1 ,educational ,society of ,bombay2 ,,viscount ,,kencho ,,suyematsu ,,ll4,m1 ,japanese ,minister of the ,interior2 ,,sheik ,,faiz-,,ullah-,,bhai1 ,head ,master of the ,schools of ,anjuman-i-,islam2 ,,ralph ,t4 ,,griffith1 ,president ,benares ,college1 ,india2 ,,jivanji ,,jamshedji ,,modi1 ,fellow of ,bombay ,university1 ,officier de l',academie ,franaise4 ,under the editorship of a staff of specialists directed by ,,prof4 ,,charles ,f4 ,,horne1 ,,ph4,d4 ,,parke1 ,,austin1 ,,and ,,lipscomb1 ,,inc4 ,,new ,,york ,,london ,this ,volume is one of a complete set of the ,sacred ,books and ,early ,literature of the ,east1 consisting of fourteen volumes4 ,in ,volume ,i of the series will be found a certificate as to the limitation of the edition and the registered number of this set4 ,copyright1 #aiag1 ,parke1 ,austin1 and ,lipscomb1 ,inc4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,slave ,,girl ,,of ,,abu ,,zayd4 ,behold ,i had a slave girl1 elegant of shape1 ,smooth of cheek1 patient to labor4 ,,al ,,hariri1 ,the ,eighth ,assembly4 ,,the ,,sacred ,,books ,,and ,,early ,,literature ,,of ,,the ,,east ,,volume ,,vi ,,medieval ,,arabic1 ,,moorish1 ,,and ,,turkish ,in ,translations by ,e4 ,j4 ,w4 ,,gibb of the ,royal ,asiatic ,society2 ,,stanley ,,lane-,,poole1 ,litt4,d41 ,professor of ,arabic1 ,trinity ,college1 ,dublin2 ,,arminius ,,vambery1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,oriental ,languages1 ,university of ,budapest2 ,,thomas ,,chenery1 ,m4,a41 ,former ,professor of ,arabic at ,oxford ,university2 ,,ernest ,,renan1 ,former ,professor of ,hebrew1 ,college of ,france2 ,,claud ,,field1 ,m4,a42 and other authorities4 ,with brief ,bibliographies by ,,prof4 ,,charles ,c4 ,,torrey1 ,,ll4,d41 and ,,prof4 ,,edward ,h4 ,,johns1 ,ph4,d4 ,with an ,historical ,survey and ,descriptions by ,,prof4 ,,charles ,f4 ,,horne1 ,,ph4,d4 ,,parke1 ,,austin1 ,,and ,,lipscomb1 ,,inc4 ,,new ,,york ,,london ,let there be light4--,,genesis #a1 #c4 ,there never was a false god1 nor was there ever really a false religion1 unless you call a child a false man4--,,max ,m,,ller4 ,,contents ,,of ,,volume ,,vi ,,literatures ,,descended ,,from ,,the ,,arabic ,,page ,,introduction--,how the ,teaching of ,mohammed ,spread into ,many ,lands and ,created ,many ,literatures #a ,,medieval ,,arab ,,literature ,i4--,,the ,,sunan1 ,or ,holy ,traditions of ,mohammed 7,a4,d4 #hej-hij7 #i ,,ii4--,,early ,,history ,,and ,,science #cc ,masoudi's ,golden ,meadows 7,a4,d4 #ief7 #cg ,legends of the ,early ,caliphs4 ,avicenna on ,medicine 7,a4,d4 #ajbj7 #ij ,the ,chief ,work of the ,arabs' ,chief ,scientist4 ,al ,biruni's ,existing ,monuments 7,a4,d4 #ajdj7 #ib ,the ,first ,effort at ,scientific ,study of the ,past4 ,,iii4--,,philosophy ,,and ,,religion #ig ,al ,ghazali's ,rescuer from ,error 7,a4,d4 #aajf7 #ajb ,the ,spiritual ,autobiography of a ,great ,teacher4 ,zamakhshari's ,kashshaf1 or ,discoverer of ,truth 7,a4,d4 #aadj7 #acd ,the ,boldest ,commentary on the ,koran4 ,zamakhshari's ,golden ,necklaces #ach ,mohammedan ,precepts of ,morality4 ,,iv4--,,romance #ada ,the ,assemblies of ,al ,hariri 7,a4,d4 #aabb7 #ade ,the ,most ,renowned ,piece of ,pure ,literature in ,arabic4 ,v4--,,the ,,poets ,,of ,,arabia #bjc ,,moorish ,,literature ,,vi4--,,science ,,and ,,history #bce ,averroes' ,philosophy 7,a4,d4 #aaie7 #bci ,al ,maqqari's ,breath of ,perfumes 7,a4,d4 #afbh7 #bda ,,vii4--,,love ,,poetry ,,of ,,the ,,spanish ,,moors #bdc ,,turkish ,,literature ,,viii4--,,legends ,,and ,,poetry #beg ,the ,queen of ,night1 an ,old ,folk-lore ,tale #bfb ,the ,earliest ,turkish ,poem 7,a4,d4 #accb7 #bgb ,book of ,alexander the ,great 7,a4,d4 #adab7 #bgc ,the ,loves of ,shirin 7,a4,d4 #adbf7 #bge ,the ,book of ,mohammed 7,a4,d4 #addi7 #bgg ,poems by ,turkish ,sultans #bhj ,turkish ,poetesses #bij ,the ,great ,turkish ,poets #bib ,,ix4--,,the ,,travels ,,of ,,sidi ,,ali ,,reis #cbg ,the ,mirror of ,countries 7,a4,d4 #aeef7 #ccb ,,bibliography ,,of ,,arabic ,,literature #cig ,,illustrations ,,in ,,volume ,,vi ,,facing ,,page ,the ,slave ,girl of ,abu ,zayd ,frontispiece ,the ,death of ,abu ,mustem #db ,the ,song of ,abu ,al ,salam #baj ,the ,queen of ,night #bfd ,the ,ancient ,church of ,st4 ,sophia #cbj ,,sacred ,,books ,,and ,,early ,,literature ,,of ,,the ,,medieval ,,arabs1 ,,moors1 ,,and ,,turks ,,introduction ,,how ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,mohammed ,,spread ,,into ,,many ,,lands ,,and ,,created ,,many ,,literatures ,the wide-spread ,arabic empire and religion originated with ,mohammed and was founded on his book1 the ,koran4 ,that tremendously important work1 with the primitive ,arabic literature of even earlier date1 formed the theme of our preceding volume4 ,we have now to trace the ,arabic literature and thought which1 with the expanding of the ,mohammedan empire1 spread over a large part of the ,eastern world4 ,geographically that empire reached from its ,arabian center eastward through ,babylonia and ,persia into ,india1 westward through all ,north ,africa into ,spain1 southward through ,egypt into the wilds of ,central ,africa1 and northward through ,asia ,minor to all the ,turkish possessions4 ,through much of this vast region1 ,arabic became the common speech1 and books were written in its tongue4 ,even in our own day1 ,arabic continues as the language of a considerable part of ,turkey in ,asia1 of ,egypt1 and of all ,north ,africa4 ,we can scarcely1 however1 regard as a unit all the varying ,mohammedan literatures of these many lands4 ,the ,persians1 for example1 retained their own language and wrote in it a literature of ,mohammedan religious spirit1 so important that we shall devote to it a later separate volume4 ,our present task1 therefore1 will confine itself to tracing through the ,middle ,ages the more strictly ,arabian development4 ,this includes first1 the spread of literature and thought among the ,arabs themselves1 or among those people who completely adopted the ,arabic faith and speech4 ,second1 it includes the literature of the ,moors1 or semi-,arabic peoples1 of ,north ,africa and ,spain4 ,and third1 it leads us to the ,turks1 the last ,mohammedan conquerors1 who took up and carried on ,arabic tradition1 though in a language and spirit more ,tartar than ,arabian4 ,for the purely ,arabic development1 that is for the literature and thought that sprang directly from ,mohammed's teaching1 we turn first to the ,sunan1 or traditions about ,mohammed4 ,after the prophet's death in ,a4,d4 #fcb1 and while his followers were spreading his teachings by force of arms1 they talked much of the doings and sayings of their adored master4 ,then1 long after his own writings had been gathered in the official form of the ,koran1 a similar collection was made of what might be termed his unofficial teaching1 that is of all his remembered words1 the ideas which he had not proclaimed as inspired by ,god1 but had given forth in ordinary conversation between man and man4 ,the details of his life were also treasured4 ,thus sprang up the ,sunan1 from which we may learn as much of ,mohammed the man1 and of the daily life and thought of his people1 as from the ,koran we learn of ,mohammed the poet and of the poetic spirit of ,arabia4 ,for a long time the ,arabs developed no other religious literature than this4 ,of the third leader of their new faith1 the ,caliph ,omar1 there is a well-known legend which may be untrue in fact but is intensely true to the fanatic spirit of the ,caliph and his followers4 ,it says that when ,omar's armies conquered ,egypt the scholars of ,alexandria entreated him to protect the books of their great library1 the largest in the world4 ,instead1 ,omar ordered the thousands of manuscripts to be used to feed the fires of the public baths2 and he based the destruction upon this verdict3 ,if these books disagree with the ,koran they are evil2 if they agree they are unnecessary4 ,the ,arabic literary spirit was thus compelled to cling to its old pre-,mohammedan form4 ,that is1 it expressed itself only in brief personal poems1 in skilfully phrased epigrams1 satiric couplets1 or rubaiyat1 called forth by a sudden occasion4 ,a collection of the best known of these poems1 gathered from successive ages of gay and dashing singers1 is given at the close of our ,arabic section4 ,gradually1 however1 a change came over the victorious ,arab race4 ,the warriors lost their intense religious inspiration4 ,they fought among themselves for place and power4 ,the enormous wealth which they had conquered1 with its resulting temptations to luxury and ease and empty vanity1 weakened them1 lured them from both the high moral strength which they had really attained1 and from the fanatic frenzy of faith which had been their pride4 ,they removed the capital of their empire from the holy cities of ,arabia1 first to ,damascus and then to ,bagdad1 the wonderful dream-city of splendor which they built upon the banks of the ancient ,tigris river4 ,under these gorgeous ,caliphs of ,bagdad1 such as ,haroun al ,raschid of ,arabian ,nights' fame1 a civilization developed which ,mohammed would never have recognized as his own1 which he would indeed have been the first to repudiate4 ,unrestrained power bred a callous indifference to the sufferings of its victims1 and even a barbarous delight in inflicting torture4 ,the tyranny of the ruling classes bred a corresponding falsity in their helpless but supple servitors4 ,truth1 the chief virtue in ,mohammed's teaching1 became unknown in human intercourse1 except as a poetic ideal4 ,from their priest-king down1 through all the ranks of society1 men talked much of the virtues1 while surrendering themselves almost wholly to the passions4 ,one might of course speak cynically of mankind's having found this somewhat true in every age1 but seldom has the tragic contrast between the ideal and the actual been brought into such sharp and visible form as in the medieval world of ,bagdad4 ,from this fertile though unhealthy soil a new literature sprang up1 typical of the time and place4 ,here were centered the wealth and leisure and most of what survived of the culture of ancient ,asia and ,africa4 ,so wit and learning journeyed there as well4 ,at first the new literature found voice mainly as history or biography1 or as a rather crude form of these collections of anecdotes purporting to give the virtues and chief events in the lives of former caliphs4 ,among the writers of these semi-biographic tales1 by far the most noted and most noteworthy is ,masoudi 7died ,a4,d4 #ieg74 ,his huge work1 the ,golden ,meadows1 fills many volumes1 from which we give the most attractive anecdotes4 ,while such tales must not be taken as genuine history1 they teach us very clearly the spirit of their age4 ,after these loose histories1 a more careful science developed4 ,the real learning of the ,arab scholars of the eleventh and twelfth centuries far outranked that of their ,european and ,christian contemporaries4 ,as yet the various fields of science were scarcely differentiated2 the student took all knowledge for his province4 ,the earliest ,arab writer1 who may perhaps be regarded as a genuine historian1 in contrast to the previous romancers1 was ,al ,biruni 7#igc-ajdh71 whose ,chronology our volume quotes4 ,but ,al ,biruni was far more than an historian2 he was a leading scientist of his day and also a geographer1 his work on ,india being almost as celebrated as his ,chronology4 ,of even greater fame in science than ,al ,biruni was ,avicenna 7#ihj-ajcg71 a sort of universal genius1 known first as a physician4 ,to his works on medicine he afterward added religious tracts1 poems1 works on philosophy1 on logic1 on physics1 on mathematics1 and on astronomy4 ,he was also a statesman and a soldier1 and he is said to have died of debauchery4 ,he is famed as the most versatile and brilliant member of a versatile and brilliant race4 ,with the increasing freedom of scientific thought and speech which ,avicenna typifies1 there sprang up among the ,eastern ,mohammedans a new religious impulse4 ,they began to examine more carefully the faith which they had before accepted blindly4 ,to this age therefore we owe the writings of ,al ,ghazali 7#ajdi-aaaa71 whom some of his own countrymen have regarded as second only to ,mohammed as a teacher of their religion4 ,indeed1 it was a common saying of his day that ,if there were still prophets in the world ,al ,ghazali would be one4 ,western scholars have1 some of them1 gone still further in their admiration of ,al ,ghazali1 declaring him to have been one of the world's greatest thinkers1 whom his ,mohammedan contemporaries never sufficiently appreciated1 and to whose high moral stature the ,mohammedan world has not even yet grown up4 ,among his writings the most interesting and useful to modern readers is his ,rescuer from ,error1 a sort of spiritual autobiography1 his account of his own growth in religious faith4 ,this striking book our volume gives in full4 ,from ,al ,ghazali1 or even from before his time1 dates the great flow of commentaries on the ,koran4 ,these half-philosophical1 half-fanatical discussions would have seemed irreligious to the earliest ,mohammedan age4 ,the ,koran had been originally accepted as perfect1 and therefore as completely clear4 ,but now the analytic spirit of the ,semite reasserted itself2 and even as the ,hebrews in their ,biblical commentaries weighed every and and but and every carelessly made letter in their ,holy ,book1 so now the ,mohammedan mullahs1 or priests1 began to draw deductions from their law1 to interpret and so develop it4 ,among these commentators two are chiefly celebrated4 ,zamakhshari 7#ajgd-aadc7 was perhaps the most learned and the shrewdest1 but his ideas have seemed to his coreligionists a little too radical1 too independent of ,mohammed1 daring almost to question the divine inspiration of the prophet4 ,therefore the work of ,zamakhshari's more submissive successor of a century later1 ,al ,baidawi1 has gradually superseded the older book as the favorite exposition of the ,koran4 ,the ,western reader1 however1 will distinctly prefer the independence of ,zamakhshari4 ,into the lighter literature of the medieval ,arabs we need not look too far4 ,they had their wholly unreligious and fantastic romances such as the ,arabian ,nights4 ,this famous work1 however1 draws largely upon ,persian sources4 ,indeed1 as our later ,persian volume will emphasize1 most of the pure romance of later ,arab literature is of ,persian origin1 and may best be studied in the ,persian books4 ,there is1 however1 an intermediate class of tale peculiarly ,arabian4 ,this is the mingling of romance with poetry and moral teachings1 just as the earlier historians had mingled it with history4 ,most celebrated in this peculiar class of semi-religious1 semi-poetic romances is the work presented in this volume1 the ,assemblies of ,al ,hariri 7#ajed-aabb74 ,just as ,masoudi stands to his race for history1 ,al ,biruni for geography1 ,avicenna for science1 ,al ,ghazali for philosophy1 and ,zamakhshari and ,al ,baidawi for religious study1 so does ,al ,hariri stand for literary skill1 for brilliancy and humor4 ,his ,assemblies is the ,arabs' chief purely literary achievement4 ,,moorish ,,literature ,in the year #abeh ,bagdad was stormed and conquered by a ,tartar general4 ,it is true that most of the ravaging ,tartars finally adopted the religion of the conquered1 and so the region continued to obey in religious matters a ,mohammedan caliph2 but the rule of the ,arabs1 which had been long undermined by ,persian influences1 ended definitely with the fall of ,bagdad4 ,from the time of that disaster we must look to other lands for the continuation of a semi-,arabic literature4 ,chief of the secondary developments from the ,arabian stock was the remarkable and justly celebrated civilization of the ,moors in ,spain4 ,the fame of medieval ,arabic scholarship was carried to its climax by these first ,mohammedan invaders of ,europe4 ,in the first wild onrush of ,arabian conquest most of ,spain was captured in the year ,a4,d4 #gab1 captured by an army having leaders of pure ,arab blood1 but with followers mainly of the semi-,arabic1 or ,moorish1 people of ,north ,africa4 ,in the year #gef this ,moorish kingdom in ,spain broke completely from the ,arabian ,caliph and set up a priest-king of its own1 a caliph whose capital was at ,cordova in ,spain1 and whose connection with the older ,arab world was only one of race and religion and not of empire4 ,our ,hebraic volume has already spoken of the remarkable ,hebrew writers and philosophers who flourished within the shelter of this ,cordova caliphate4 ,the ,arabs themselves were not less able than their ,hebrew servitors4 ,here then1 under the sunny skies of ,southern ,spain1 far1 far indeed from the first centers of ,semitic civilization1 was the last brilliant blossoming of distinctively ,semitic thought4 ,we have in our previous volumes traced the growth of ,semitic thought and of the ,semitic religious progress from their earliest home by the ,euphrates river1 where the ,babylonian and the desert ,arab warred in unrecognized brotherhood of race4 ,now we are ready to glance briefly at them in ,spain1 the last strong kingdom they were to possess1 and the last literature of note which the ,semites1 except as scattered members of other communities1 were to give the world4 ,among the ,arabic writers of ,spain the most noted is the scientist and philosopher1 ,averroes 7#aabf-aaih74 ,to ,mohammedans he is the religious thinker1 who strove to harmonize their faith with the advancing science of a later day1 and who opposed his practical1 rational spirit to the mysticism of ,al ,ghazali4 ,to the ,european world he is the celebrated commentator on that greatest of philosophers1 ,aristotle4 ,as the voice of ,aristotle1 ,averroes thus became the leading teacher and philosopher of his day2 he is the link which connects our present thought and science with the first splendor of independent inquiry under the ,greeks4 ,the name of ,aristotle1 the chief scientific teacher of all the world1 is thus united forever with that of the great ,arab teacher1 ,averroes4 ,moorish literature was also a shrine of poetry and romance1 though most of these lighter writings have only been preserved to us through the ,spanish tongue4 ,our own ,washington ,irving found in these ,moorish tales an inspiration for his genius1 and has turned many of them into ,english4 ,others will be found included in our volume4 ,,turkish ,,literature ,of the ,turkish literature we need speak but briefly4 ,the ,turks were not ,semites1 but a ,tartar or ,east ,asiatic stock who1 after wandering into ,western ,asia1 accepted the ,mohammedan faith about ,a4,d4 #abhh4 ,at the very moment when the vast ,mohammedan empire was crumbling to pieces1 assailed by pagan ,tartar hordes and crusading ,christian armies from without1 and withering from spiritual decadence within1 the ,turks took up the waning faith1 and with the energy of new and younger converts carried it onward to the military conquests which built up the ,turkish ,empire4 ,this new empire soon included geographically most of the older ,arab ,empire2 but the ,turks brought to their new faith only the dubious glory of victory in war4 ,they added little1 either to its thought or to its literature4 ,they were1 in fact1 a nation still semi-barbaric1 strong in the natural virtues of faith and honesty and a rude kindliness1 but wholly lacking in the subtlety and intellectual keenness which could have advanced ,mohammedan thought4 ,hence we shall find in their literature1 at first1 only childish tales1 echoes of the childhood of the world1 magic stories close akin to those of our own fairyland4 ,then comes a native poetry1 not rising to remarkable heights in any one great poet1 but full of a warm human love of romance and justice4 ,later we come to more thoughtful and elaborate writings1 but these incline to deal with the practical world rather than with that of religion and speculative thought4 ,so that we close our ,turkish section with what is perhaps the most valuable piece of early ,turkish literature1 a work of travel1 the celebrated autobiography of ,sidi ,ali ,reis4 ,,arabic ,,literature ,,the ,,sunan ,,the ,,deeds ,,and ,,sayings ,,of ,,mohammed ,,as ,,preserved ,,by ,,his ,,followers ,the proof of a ,mohammedan's sincerity is that he pays no heed to what is not his business4 --,,sunan ,,of ,,abu ,,da',,ud4 ,the sayings of the ,sunan are very numerous and very detailed2 but how far they are genuine it is not easy to determine4 --,,stanley ,,lane-,,poole4 ,the first thing which ,god created was a pen1 and he said to it1 ',write4' --,,the ,,sunan4 ,,the ,,sunan 7,,introduction7 ,the ,sunan1 or traditions1 of ,mohammed are now gathered in six books1 though two of these are more specifically called the ,sahihs1 or sincere books4 ,these six works bear to ,mohammedanism much the same relation as the ,four ,gospels do to ,christianity4 ,that is to say1 they are the accounts of the prophet's life as handed down by his disciples4 ,of course to the ,mohammedans the ,sunan are not the main source of teaching4 ,that is the ,koran1 which1 as we have seen1 is ,mohammed's own book1 dictated by the prophet himself4 ,moreover1 the ,sunan do not approach ,mohammed with anything like the same accuracy and closeness with which the ,gospels approach ,jesus4 ,the ,sunan are slight and fragmentary traditions1 gathered from every possible source at an interval of more than two centuries after their prophet's death4 ,they have1 however1 been accepted as holy books or canons of the ,mohammedan faith4 ,much of the ,mohammedan religious law of to-day is founded on them2 and they are taught in all the schools and made the basis of many a hair-splitting argument about right and wrong4 ,unlike the ,christian religion1 that of ,mohammed sprang immediately into world-wide power2 hence no sooner was the prophet dead than every companion of the revered teacher1 every listener who had ever heard him speak1 narrated to eager audiences each remembered trifle4 ,naturally these became exaggerated in the telling4 ,moreover1 when rival caliphs fought and slew one another1 each claiming rightful heirship from the prophet1 their followers would inevitably invent traditions to justify each leader's claim4 ,exaggeration1 if not direct falsehood1 soon became inextricably mixed with fact4 ,when1 later on1 men tried to set their faith upon a firmer basis1 they sought to sift these manifold traditions and decide which were worthy of belief4 ,the first man who set down these sifted traditions in a book was ,al ,bukhari4 ,he traveled all over the ,arab ,empire to gather all the tales he could1 and he continued elaborating on his book1 the first ,sahih1 until his death in ,a4,d4 #hgj4 ,al ,bukhari himself tells us that in his travels he gathered six hundred thousand tales about ,mohammed4 ,of these he admitted to his ,sahih1 as being most trustworthy1 a little over seven thousand4 ,the second ,sahih1 written by a follower of ,al ,bukhari1 was garnered from three hundred thousand tales4 ,of slightly later date than these two works were the four ,sunan1 founded partly on the earlier books1 but built upon a stricter critical analysis of what should be accepted1 and written after an even wider gathering of all the legends of the empire4 ,hence the ,sunan include the earlier books1 and the entire collection is commonly spoken of by the later name4 ,when1 however1 we speak of these ,sunan as a critical selection from the million legends1 the modern reader must not think of this as implying modern scientific criticism and analytical accuracy4 ,each tale was chiefly accepted on the ground that1 in the series of men by whom it was said to have been handed down through the generations1 all the men were known and all were of reputed trustworthiness4 ,that is to say1 in an age already become notorious for its lack of veracity1 a superficial confidence in individual veracity1 extending back through many links for over two hundred years1 was accepted as the ultimate proof of truth4 ,the most widely read and quoted of the ,sunan is that of ,abu ,da'ud1 who sums up his own work by declaring that only four of all the thousands of religious rules he has gathered need be remembered by each man for his own religious guidance4 ,these four laws ,abu ,da'ud gives as follows3 ,actions will be judged according to intentions4 ,the proof of a ,moslem's sincerity is that he pays no heed to that which is not his business4 ,no man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself4 ,that which is lawful is clear1 and that which is unlawful likewise1 but there are certain doubtful things between the two1 from which it is well to abstain4 ,,selections ,,from ,,the ,,sunan ,,or1 ,,sayings ,,and ,,traditions ,,of ,,mohammed ,when ,god created the creation he wrote a book1 which is near him upon the sovran throne2 and what is written in it is this3 ,verily my compassion overcometh my wrath4 ,say not1 if people do good to us1 we will do good to them1 and if people oppress us1 we will oppress them3 but resolve that if people do good to you1 you will do good to them1 and if they oppress you1 oppress them not again4 ,god saith3 ,whoso doth one good act1 for him are ten rewards1 and ,i also give more to whomsoever ,i will2 and whoso doth ill1 its retaliation is equal to it1 or else ,i forgive him2 and he who seeketh to approach me one cubit1 ,i will seek to approach him two fathoms2 and he who walketh toward me1 ,i will run toward him2 and he who cometh before me with the earth full of sins1 but joineth no partner to me1 ,i will come before him with an equal front of forgiveness4 ,there are seven people whom ,god will draw under his own shadow1 on that day when there will be no other shadow3 one a just king2 another1 who hath employed himself in devotion from his youth2 the third1 who fixeth his heart on the mosque till he return to it2 the fourth1 two men whose friendship is to please ,god1 whether together or separate2 the fifth1 a man who remembereth ,god when he is alone1 and weepeth2 the sixth1 a man who is tempted by a rich and beautiful woman1 and saith1 ,verily ,i fear ,god2 the seventh1 a man who hath given alms and concealed it1 so that his left hand knoweth not what his right hand doeth4 ,the most excellent of all actions is to befriend any one on ,god's account1 and to be at enmity with whosoever is the enemy of ,god4 ,verily ye are in an age in which if ye abandon one-tenth of what is ordered1 ye will be ruined4 ,after this a time will come when he who shall observe one-tenth of what is now ordered will be redeemed4 ,concerning ,prayer ,angels come among you both night and day2 then those of the night ascend to heaven1 and ,god asketh them how they left his creatures3 they say1 ,we left them at prayer1 and we found them at prayer4 ,the rewards for the prayers which are performed by people assembled together are double of those which are said at home4 ,ye must not say your prayers at the rising or the setting of the sun3 so when a limb of the sun appeareth1 leave your prayers until her whole orb is up3 and when the sun beginneth to set1 quit your prayers until the whole orb hath disappeared2 for1 verily she riseth between the two horns of the devil4 ,no neglect of duty is imputable during sleep2 for neglect can only take place when one is awake3 therefore1 when any of you forget your prayers1 say them when ye recollect4 ,when any one of you goeth to sleep1 the devil tieth three knots upon his neck2 and saith over every knot1 ,the night is long1 sleep4 ,therefore1 if a servant awake and remember ,god1 it openeth one knot2 and if he perform the ablution1 it openeth another2 and if he say prayers1 it openeth the other2 and he riseth in the morning in gladness and purity3 otherwise he riseth in a lethargic state4 ,when a ,moslem performeth the ablution1 it washeth from his face those faults which he may have cast his eyes upon2 and when he washeth his hands1 it removeth the faults they may have committed1 and when he washeth his feet1 it dispelleth the faults toward which they may have carried him3 so that he will rise up in purity from the place of ablution4 ,of ,charity ,when ,god created the earth it began to shake and tremble2 then ,god created mountains1 and put them upon the earth1 and the land became firm and fixed2 and the angels were astonished at the hardness of the hills1 and said1 ,o ,god1 is there anything of thy creation harder than hills8 and ,god said1 ,yes1 water is harder than the hills1 because it breaketh them4 ,then the angel said1 ,o ,lord1 is there anything of thy creation harder than water8 ,he said1 ,yes1 wind overcometh water3 it doth agitate it and put it in motion4 ,they said1 ,o our ,lord6 is there anything of thy creation harder than wind8 ,he said1 ,yes1 the children of ,adam giving alms3 those who give with their right hand1 and conceal from their left1 overcome all4 ,the liberal man is near the pleasure of ,god and is near paradise1 which he shall enter into1 and is near the hearts of men as a friend1 and he is distant from hell2 but the niggard is far from ,god's pleasure and from paradise1 and far from the hearts of men1 and near the fire2 and verily a liberal ignorant man is more beloved by ,god than a niggardly worshiper4 ,a man's giving in alms one piece of silver in his lifetime is better for him than giving one hundred when about to die4 ,think not that any good act is contemptible1 though it be but your brother's coming to you with an open countenance and good humor4 ,there is alms for a man's every joint1 every day in which the sun riseth2 doing justice between two people is alms2 and assisting a man upon his beast1 and with his baggage1 is alms2 and pure words1 for which are rewards2 and answering a questioner with mildness is alms1 and every step which is made toward prayer is alms1 and removing that which is an inconvenience to man1 such as stones and thorns1 is alms4 ,the people of the ,prophet's house killed a goat1 and the ,prophet said1 ,what remaineth of it8 ,they said1 ,nothing but the shoulder2 for they have sent the whole to the poor and neighbors1 except a shoulder which remaineth4 ,the ,prophet said1 ,nay1 it is the whole goat that remaineth except its shoulder3 that remaineth which they have given away1 the rewards of which will be eternal1 and what remaineth in the house is fleeting4 ,feed the hungry1 visit the sick1 and free the captive if he be unjustly bound4 ,of ,fasting ,a keeper of fasts1 who doth not abandon lying and slandering1 ,god careth not about his leaving off eating and drinking4 ,keep fast and eat also1 stay awake at night and sleep also1 because verily there is a duty on you to your body1 not to labor overmuch1 so that ye may not get ill and destroy yourselves2 and verily there is a duty on you to your eyes1 ye must sometimes sleep and give them rest2 and verily there is a duty on you to your wife1 and to your visitors and guests that come to see you2 ye must talk to them2 and nobody hath kept fast who fasted always2 the fast of three days in every month is equal to constant fasting3 then keep three days' fast in every month4 ,of ,reading the ,koran ,the state of a ,moslem who readeth the ,koran is like the orange fruit1 whose smell and taste are pleasant2 and that of a ,moslem who doth not read the ,koran is like a date which hath no smell1 but a sweet taste2 and the condition of any hypocrite who doth not read the ,koran is like the colocynth which hath no smell1 but a bitter taste2 and the hypocrite who readeth the ,koran is like the sweet bazil1 whose smell is sweet1 but taste bitter4 ,read the ,koran constantly2 ,i sware by him in the hands of whose might is my life1 verily the ,koran runneth away faster than a camel which is not tied by the leg4 ,of ,labor and ,profit ,verily the best things which ye eat are those which ye earn yourselves or which your children earn4 ,verily it is better for one of you to take a rope and bring a bundle of wood upon his back and sell it1 in which case ,god guardeth his honor1 than to beg of people1 whether they give him or not2 if they do not give him1 his reputation suffereth and he returneth disappointed2 and if they give him1 it is worse than that1 for it layeth him under obligations4 ,a man came to the ,prophet1 begging of him something1 and the ,prophet said1 ,have you nothing at home8 ,he said1 ,yes1 there is a large carpet1 with one part of which ,i cover myself1 and spread the other1 and there is a wooden cup in which ,i drink water4 ,then the ,prophet said1 ,bring me the carpet and the cup4 ,and the man brought them1 and the ,prophet took them in his hand1 and said1 ,who will buy them8 ,a man said1 ,i will take them at one silver piece4 ,he said1 ,who will give more8 ,this he repeated twice or thrice4 ,another man said1 ,i will take them for two pieces of silver4 ,then the ,prophet gave the carpet and cup to that man1 and took the two pieces of silver1 and gave them to the helper1 and said1 ,buy food with one of these pieces1 and give it to your family1 that they may make it their sustenance for a few days2 and buy a hatchet with the other piece and bring it to me4 ,and the man brought it2 and the ,prophet put a handle to it with his own hands1 and then said1 ,go1 cut wood1 and sell it1 and let me not see you for fifteen days4 ,then the man went cutting wood1 and selling it2 and he came to the ,prophet1 when verily he had got ten pieces of silver1 and he bought a garment with part of it1 and food with part4 ,then the ,prophet said1 ,this cutting and selling of wood1 and making your livelihood by it1 is better for you than coming on the day of resurrection with black marks on your face4 ,acts of begging are scratches and wounds by which a man woundeth his own face2 then he who wisheth to guard his face from scratches and wounds must not beg1 unless that a man asketh from his prince1 or in an affair in which there is no remedy4 ,the ,prophet hath cursed ten persons on account of wine3 one1 the first extractor of the juice of the grape for others2 the second1 for himself2 the third1 the drinker of it2 the fourth1 the bearer of it2 the fifth1 the person to whom it is brought2 the sixth1 the waiter2 the seventh1 the seller of it2 the eighth1 the eater of its price2 the ninth1 the buyer of it2 the tenth1 that person who hath purchased it for another4 ,merchants shall be raised up liars on the day of resurrection1 except he who abstaineth from that which is unlawful1 and doth not swear falsely1 but speaketh true in the price of his goods4 ,the taker of interest and the giver of it1 and the writer of its papers and the witness to it1 are equal in crime4 ,the holder of a monopoly is a sinner and offender4 ,the bringers of grain to the city to sell at a cheap rate gain immense advantage by it1 and he who keepeth back grain in order to sell at a high rate is cursed4 ,he who desireth that ,god should redeem him from the sorrows and difficulties of the day of resurrection must delay in calling on poor debtors1 or forgive the debt in part or whole4 ,a martyr shall be pardoned every fault but debt4 ,whosoever has a thing with which to discharge a debt1 and refuseth to do it1 it is right to dishonor and punish him4 ,a bier was brought to the ,prophet1 to say prayers over it4 ,he said1 ,hath he left any debts8 ,they said1 ,yes4 ,he said1 ,hath he left anything to discharge them8 ,they said1 ,no4 ,the ,prophet said1 ,say ye prayers over him2 ,i shall not4 ,give the laborer his wage before his perspiration be dry4 ,of ,fighting for the ,faith ,we came out with the ,prophet1 with a part of the army1 and a man passed by a cavern in which were water and verdure1 and he said in his heart1 ,i shall stay here1 and retire from the world4 ,then he asked the ,prophet's permission to live in the cavern2 but he said1 ,verily ,i have not been sent on the ,jewish religion1 nor the ,christian1 to quit the delights of society2 but ,i have been sent on the religion inclining to truth1 and that which is easy1 wherein is no difficulty or austerity4 ,i swear by ,god1 in whose hand is my life1 that marching about morning and evening to fight for religion is better than the world and everything that is in it3 and verily the standing of one of you in the line of battle is better than supererogatory prayers performed in your house for sixty years4 ,when the ,prophet sent an army out to fight1 he would say1 ,march in the name of ,god and by his aid and on the religion of the ,messenger of ,god4 ,kill not the old man who can not fight1 nor young children nor women2 and steal not the spoils of war1 but put your spoils together2 and quarrel not among yourselves1 but be good to one another1 for ,god loveth the doer of good4 ,of ,judgments ,the first judgment that ,god will pass on man at the day of resurrection will be for murder4 ,whosoever throweth himself from the top of a mountain and killeth himself is in hell fire forever2 and whosoever killeth himself with iron1 his iron shall be in his hand1 and he will stab his belly with it in hell fire everlastingly4 ,no judge must decide between two persons whilst he is angry4 ,there is no judge who hath decided between men1 whether just or unjust1 but will come to ,god's court on the day of resurrection held by the neck by an angel2 and the angel will raise his head toward the heavens and wait for ,god's orders2 and if ,god ordereth to throw him into hell1 the angel will do it from a height of forty years' journey4 ,verily there will come on a just judge at the day of resurrection such fear and horror1 that he will wish1 ,would to ,god that ,i had not decided between two persons in a trial for a single date4 ,of ,women and ,slaves ,the world and all things in it are valuable1 but the most valuable thing in the world is a virtuous woman4 ,i have not left any calamity more hurtful to man than woman4 ,a ,moslem can not obtain 7after righteousness7 anything better than a well-disposed1 beautiful wife3 such a wife as1 when ordered by her husband to do anything1 obeyeth2 and if her husband look at her1 is happy2 and if her husband swear by her to do a thing1 she doth it to make his oath true2 and if he be absent from her1 she wisheth him well in her own person by guarding herself from inchastity1 and taketh care of his property4 ,verily the best of women are those who are content with little4 ,admonish your wives with kindness2 for women were created out of a crooked rib of ,adam1 therefore if ye wish to straighten it1 ye will break it2 and if ye let it alone1 it will be always crooked4 ,every woman who dieth1 and her husband is pleased with her1 shall enter into paradise4 ,that which is lawful but disliked by ,god is divorce4 ,a woman may be married by four qualifications3 one1 on account of her money2 another1 on account of the nobility of her pedigree2 another1 on account of her beauty2 a fourth1 on account of her faith2 therefore look out for religious women1 but if ye do it from any other consideration1 may your hands be rubbed in dirt4 ,a widow shall not be married until she be consulted2 nor shall a virgin be married until her consent be asked1 whose consent is by her silence4 ,when the ,prophet was informed that the people of ,persia had made the daughter of ,chosroes their queen1 he said1 ,the tribe that constitutes a woman its ruler will not find redemption4 ,do not prevent your women from coming to the mosque2 but their homes are better for them4 ,o assembly of women1 give alms1 although it be of your gold and silver ornaments2 for verily ye are mostly of hell on the day of resurrection4 ,when ye return from a journey and enter your town at night1 go not to your houses1 so that your wives may have time to comb their disheveled hair4 ,god has ordained that your brothers should be your slaves3 therefore him whom ,god hath ordained to be the slave of his brother1 his brother must give him of the food which he eateth himself1 and of the clothes wherewith he clotheth himself1 and not order him to do anything beyond his power1 and if he doth order such a work1 he must himself assist him in doing it4 ,he who beateth his slave without fault1 or slappeth him in the face1 his atonement for this is freeing him4 ,a man who behaveth ill to his slave will not enter into paradise4 ,forgive thy servant seventy times a day4 ,of ,dumb ,animals ,fear ,god in respect of animals3 ride them when they are fit to be ridden1 and get off when they are tired4 ,a man came before the ,prophet with a carpet1 and said1 ,o ,prophet6 ,i passed through a wood1 and heard the voices of the young of birds2 and ,i took and put them into my carpet2 and their mother came fluttering round my head1 and ,i uncovered the young1 and the mother fell down upon them1 then ,i wrapped them up in my carpet2 and there are the young which ,i have4 ,then the ,prophet said1 ,put them down4 ,and when he did so1 their mother joined them3 and the ,prophet said1 ,do you wonder at the affection of the mother toward her young8 ,i swear by him who hath sent me1 verily ,god is more loving to his servants than the mother to these young birds4 ,return them to the place from which ye took them1 and let their mother be with them4 ,verily there are rewards for our doing good to dumb animals1 and giving them water to drink4 ,an adulteress was forgiven who passed by a dog at a well2 for the dog was holding out his tongue from thirst1 which was near killing him2 and the woman took off her hoot1 and tied it to the end of her garment1 and drew water for the dog1 and gave him to drink2 and she was forgiven for that act4 ,of ,hospitality ,when a man cometh into his house and remembereth ,god and repeateth his name at eating his meals1 the devil saith to his followers1 ,here is no place for you to stay in to-night1 nor is there any supper for you4 ,and when a man cometh into his house without remembering ,god's name1 the devil saith to his followers1 ,you have got a place to spend the night in4 ,whosoever believeth in ,god and the day of resurrection must respect his guest1 and the time of being kind to him is one day and one night1 and the period of entertaining him is three days1 and after that1 if he doth it longer1 he benefiteth him more4 ,it is not right for a guest to stay in the house of the host so long as to inconvenience him4 ,i heard this1 that ,god is pure1 and loveth purity2 and ,god is liberal1 and loveth liberality2 ,god is munificent1 and loveth munificence3 then keep the courts of your house clean1 and do not be like ,jews who do not clean the courts of their houses4 ,of ,government ,government is a trust from ,god1 and verily government will be at the day of resurrection a cause of inquiry1 unless he who hath taken it be worthy of it and have acted justly and done good4 ,verily a king is ,god's shadow upon the earth2 and every one oppressed turneth to him3 then when the king doeth justice1 for him are rewards and gratitude from his subjects3 but1 if the king oppresseth1 on him is his sin1 and for the oppressed resignation4 ,that is the best of men who disliketh power4 ,beware6 ye are all guardians2 and ye will be asked about your subjects3 then the leader is the guardian of the subject1 and he will be asked respecting the subject2 and a man is a shepherd to his own family1 and will be asked how they behaved1 and his conduct to them2 and a wife is guardian to her husband's house and children1 and will be interrogated about them2 and a slave is a shepherd to his master's property1 and will be asked about it1 whether he took good care of it or not4 ,there is no prince who oppresseth the subject and dieth1 but ,god forbiddeth paradise to him4 ,if a negro slave is appointed to rule over you1 hear him1 and obey him1 though his head should be like a dried grape4 ,there is no obedience due to sinful commands1 nor to any other than what is lawful4 ,o ,prophet of ,god1 if we have princes over us1 wanting our rights1 and withholding our rights from us1 then what do you order us8 ,he said1 ,ye must hear them and obey their orders3 it is on them to be just and good1 and on you to be obedient and submissive4 ,he is not strong or powerful who throws people down1 but he is strong who withholds himself from anger4 ,when one of you getteth angry1 he must sit down1 and if his anger goeth away from sitting1 so much the better2 if not1 let him lie down4 ,of ,vanities and ,sundry ,matters ,the angels are not with the company with which is a dog1 nor with the company with which is a bell4 ,a bell is the devil's musical instrument4 ,the angels do not enter a house in which is a dog1 nor that in which there are pictures4 ,every painter is in hell fire2 and ,god will appoint a person at the day of resurrection for every picture he shall have drawn1 to punish him1 and they will punish him in hell4 ,then if you must make pictures1 make them of trees and things without souls4 ,whosoever shall tell a dream1 not having dreamed1 shall be put to the trouble at the day of resurrection of joining two barleycorns2 and he can by no means do it2 and he will be punished4 ,and whosoever listeneth to others' conversation1 who dislike to be heard by him1 and avoid him1 boiling lead will be poured into his ears at the day of resurrection4 ,and whosoever draweth a picture shall be punished by ordering him to breathe a spirit into it1 and this he can never do1 and so he will be punished as long as ,god wills4 ,o servants of ,god1 use medicine3 because ,god hath not created a pain without a remedy for it1 to be the means of curing it1 except age2 for that is a pain without a remedy4 ,he who is not loving to ,god's creatures and to his own children1 ,god will not be loving to him4 ,the truest words spoken by any poet are those of ,lebid1 who said1 ,know that everything is vanity except ,god4 ,verily he who believeth fighteth with his sword and tongue3 ,i swear by ,god1 verily abuse of infidels in verse is worse to them than arrows4 ,meekness and shame are two branches of faith1 and vain talking and embellishing are two branches of hypocrisy4 ,the calamity of knowledge is forgetfulness1 and to lose knowledge is this1 to speak of it to the unworthy4 ,who pursueth the road to knowledge1 ,god will direct him to the road of paradise2 and verily the angels spread their arms to receive him who seeketh after knowledge2 and everything in heaven and earth will ask grace for him2 and verily the superiority of a learned man over a mere worshiper is like that of the full moon over all the stars4 ,hearing is not like seeing3 verily ,god acquainted ,moses of his tribe's worshiping a calf1 but he did not throw down the tables2 but when ,moses went to his tribe1 and saw with his eyes the calf they had made1 he threw down the tables and broke them4 ,be not extravagant in praising me1 as the ,christians are in praising ,jesus1 ,mary's ,son1 by calling him ,god1 and the ,son of ,god2 ,i am only the ,lord's servant2 then call me the servant of ,god1 and his messenger4 ,it was asked1 ,o ,messenger of ,god1 what relation is most worthy of doing good to8 ,he said1 ,your mother2 this he repeated thrice3 and after her your father1 and after him your other relations by propinquity4 ,god's pleasure is in a father's pleasure1 and ,god's displeasure is a father's displeasure4 ,verily one of you is a mirror to his brother3 ,then if he see a vice in his brother he must tell him to get rid of it4 ,the best person near ,god is the best among his friends2 and the best of neighbors near ,god is the best person in his own neighborhood4 ,deliberation in undertaking is pleasing to ,god1 and haste is pleasing to the devil4 ,the heart of the old is always young in two things3 in love for the world1 and length of hope4 ,of ,death ,wish not for death any one of you2 either a doer of good works1 for peradventure he may increase them by an increase of life2 or an offender1 for perhaps he may obtain the forgiveness of ,god by repentance4 ,when the soul is taken from the body1 the eyes follow it1 and look toward it3 on this account the eyes remain open4 ,when a believer is nearly dead1 angels of mercy come1 clothed in white silk garments1 and say to the soul of the dying man1 ,come out1 ,o thou who art satisfied with ,god1 and with whom he is satisfied2 come out to rest1 which is with ,god1 and the sustenance of ,god's mercy and compassion1 and to the ,lord1 who is not angry4 ,then the soul cometh out like the smell of the best musk1 so that verily it is handed from one angel to another1 till they bring it to the doors of the celestial regions4 ,then the angels say1 ,what a wonderful1 pleasant smell this is which is come to you from the earth6 ,then they bring it to the souls of the faithful1 and they are very happy at its coming2 more than ye are at the coming of one of your family after a long journey4 ,and the souls of the faithful ask it1 ,what hath such a one done1 and such a one8 how are they8 and they mention the names of their friends who are left in the world4 ,and some of them say1 ,let it alone2 do not ask it1 because it was grieved in the world1 and came from thence aggrieved2 ask it when it is at rest4 ,then the soul saith when it is at ease1 ,verily such a one about whom ye ask is dead4 ,and as they do not see him among themselves1 they say to one another1 ,surely he was carried to his mother1 which is hell fire4 ,and verily when an infidel is near death1 angels of punishment come to him1 clothed in sackcloth1 and say to his soul1 ,come out1 thou discontented1 and with whom ,god is displeased2 come to ,god's punishments4 ,then it cometh out with a disagreeable smell1 worse than the worst stench of a dead body1 until they bring it upon the earth1 and they say1 ,what an extraordinarily bad smell this is2 till they bring it to the souls of the infidels4 ,a bier was passing1 and the ,prophet stood up for it2 and we stood with him and said1 ,o ,prophet6 verily this bier is of a ,jewish woman2 we must not respect it4 ,then the ,prophet said1 ,verily death is dreadful3 therefore when ye see a bier1 stand up4 ,do not abuse or speak ill of the dead1 because they have arrived at what they sent before them2 they have received the rewards of their actions2 if the reward is good1 you must not mention them as sinful2 and if it is bad1 perhaps they may be forgiven1 but if not1 your mentioning their badness is of no use4 ,sit not upon graves1 nor say your prayers fronting them4 ,whoso consoleth one in misfortune1 for him is a reward equal to that of the sufferer4 ,whoso comforteth a woman who has lost her child will be covered with a garment in paradise4 ,the ,prophet passed by graves in ,medina1 and turned his face toward them1 and said1 ,peace be to you1 ,o people of the graves4 ,god forgive us and you6 ,ye have passed on before us1 and we are following you4 ,of the ,state after ,death ,to whomsoever ,god giveth wealth1 and he doth not perform the charity due from it1 his wealth will be made into the shape of a serpent on the day of resurrection1 which shall not have any hair upon its head1 and this is a sign of its poison and long life1 and it hath two black spots upon its eyes1 and it will be twisted round his neck like a chain on the day of resurrection2 then the serpent will seize the man's jaw-bones1 and will say1 ,i am thy wealth1 the charity for which thou didst not give1 and ,i am thy treasure1 from which thou didst not separate any alms4 ,the ,prophet asked us1 ,did any one of you dream8 ,we said1 ,no4 ,he said1 ,but ,i did4 ,two men came to me and took hold of my hands1 and carried me to a pure land3 and behold1 there was a man sitting and another standing3 the first had an iron hook in his hand1 and was hooking the other in the lip1 and split it to the back of the neck1 and then did the same with the other lip4 ,while this was doing the first healed1 and the man kept on from one lip to the other4 ,i said1 ',what is this8' ,they said1 ',move on1' and we did so till we reached a man sleeping on his back1 and another standing at his head with a stone in his hand1 with which he was breaking the other's head1 and afterward rolled the stone about and then followed it1 and had not yet returned1 when the man's head was healed and well4 ,then he broke it again1 and ,i said1 ',what is this8' ,they said1 ',walk on'2 and we walked1 till we came to a hole like an oven1 with its top narrow and its bottom wide1 and fire was burning under it1 and there were naked men and women in it2 and when the fire burned high the people mounted also1 and when the fire subsided they subsided also4 ,then ,i said1 ',what is this8' ,they said1 ',move on'2 and we went on till we came to a river of blood1 with a man standing in the middle of it1 and another man on the bank1 with stones in his hands3 and when the man in the river attempted to come out1 the other threw stones in his face1 and made him return4 ,and ,i said1 ',what is this'8 ,they said1 ',advance'2 and we moved forward1 till we arrived at a green garden1 in which was a large tree1 and an old man and children sitting on the roots of it1 and near it was a man lighting a fire4 ,then ,i was carried upon the tree1 and put into a house which was in the middle of it--a better house ,i have never seen3 and there were old men1 young men1 women1 and children4 ,after that they brought me out of the house and carried me to the top of the tree1 and put me into a better house1 where were old men and young men4 ,and ,i said to my two conductors1 ',verily ye have shown me a great many things to-night1 then inform me of what ,i have seen4' ,they said1 ',yes3 as to the man whom you saw with split lips1 he was a liar1 and will be treated in that way till the day of resurrection2 and the person you saw getting his head broken is a man whom ,god taught the ,koran1 and he did not repeat it in the night1 nor practise what is in it by day1 and he will be treated as you saw till the day of resurrection2 and the people you saw in the oven are adulterers2 and those you saw in the river are receivers of usury2 and the old man you saw under the tree is ,abraham2 and the children around them are the children of men3 and the person who was lighting the fire was ,malik1 the keeper of hell2 and the first house you entered was for the common believers2 and as to the second house1 it is for the martyrs3 and we who conducted you are one of us ,gabriel1 and the other ,michael2 then raise up your head'2 and ,i did so1 and saw above it as it were a cloud3 and they said1 ',that is your dwelling4' ,i said1 ',call it here1 that ,i may enter it'2 and they said1 ',verily your life remaineth1 but when you have completed it1 you will come into your house4' ,when ,god created paradise1 he said to ,gabriel1 ,go and look at it2 then ,gabriel went and looked at it and at the things which ,god had prepared for the people of it4 ,after that ,gabriel came and said1 ,o my ,lord6 ,i swear by thy glory no one will hear a description of paradise but will be ambitious of entering it4 ,after that ,god surrounded paradise with distress and troubles1 and said1 ,o ,gabriel1 go and look at paradise4 ,and he went and looked1 and then returned and said1 ,o my ,lord1 ,i fear that verily no one will enter it4 ,and when ,god created hell fire he said to ,gabriel1 ,go and take a look at it4 ,and he went and looked at it1 and returned and said1 ,o my ,lord1 ,i swear by thy glory that no one who shall hear a description of hell fire will wish to enter it4 ,then ,god surrounded it with sins1 desires1 and vices2 after that he said to ,gabriel1 ,go and look at hell fire1 and he went and looked at it1 and said1 ,o my ,lord1 ,i swear by thy glory ,i am afraid that every one will enter hell1 because sins are so sweet that there is none but will incline to them4 ,if ye knew what ,i know of the condition of the resurrection and futurity1 verily ye would weep much and laugh little4 ,then ,i said1 ,o messenger of ,god6 shall we perish while the virtuous are among us8 ,he said1 ,yes1 when the wickedness shall be excessive1 verily there will be tribes of my sects that will consider the wearing of silks and drinking liquor lawful1 and will listen to the lute3 and there will be men with magnificent houses1 and their milch-animals will come to them in the evening1 full of milk1 and a man will come begging a little and they will say1 ,come to-morrow4 ,then ,god will quickly send a punishment upon them1 and will change others into the shape of monkeys and swine1 unto the day of resurrection4 ,verily among the signs of the resurrection will be the taking away of knowledge from among men2 and their being in great ignorance and much wickedness and much drinking of liquor1 and diminution of men1 and there being many women2 to such a degree that there will be fifty women to one man1 and he will work for a livelihood for the women4 ,how can ,i be happy1 when ,israfil hath put the trumpet to his mouth to blow it1 leaning his ear toward the true ,god for orders1 and hath already knit his brow1 waiting in expectation of orders to blow it8 ,of ,destiny ,the hearts of men are at the disposal of ,god like unto one heart1 and he turneth them about in any way that he pleaseth4 ,o ,director of hearts1 turn our hearts to obey thee4 ,the first thing which ,god created was a pen1 and he said to it1 ,write4 ,it said1 ,what shall ,i write8 ,and ,god said1 ,write down the quantity of every separate thing to be created4 ,and it wrote all that was and all that will be to eternity4 ,there is not one among you whose sitting-place is not written by ,god1 whether in the fire or in paradise4 ,the companions said1 ,o ,prophet6 since ,god hath appointed our place1 may we confide in this and abandon our religious and moral duty8 ,he said1 ,no1 because the happy will do good works1 and those who are of the miserable will do bad works4 ,the ,prophet of ,god said that ,adam and ,moses 7in the world of spirits7 maintained a debate before ,god1 and ,adam got the better of ,moses2 who said1 ,thou art that ,adam whom ,god created by the power of his hands1 and breathed into thee from his own spirit1 and made the angels bow before thee1 and gave thee an habitation in his own paradise3 after that thou threwest man upon the earth1 from the fault which thou committedst4 ,adam said1 ,thou art that ,moses whom ,god elected for his prophecy1 and to converse with1 and he gave to thee twelve tables1 in which are explained everything1 and ,god made thee his confidant1 and the bearer of his secrets3 then how long was the ,bible written before ,i was created8 ,moses said1 ,forty years4 ,then ,adam said1 ,didst thou see in the ,bible that ,adam disobeyed ,god8 ,he said1 ,yes4 ,adam said1 ,dost thou then reproach me on a matter which ,god wrote in the ,bible forty years before creating me8 ,ayesha relates that the ,prophet said to her1 ,do you know1 ,o ,ayesha6 the excellence of this night8 7the fifteenth of ,ramadan74 ,i said1 ,what is it1 ,o ,prophet8 ,he said1 ,one thing in this night is1 that all the children of ,adam to be born in the year are written down2 and also those who are to die in it1 and all the actions of the children of ,adam are carried up to heaven in this night2 and their allowances are sent down4 ,then ,i said1 ,o ,prophet1 do none enter ,paradise except by ,god's mercy8 ,he said1 ,no1 none enter except by ,god's favor3 this he said thrice4 ,i said1 ,you1 also1 ,o ,prophet6 will you not enter into paradise1 excepting by ,god's compassion8 ,then the ,prophet put his hand on his head1 and said1 ,i shall not enter1 except ,god cover me with his mercy3 this he said thrice4 ,a man asked the ,prophet what was the mark whereby a man might know the reality of his faith4 ,he said1 ,if thou derive pleasure from the good which thou hast done1 and be grieved for the evil which thou hast committed1 thou art a true believer4 ,the man said1 ,what doth a fault really consist in8 ,he said1 ,when anything pricketh thy conscience1 forsake it4 ,i am no more than man3 when ,i order you anything with respect to religion1 receive it2 and when ,i order you about the affairs of the world1 then ,i am nothing more than man4 ,,arabic ,,literature ,,early ,,history ,,and ,,science ,o ,thou who diest not1 have mercy on him who dies4 ,,the ,,golden ,,meadows ,,of ,,masoudi4 ,,arabic ,,literature ,,early ,,history ,,and ,,science 7,,introduction7 ,among the early chronicles of the ,arabs1 as we have already stated1 by far the most celebrated is the many-volumed work of ,masoudi1 called1 the ,book of ,golden ,meadows4 ,it is a collection of interesting and sometimes scandalous anecdotes about anything and everything in the past1 but chiefly about the earlier caliphs4 ,these1 with true ,eastern subtlety1 ,masoudi criticises where criticism will be safe1 in order that he may praise with a convincing air where he thinks praise will be especially pleasing to the powerful of his own day4 ,in other words1 the author is an accomplished courtier as well as a witty and entertaining writer4 ,his book begins1 as do all ,arab books1 with the formula1 ,in the name of the most merciful ,god1 followed by the usual preface praising ,mohammed and the author's own work1 and explaining its origin4 ,then follow1 chronologically arranged1 the anecdotes of which we quote some that refer to the best-known caliphs4 ,masoudi himself was of the genuine ,arab blood1 a man of prominence descended from one of the comrades of ,mohammed4 ,he was born at ,bagdad1 but was1 like many of his countrymen1 a wanderer4 ,after visiting all lands1 he finally selected ,egypt as his dwelling-place1 and there died1 probably in ,a4,d4 #ieg4 ,al ,bukhari and other earlier travelers had collected all the tales of the ,prophet1 so ,masoudi devoted himself to gathering other legends4 ,from the vast bulk of these he made a thirty-volume historical work1 most of which has disappeared4 ,he then selected from this the material for a briefer work1 and then1 by a third process of distillation1 gathered the best of his anecdotes into the ,golden ,meadows4 ,of the more careful historians and genuine scientists who followed1 ,avicenna1 from whose philosophical work we give an extract here1 must assuredly be ranked the first4 ,,early ,,history ,,and ,,science ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,golden ,,meadows ,,and ,,of ,,mines ,,of ,,precious ,,stones ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,merciful ,,god1 ,,pitiful ,,and ,,helpful3 ,let us praise ,god1 whose works we should study1 and celebrate and glorify4 ,may ,god grant his blessing and his peace to ,mohammed1 chief of the prophets1 and to all his holy posterity4 ,,the ,,caliphate ,,of ,,abu ,,bekr1 ,,the ,,truthful ,abu ,bekr surpassed all the ,mohammedans in his austerity1 his frugality1 and the simplicity of his life and outward appearance4 ,during his rule he wore but a single linen garment and a cloak4 ,in this simple dress he gave audience to the chiefs of the noblest ,arab tribes and to the kings of ,yemen4 ,the latter appeared before him dressed in richest robes1 covered with gold embroideries and wearing splendid crowns4 ,but at sight of the ,caliph1 shamed by his mingling of pious humility and earnest gravity1 they followed his example and renounced their gorgeous attire4 ,,the ,,caliphate ,,of ,,al ,,mansur1 ,,the ,,builder ,,of ,,bagdad ,al ,mansur1 the third ,caliph of the house of ,abbas1 succeeded his brother ,es-,saffah 7'the blood-shedder7 ,a4,d4 #ged4 ,he was a prince of great prudence1 integrity1 and discretion2 but these good qualities were sullied by his extraordinary covetousness and occasional cruelty4 ,he patronized poets and learned men1 and was endowed with a remarkable memory4 ,it is said that he could remember a poem after having only once heard it4 ,he also had a slave who could commit to memory anything that he had heard twice1 and a slave-girl who could do the same with what she had heard three times4 ,one day there came to him a poet bringing a congratulatory ode1 and ,al ,mansur said to him3 ,if it appears that anybody knows it by heart1 or that any one composed it--that is to say1 that it was brought here by some other person before thee--will give thee no recompense for it2 but if no one knows it1 we will give thee the weight in money of that upon which it is written4 ,so the poet repeated his poem1 and the ,caliph at once committed it to memory1 although it contained a thousand lines4 ,then he said to the poet3 ,listen to it from me1 and he recited it perfectly4 ,then he added3 ,and this slave1 too1 knows it by heart4 ,this was the case1 as he had heard it twice1 once from the poet and once from the ,caliph4 ,then the ,caliph said3 ,and this slave-girl1 who is concealed by the curtain1 she also recollects it4 ,so she repeated every letter of it1 and the poet went away unrewarded4 ,another poet1 ,el ,asmay1 was among the intimate friends and table-companions of the ,caliph4 ,he composed some very difficult verses1 and scratched them upon a fragment of a marble pillar1 which he wrapped in a cloak and placed on the back of a camel4 ,then he disguised himself like a foreign ,arab1 and fastened on a face-cloth1 so that nothing was visible but his eyes1 and came to the ,caliph and said3 ,verily ,i have lauded the ,commander of the ,faithful in a ',kasidah' 7ode74 ,then said ,al ,mansur3 ,o brother of the ,arabs6 if the poem has been brought by any one beside thee1 we will give thee no recompense for it2 otherwise we will bestow on thee the weight in money of that upon which it is written4 ,so ,el ,asmay recited the ,kasidah1 which1 as it was extraordinarily intricate and difficult1 the ,caliph could not commit to memory4 ,he looked toward the slave and the girl1 but they had neither of them learned it4 ,so he cried3 ,o brother of the ,arabs6 bring hither that whereon it is written1 that we may give thee its weight4 ,then said the seeming ,arab3 ,o my ,lord6 of a truth ,i could find no paper to write it upon2 but ,i had amongst the things left me at my father's death a piece of a marble column which had been thrown aside as useless1 so ,i scratched the ,kasidah upon that4 ,then the ,caliph had no help for it but to give him its weight in gold1 and this nearly exhausted his treasury4 ,the poet took it and departed4 ,when he had gone away1 the ,caliph said3 ,it forces itself upon my mind that this is ,el ,asmay4 ,so he commanded him to be brought back1 and lo6 it was ,el ,asmay1 who said3 ,o ,commander of the ,faithful6 verily the poets are poor and are fathers of families1 and thou dost debar them from receiving anything by the power of thy memory and the memories of this slave and this slave-girl4 ,but wert thou to bestow upon them what thou couldst easily spare1 they might with it support their families1 and it could not injure thee4 ,one day the poet ,thalibi recited an ode in the presence of ,al ,mansur1 hoping for a reward4 ,when he had finished1 the ,caliph said to him3 ,will you have three hundred dinars from my treasury1 or hear three wise sayings from my lips8 ,oh1 said the poet1 anxious to curry favor with his master1 durable wisdom is better than transitory treasure4 ,very well1 said the ,caliph1 the first word of wisdom is3 ,when your garment is worn1 don't sew on a new patch1 for it looks badly4 ,alas6 alas6 wailed the poet1 there go a hundred dinars at one blow4 ,the ,caliph smiled1 and continued3 ,the second piece of advice is3 ,when you anoint your beard1 don't anoint the bottom of it1 lest you soil your clothes4 ,ah6 sighed the poet1 there go the second hundred4 ,again the ,caliph smiled1 and continued3 ,the third piece of advice---- ,o ,caliph1 cried the poet in an agony3 keep the third piece of advice to yourself and let me have the last hundred dinars4 ,then the ,caliph laughed outright and ordered five hundred dinars to be paid him from the treasury4 ,al ,mansur and ,abu ,muslim ,abu ,muslim was one of the chief generals of ,es-,saffah1 ,al ,mansur's brother and predecessor4 ,on his accession ,al ,mansur became jealous of ,abu ,muslim's great power and influence1 but sent him notwithstanding to put down a revolt raised by ,abd ,allah1 the son of ,ali4 ,after several battles1 ,abd ,allah fled and took refuge in ,bassorah1 the whole of his camp and treasure falling into the hands of ,abu ,muslim4 ,al ,mansur sent ,yaktin bin ,musa to take charge of the treasure4 ,on appearing before ,abu ,muslim1 ,yaktin said to him3 ,peace be to thee1 ,emir6 ,a murrain on thee1 son of a prostitute6 answered the general4 ,they can use me to shed my blood1 but not to guard a treasure4 ,my lord1 answered the messenger1 what has put such thoughts into your head8 ,has not thy master1 answered ,abu ,muslim1 sent thee to confiscate all the treasure which has come into my possession8 ,may my wife be divorced forever1 said the ,caliph's agent1 if he has not sent me simply and solely to congratulate you upon your victory and success6 ,on these words ,abu ,muslim embraced him and made him sit by his side4 ,notwithstanding this1 however1 when he had bidden him farewell1 he said to his officers3 ,by ,allah6 ,i know this man will divorce his wife1 simply out of fidelity to his master4 ,when he had resolved to revolt against ,al ,mansur1 ,abu ,muslim left ,mesopotamia1 and set out for ,khorassan2 while on his part ,al ,mansur left ,anbar1 and encamped near the city of ,rumiyeh4 ,from thence he sent the following message to ,abu ,muslim3 ,i wish to consult you on matters which can not be confided to a letter2 come hither1 and ,i shall not detain you long4 ,abu ,muslim read the letter1 but would not go4 ,al ,mansur then sent to him ,djerir1 son of ,yezid1 the most accomplished diplomatist of his time1 who had already made the acquaintance of ,abu ,muslim in ,khorassan4 ,when ,djerir came into ,abu ,muslim's presence1 he addressed him as follows3 ,my lord1 you have fought hitherto faithfully for the ,abbassides 7,al ,mansur's family72 why should you now turn against them8 ,no information has reached the ,caliph which should inspire you with any sort of fear2 you have really1 in my belief1 no reason to pursue this line of conduct4 ,abu ,muslim was on the point of promising to return with him1 when one of his intimates pressed him not to do so4 ,my friend1 the chief answered him1 ,i can resist the suggestions of the devil1 but not those of a man like this4 ,and in fact ,djerir did not cease his persuasions till he had induced him to proceed to the ,caliph4 ,abu ,muslim had consulted astrologers1 who told him that he was to destroy a dynasty1 create a dynasty1#a and be slain in the land of ,rum 7,asia ,minor74 ,al ,mansur was then at ,rumaiyat al-,madain1 a place founded by one of the ,persian kings1 and ,abu ,muslim never suspected that he should meet with his death there1 as he fancied that it was ,asia ,minor which was meant by the oracle4 ,on entering into ,al ,mansur's presence1 he met with a most favorable reception1 and was then told to retire to his tent2 but the ,caliph only waited a favorable opportunity to take him unawares4 ,abu ,muslim then rode a number of times to visit ,al ,mansur1 whose manner appeared less cordial than before4 ,at last he went to the palace one day1 and1 being informed that the ,caliph was making his ablutions previously to his prayers1 sat down in an antechamber4 ,in the meanwhile ,al ,mansur had posted some persons behind a curtain near to the sofa where ,abu ,muslim was sitting1 with the orders not to appear till the ,caliph clapped his hands4 ,on this signal they were to strike off ,abu ,muslim's head4 ,al ,mansur then took his seat on the throne1 and ,abu ,muslim1 being introduced1 made his salutation1 which the ,caliph returned4 ,al ,mansur then permitted him to sit1 and1 having commenced the conversation1 proceeded to level sundry reproaches against him4 ,thou hast done this1 said he1 and thou hast done that4 ,why does my lord speak so to me1 replied ,abu ,muslim1 after all my efforts and services8 ,son of a prostitute6 exclaimed ,al ,mansur1 thou owest thy success to our own good fortune4 ,had a negress slave been in thy place1 she would have done as much as thou6 ,was it not thou who soughtest to obtain in marriage my aunt1 ,aasiya1 pretending indeed that thou wast a descendant of ,salit1 the son of ,abd ,allah ,ibn ,abbas8 ,thou hast undertaken1 infamous wretch6 to mount where thou canst not reach4 ,on this ,abu ,muslim seized him by the hand1 which he kissed and pressed1 offering excuses for his conduct2 but ,al ,mansur shouted3 ,may ,god not spare me if ,i spare thee6 ,he then clapped his hands1 on which the assassins rushed out upon ,abu ,muslim and cut him to pieces with their swords1 ,al ,mansur exclaiming all the time3 ,god cut your hands off1 rascals6 ,strike6 ,on receiving the first blow ,abu ,muslim said3 ,commander of the ,faithful1 spare me that ,i may be useful against thy enemies4 ,the ,caliph replied3 ,may ,god never spare me if ,i do6 ,where have ,i a greater enemy than thee8 ,when ,abu ,muslim was slain1 his body was rolled up in a carpet1 and soon after ,al ,mansur's general1 ,jafar ,ibn ,hanzala1 entered4 ,what think you of ,abu ,muslim8 the ,caliph said to him4 ,commander of the ,faithful1 answered the other1 if you have ever the misfortune to pull a single hair out of his head1 there is no resource for you but to kill him1 and to kill him1 and to kill him again4 ,god has given thee understanding1 replied ,al ,mansur3 here he is in the carpet4 ,on seeing him dead1 ,hanzala said3 ,commander of the ,faithful1 count this as the first day of your reign4 ,al ,mansur then recited this verse3 ,he threw away his staff of travel1 and found repose after a long journey4 ,after this he turned toward the persons present1 and recited these lines over the prostrate body3 ,thou didst pretend that our debt to thee could never be paid6 ,receive now thy account in full1 ,o ,abu ,mujrim4#b ,drink of that draught which thou didst so often serve to others a draught more bitter to the throat than gall4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,abu ,,mustem4 ,the ,favorite ,counsellor of the ,caliph ,al ,mansur1 slain for presuming to imitate the ,caliph4 ,al ,mansur and ,ibn al ,mukaffa ,ibn al ,mukaffa1 the translator of the book ,kalilah and ,dimnah from ,pehlevi into ,arabic1 was one of the most learned men during the reign of ,al ,mansur1 but suspected of ,zendikism1 or free-thinking4 ,al ,mansur is reported to have said3 ,i never found a book on ,zendikism which did not owe its origin to ,ibn al ,mukaffa4 ,the latter used to be a thorn in the side of ,sofyan1 the governor of ,basra4 ,as ,sofyan had a large nose1 ,ibn al ,mukaffa used to say to him when he visited him3 ,how are you both8 meaning him and his nose4 ,sofyan once said3 ,i had never reason to repent keeping silence4 ,and ,ibn al ,mukaffa replied3 ,dumbness becomes you2 why should you repent of it8 ,these gibes rankled in ,sofyan's mind1 and ere long he had an opportunity of glutting his vengeance on ,ibn al ,mukaffa4 ,abdallah1 the uncle of ,al ,mansur1 had revolted against his nephew1 and aspired to the ,caliphate2 but being defeated by ,abu ,muslim1 who had been sent against him at the head of an army1 he took to flight1 and dreading the vengeance of ,al ,mansur1 lay concealed at the house of his brothers1 ,sulaiman and ,isa4 ,these two then interceded for him with the ,caliph1 who consented to forgive what had passed2 and it was decided that a letter of pardon should be granted by ,al ,mansur4 ,on coming to ,basra the two brothers told ,ibn al ,mukaffa1 who was secretary to ,isa1 to draw up the letter of pardon1 and to word it in the strongest terms1 so as to leave no pretext to ,al ,mansur for making an attempt against ,abdallah's life4 ,ibn al ,mukaffa obeyed their directions1 and drew up the letter in the most binding terms1 inserting in it1 among others1 the following clause3 ,and if at any time the ,commander of the ,faithful act perfidiously toward his uncle1 ,abdallah ,ibn ,ali1 his wives shall be divorced from him1 his horses shall be confiscated for the service of ,god in war1 his slaves shall become free1 and the ,moslems loosed from their allegiance to him4 ,the other conditions of the deed were expressed in a manner equally strict4 ,al ,mansur1 having read the paper1 was highly displeased1 and asked who wrote it4 ,on being informed that it was ,ibn al ,mukaffa1 his brother's secretary1 he sent a letter to ,sofyan1 the governor of ,basra1 ordering him to put ,ibn al ,mukaffa to death4 ,sofyan was already filled with rancor against ,ibn al ,mukaffa1 for the reasons mentioned above4 ,he summoned him1 and1 when he appeared1 reminded him of his gibes4 ,emir6 exclaimed ,ibn al ,mukaffa1 ,i implore you in the name of ,god to spare my life4 ,may my mother be disgraced1 replied ,sofyan1 if ,i do not kill thee in a manner such as none was ever killed in before4 ,on this he ordered an oven to be heated1 and the limbs of ,ibn al ,mukaffa to be cut off1 joint by joint2 these he cast into the oven before his eyes1 and he then threw him in bodily1 and closed the oven on him1 saying2 ,it is not a crime in me to punish you thus1 for you are a ,zindik 7free-thinker7 who corrupted the people4 ,sulaiman and ,isa1 having made inquiries about their secretary1 were informed that he had gone into the palace of ,sofyan in good health and that he had not come out4 ,they therefore cited ,sofyan before ,al ,mansur1 and brought him with them in chains4 ,witnesses were produced1 who declared that they saw ,ibn al ,mukaffa enter ,sofyan's palace1 and that he never came out after1 and ,al ,mansur promised to examine into the matter4 ,he then said to them3 ,suppose that ,i put ,sofyan to death in retaliation for the death of ,ibn al ,mukaffa1 and that ,ibn al ,mukaffa himself then came forth from that door 7pointing to one which was behind him7 and spoke to you--what should ,i do to you in that case8 ,i should put you to death in retaliation for the death of ,sofyan4 ,on this the witnesses retraced their evidence1 and ,isa and ,sulaiman ceased to speak of their secretary1 knowing that he had been killed by order of ,al ,mansur1 who1 disregarding his promise1 cast ,abdallah ,ibn ,ali into prison4 ,terrible as was the wrath of ,al ,mansur when roused1 there were not wanting on occasion those among his subjects who had the courage to rebuke him4 ,once the ,caliph was addressing an audience at ,damascus1 and said3 ,o ye people6 it is incumbent on you to give praise to the ,most ,high that he has sent me to reign over you4 ,for verily since ,i began to reign over you1 he has taken away the plague which had come amongst you4 ,but a certain ,arab cried out to him3 ,of a truth ,allah is too merciful to give us both thee and the plague at one time6 ,on another occasion the theologian ,malik ,ibn ,anas relates the following3 ,one day the ,caliph ,mansur sent for me and my friend ,ibn ,taous1 against whom he was known to entertain a grudge4 ,when we entered the presence-chamber1 we beheld the executioner with his sword drawn and the leather carpet spread1 on which it was customary to behead criminals4 ,the ,caliph signed to us to seat ourselves1 and when we had done so he remained a long time with his head bent in meditation4 ,he then raised it1 and turning to ,ibn ,taous1 said3 ',recite me a saying of the ,prophet1 on whom be peace4' ,ibn ,taous replied3 ',the ,prophet of ,god has said1 ,the worst punished criminals in the day of judgment will be those to whom ,god has entrusted authority and who have abused it4' ,the ,caliph was silent1 and there was a pause4 ,i trembled1 and drew my garments close round me1 lest any of the blood of ,ibn ,taous1 whom ,i expected to see instantly executed1 should spurt upon them4 ,then the ,caliph said to ,ibn ,taous3 ',hand me that ink-pot4' ,but he never stirred4 ',why don't you hand it8' asked the ,caliph4 ',because1' he said1 ',i fear you may write some wrong order1 and ,i do not wish to share the responsibility4' ',get up and go1' the ,caliph growled4 ',precisely what we were desiring1' answered ,ibn ,taous1 of whose courage and coolness ,i from that day formed a high opinion4 ,another bold rebuker of ,al ,mansur was the saint and mystic1 ,amr ,ibn ,obaid1 of whom it was said that he had been educated by the angels and brought up by the prophets4 ,before ,al ,mansur's elevation to the ,caliphate1 ,amr ,ibn ,obaid had been his companion and intimate friend4 ,when ,mansur came to the throne ,amr went one day into his presence1 and was told by him to draw near and sit down4 ,the ,caliph then asked to hear an exhortation from him4 ,amr addressed him an admonition1 in which he said1 among other things3 ,the power which thou now wieldest1 had it remained in the hands of thy predecessors1 would never have come to thee4 ,be warned1 then1 of that night which shall give birth to a day never more to be followed by another night4 ,when ,amr rose to depart1 ,al ,mansur said3 ,we have ordered ten thousand pieces of silver to be given thee4 ,i stand not in need thereof1 replied ,amr4 ,by ,allah1 thou shalt take it6 exclaimed the ,caliph4 ,by ,allah1 ,i shall not take it6 answered the other4 ,on this ,al ,mansur's son1 ,al ,mahdi1 who happened to be present1 said to ,amr3 ,the ,commander of the ,faithful swears that a thing shall be done1 and yet thou art bold enough to swear that it shall not4 ,who is this youth8 said ,amr1 turning to ,al ,mansur4 ,he is the declared successor to the ,caliphate1 my son1 ,al ,mahdi1 replied ,mansur4 ,thou hast clothed him in raiment1 said ,amr1 which is not the raiment of the righteous1 and thou hast given him a name#c which he deserveth not1 and thou hast smoothed for him a path wherein the more profit the less heed4 ,al ,mansur then asked him if there was anything he wished1 and ,amr made answer3 ,send not for me1 but wait till ,i come to thee4 ,in that case1 said ,mansur1 thou wilt never meet me4 ,that1 replied ,amr1 is precisely what ,i desire4 ,he then withdrew1 and ,al ,mansur looked after him and said3 ,all of you walk with stealthy steps2 all of you are in pursuit of prey--all except ,amr ,ibn ,obaid6 ,how ,al ,mansur ,was ,tricked ,it has before been mentioned that ,al ,mansur1 disregarding the promise of pardon he had made to his uncle1 ,abdallah ,ibn ,ali1 who had revolted against him1 cast him into prison1 where he remained a long time4 ,when the ,caliph set out on the pilgrimage to ,mecca1 he committed ,abdallah to the care of ,isa ,ibn ,musa1 with private orders to put him to death4 ,isa1 not wishing to kill ,abdallah1 contented himself with concealing him1 sending a message to the ,caliph to say that he had been put to death4 ,this rumor spread about1 and the ,alides1 the partisans of ,abdallah1 petitioned ,al ,mansur on the subject4 ,the ,caliph declared that he had been committed to the care of ,isa4 ,the ,alides then went to ,isa1 and hearing from him that ,abdallah had been put to death1 came again with complaints to ,al ,mansur4 ,the latter feigned to be in a rage1 and exclaimed3 ,since ,isa has killed my uncle without my authorizing him to do so1 he shall perish in his turn4 ,the ,caliph secretly desired that ,isa should have perpetrated this murder1 so that he might have a reasonable pretext for killing him1 and thus ridding himself of two enemies at once4 ,he accordingly sent for ,isa1 and said1 ,is it true that you have killed my uncle8 ,yes1 replied ,isa2 you yourself ordered me to do so4 ,i never gave such an order6 cried the ,caliph4 ,my lord1 here is the letter you sent me4 ,i never wrote it1 said ,mansur4 ,isa1 seeing the mood the ,caliph was in1 and fearing for his own life1 confessed at last that the prisoner had been spared1 and was in safe-keeping4 ,the ,caliph then ordered him to hand ,abdallah over to the keeping of ,abou 'l ,azhar1 which was accordingly done1 and ,abdallah remained in prison till his death was decided on4 ,when ,abou 'l ,azhar came to execute the sentence1 he found ,abdallah with one of his female slaves4 ,he strangled him first1 but when he was proceeding to strangle the slave also1 she cried out3 ,servant of ,god1 ,i pray thee for another kind of death4 ,it was the only time1 ,abou 'l ,azhar said1 that ,i felt pity in carrying out a death-sentence4 ,i turned away my eyes while ,i gave the order to kill her4 ,she was strangled and placed by the side of her master4 ,i then had the house demolished1 and they remained buried in the ruins4 ,al ,mansur visited ,medina1 and said to his chamberlain1 ,ar-,rabi1 on entering the city3 ,find me some learned and intelligent person who can point out to me the chief mansions of the place3 it is now so long since ,i saw the dwellings of my family4 ,an intelligent youth was discovered by ,ar-,rabi1 and presented to the ,caliph4 ,during their excursion the guide did not make any observations unless asked by ,al ,mansur to do so1 but he then proceeded with great precision and eloquence to furnish every requisite information4 ,al ,mansur was so highly pleased with him that he ordered him a considerable sum of money1 but the payment was delayed so long that the youth found himself under the necessity of asking for it4 ,on being asked again to accompany ,al ,mansur1 he fulfilled his object in the following ingenious manner3 ,as they passed by the house which belonged to ,aatika1 the granddaughter of ,abu ,sofyan1 the young man said1 ,this1 ,o ,commander of the ,faithful1 is the house of that ,aatika to whom ,ibn ,muhammad al ,ansari alluded in these lines3 ',dwelling of ,aatika6 mansion which ,i avoid through dread of foes6 although my heart be fixed on thee1 ,i turn away and fly thee2 but yet unconsciously ,i turn toward thee again4' ,these words caused ,al ,mansur to reflect2 and he said to himself that the youth here must have some reason for giving information1 contrary to his habit1 without being asked for it4 ,he therefore turned over the leaves of the poem from which the verses were taken1 passage by passage1 till he came to the following line3 ,we see that you do what you promise1 but there are persons with deceitful tongues who promise but never perform4 ,he immediately asked his chamberlain if he had given the youth what had been awarded him1 and was informed by him that a particular circumstance1 which he mentioned1 had caused delay in the payment4 ,the ,caliph then ordered ,ar-,rabi to give him immediately the double of what had been promised4 ,the youth had most ingeniously hinted the circumstance1 and ,al ,mansur showed great penetration in perceiving it4 ,death of ,al ,mansur ,al ,mansur was in the habit of saying3 ,i was born in the month of ,z'ul hajja1 circumcised in it1 attained the ,caliphate in it1 and ,i think ,i shall die in the same month4 ,and so it befell4 ,fadl1 son of ,rabi1 relates the following3 ,i accompanied ,al ,mansur in the journey during which he died4 ,when we had arrived at one of the stages of the march he sent for me4 ,i found him seated in his pavilion1 with his face turned toward the wall4 ,he said to me3 ',have ,i not told you to prevent people coming into this room and writing doleful sentences upon the wall8' ',what do you mean1 ,prince8' ,i asked4 ',don't you see what is written on the wall8' ' ,abu ,jafar1#d thou art about to die2 thy years are fulfilled3 the will of ,god must be done4 ' ,abu ,jafar1 can any astrologer bind the decrees of ,god1 or art thou entirely blind8 ',truly1 ,prince1' ,i replied1 ',i can see no inscription on this wall3 its surface is smooth and quite white4' ',swear it1 by ,god6' he said4 ,i did so4 ',it is1 then1' he replied1 'a warning given me to prepare for my approaching demise4 ,let us hasten to reach the sacred territory1 that ,i may place myself under the protection of ,god1 and ask pardon for that wherein ,i have exceeded4' ,we continued our journey1 during which the ,caliph suffered great pain4 ,when we arrived at the well of ,maimun1 ,i told him the name of the place1 and that we had reached the sacred territory4 ,he said1 ',god be praised6' and died the same day4 ,,the ,,caliphate ,,of ,,al ,,mahdi ,al ,mahdi1 the third ,caliph of the ,abbasside dynasty1 succeeded his father1 ,abu ,jafar al ,mansur1 ,a4,d4 #ggd4 ,he was as prodigal as his father was avaricious1 and rapidly squandered his vast inheritance4 ,al ,mansur had appointed as his instructor1 before he succeeded to the throne1 ,sharki ,ibn ,kotami1 who was learned in all the lore and traditions of the ,arabs4 ,one evening ,al ,mahdi asked his preceptor to divert him with some amusing anecdote4 ,i obey1 ,prince4 ,may ,god protect you1 answered ,sharki4 ,they relate that a certain ,king of ,hirah had two courtiers whom he loved equally with himself4 ,they never quitted his society night or day1 in the palace or on a journey4 ,he took no decision without consulting them1 and his wishes coincided with theirs4 ,thus they lived together a long time2 but one evening the ,king1 having drunk to excess1 drew his sword from the sheath1 and1 rushing upon his two friends1 killed them2 then he fell into a drunken slumber4 ,the next morning1 when told of what he had done1 he cast himself upon the earth1 biting it in his fury1 weeping for his friends1 and bewailing the loss of them4 ,he fasted for some days1 and swore that for the rest of his life he would abstain from the beverage which had deprived him of reason4 ,then he had them buried1 and erected a shrine over their remains1 to which he gave the title1 ',el-,ghareiain' 7,the ,two ,effigies74 ,he commanded1 in addition1 that no persons should pass this monument without prostrating themselves4 ,now1 like the laws of the ,medes and ,persians1 every custom set up by a ,king of ,hirah could not be changed1 but became a hard-and-fast tradition1 handed on from generation to generation4 ,the command1 therefore1 of the ,king was rigidly obeyed3 his subjects1 of low and high degree1 never passed before the double tomb without prostrating themselves4 ,this usage gradually acquired the binding force of a religious rite4 ,the ,king had ordered that any one who refused to conform to it should be punished with death after expressing two wishes1 which would be granted1 no matter what they were4 ,one day a fuller passed1 bearing on his back a bundle of clothes and a mallet4 ,the guardians of the mausoleum ordered him to kneel down4 ,he refused4 ,they threatened him with death4 ,he persisted in his refusal4 ,they brought him before the ,king1 whom they informed of the matter4 ',why did you refuse to bow down8' asked the ,king4 ',i did bow down1' answered the man2 'they are lying4' ',no2 you are the liar6' said the ,king4 ',express two wishes2 they shall be granted1 and then you will die4' ',nothing1 then1 can save me from death after those men have accused me8' asked the fuller4 ',nothing4' ',very well1' replied the fuller1 'here is my wish3 ,i wish to strike the ,king on the head with this mallet4' ',fool6' answered the ,king4 ',it were better worth your while to let me enrich those whom you leave behind you4' ',no1' said the fuller2 ',i only wish to strike the ,king on the back of his head4' ,the ,king then addressed his ministers3 ',what do you think1' he said to them1 'of the wish of this madman8' ',your ,majesty1' they answered1 'you yourself have instituted this law3 your ,majesty knows better than any one that the violation of law is a shame1 a calamity1 a crime which involves damnation4 ,besides1 after having violated one law1 you will violate a second1 then a third2 your successors will do the same1 and all our laws will be profaned4' ,the ,king replied3 ',get this man to ask anything he likes2 provided he lets me off1 ,i am ready to grant all his requests1 even to the half of my kingdom4' ,they laid these proposals before the fuller1 but in vain2 he declared that he had no other wish but to strike the ,king4 ,the latter1 seeing that the man was thoroughly resolved1 convoked a public assembly4 ,the fuller was introduced4 ,he took his mallet and struck the ,king on the back of the head so violent a blow that he fell from his throne and lay stretched on the ground unconscious4 ,subsequently he lay ill with fever for six months1 and was so severely injured that he could only drink a drop at a time4 ,at last he got well1 recovered the use of his tongue and could eat and drink4 ,he asked for news of the fuller4 ,on being told that he was in prison1 he summoned him and said3 ',there is still a wish remaining to you3 express it1 so that ,i may order your death according to law4' ',since it is absolutely necessary that ,i must die1' replied the fuller1 ',i wish to strike you another blow on the head4' ,at these words the ,king was seized with dismay and exclaimed that it was all over with him4 ,at last he said to the fuller3 ',wretch6 renounce a claim which is profitless to you4 ,what advantage have you reaped from your first wish8 ,ask for something else1 and whatever it is1 ,i will grant it4' ',no1 said the man1 ',i only demand my right--the right to strike you once more4' ,the ,king again consulted his ministers1 who answered that the best thing for him was to resign himself to death1 in obedience to the law4 ',but1' said the ,king1 'if he strikes me again1 ,i shall never be able to drink any more2 ,i know what ,i have already suffered4' ',we can not help that1 your ,majesty1' answered the ministers4 ,finding himself in this extremity1 the ,king said to the fuller3 ',answer1 fellow6 that day when you were brought hither by the guardians of the mausoleum1 did not ,i hear you declare that you had prostrated yourself and that they had slandered you8' ',yes1 ,i did say so1' answered the fuller1 'but you would not believe me4' ,the ,king jumped from his seat1 embraced the fuller1 and exclaimed3 ',i swear that you are more truthful than these rascals1 and that they have lied at your expense4 ,i give you their place1 and authorize you to inflict upon them the punishment they have deserved4' ,al ,mahdi laughed heartily on hearing this story1 complimented the narrator1 and rewarded him generously4 ,the following anecdotes are related by ,faika1 the daughter of ,abd ,allah3 ,we were one day with the ,caliph ,al ,mahdi1 who had just returned from ,anbar1 to which he had made a pleasure excursion1 when ,ar-,kabi1 the chamberlain1 came in1 holding a piece of leather on which some words were written in charcoal1 and to which was attached a seal composed of clay mixed with ashes and bearing the impression of the ,caliph's signet-ring4 ',commander of the ,faithful1' said ,ar-,kabi1 ',i never saw anything more extraordinary than this document2 ,i received it from an ,arab of the desert who was crying out3 ,this is the ,commander of the ,faithful's letter6 ,show me where to find the man who is called ,ar-,rabi1 for it is to him that he told me to deliver it6' ,al ,mahdi took the letter and laughed2 he then said3 ',it is true3 this is my writing and this is my seal4 ,shall ,i relate how it happened8' ,to this we replied3 ',if it please the ,commander of the ,faithful4' ,then he said3 ',i went out to hunt yesterday evening when the shower was over4 ,the next morning a thick mist overwhelmed us1 and ,i lost sight of my companions2 ,i then suffered such cold1 hunger1 and thirst as ,god only knows1 and ,i lost my way besides4 ,at that moment came to my mind a form of prayer which my father1 ,al ,mansur1 had taught me1 saying that his father1 ,muhammad1 had learned it from his grandfather1 ,ali1 who had been taught it by his father1 ,abd ,allah1 the son of ,abbas4 ,it was this3 ,in the name of ,god1 and ,by the might of ,god6 ,we have no power or force but in ,god6 ,i fly to ,god for protection6 ,i confide in ,god3 ,god sufficeth me6 ,he protected1 sufficeth1 directeth1 and healeth1 from fire and flood1 from the fall of house1 and from evil death6 ',when ,i had uttered these words1 ,god raised up a light before me1 and ,i went toward it1 and lo6 ,i found this very ,arab of the desert in his tent1 with a fire which he had been just lighting up4 ,arab of the desert1 said ,i1 hast thou withal to treat a guest8 ,dismount6 said he4 ,then ,i dismounted1 and he said to his wife3 ,bring here that barley2 and she brought it4 ,grind it1 said he2 and she began to grind it4 ,i then said to him3 ,give me a drink of water2 and he brought me a skin in which was a little milk mixed with water1 and ,i drank thereof a drink such as ,i had never drunk before1 it was so sweet6 and he gave me one of his saddle-cloths1 and ,i laid my head on it1 and never did ,i sleep a sounder sleep4 ',on awaking1 ,i saw him seize on a poor miserable sheep and kill it1 when his wife said to him3 ,beware1 wretched man6 thou hast slain thyself and thy children2 our nourishment came from this sheep1 and yet thou hast killed it6 ,what then have we to live upon8 ,on this ,i said3 ,do not mind4 ,bring the sheep here2 and ,i opened it with the knife ,i wore in my boot1 and ,i took out the liver1 and having split it open1 ,i placed it upon the fire and ,i ate thereof4 ,i then said to him3 ,dost thou want anything8 ,i shall give thee a written order for it4 ,on this he brought me that piece of leather1 and ,i wrote on it with a bit of burnt wood which ,i picked up at his feet that very note4 ,i then set this seal on it1 and told him to go and ask for one ,ar-,rabi1 to whom he was to give it4' ,this note contained an order for five hundred thousand dirhems1 and ,al ,mahdi exclaimed on hearing it3 ',by ,allah6 ,i meant only fifty thousand1 but since five hundred thousand are written in it1 ,i shall not diminish the sum one single dirhem2 and were there no more in the treasury1 he should have it4 ,so give him beasts of burden1 and let him take it away4' ,in a very short time that ,arab had numerous flocks of camels and sheep1 and his dwelling became a halting-place for those who were going on the pilgrimage1 and it received the name of the ',dwelling of the host of ,al ,mahdi1 the ,commander of the ,faithful4' ,on another occasion it is recorded that ,al ,mahdi went out hunting1 and his horse ran away with him until he came to the hut of an ,arab4 ,and the ,caliph cried3 ,o ,arab6 hast thou wherewith to feed a guest8 ,the ,arab replied1 ,yes1 and produced for him a barley loaf1 which ,al ,mahdi ate2 then he brought some wine in a bottle1 and gave him to drink4 ,and when ,al ,mahdi had drunk it1 he said ,o brother of the ,arabs1 dost thou know who ,i am8 ,no1 by ,allah1 he replied4 ,i am one of the personal attendants of the ,commander of the ,faithful1 said ,al ,mahdi4 ,may ,allah prosper thee in thy situation6 returned the ,arab4 ,then he poured out a second glass1 and when ,al ,mahdi had drunk it1 he cried3 ,o ,arab1 dost thou know who ,i am8 ,he answered3 ,thou hast stated that thou art one of the personal attendants of the ,commander of the ,faithful4 ,no1 said ,al ,mahdi1 but ,i am one of the chief officers of the ,commander of the ,faithful4 ,may thy country be enlarged and thy wishes fulfilled6 exclaimed the ,arab4 ,then he poured out a third glass for him1 and when ,al ,mahdi had drained it1 he said3 ,o ,arab6 dost thou know who ,i am8 ,the man replied3 ,thou hast made me believe thou art one of the chief officers of the ,commander of the ,faithful4 ,not so1 said ,al ,mahdi1 but ,i am the ,commander of the ,faithful himself4 ,then the ,arab took the bottle and put it away and said3 ,by ,allah6 wert thou to drink the fourth1 thou wouldst declare thyself to be ,mohammed the ,prophet of ,god6 ,then ,al ,mahdi laughed till he could laugh no more4 ,and lo6 the horsemen surrounded them1 and the ,princes and nobles dismounted before him1 and the heart of the ,arab stood still4 ,but ,al ,mahdi said to him3 ,fear not6 thou hast done no wrong4 ,and he ordered a robe and a sum of money to be given him4 ,al ,mahdi and ,his ,vizier ,yakub ibn ,daud ,when ,al ,mahdi's father1 ,al ,mansur1 died1 he left in the treasury nine hundred million and sixty thousand dirhems 7#aab1ejg1ejj71 and ,abu ,obaid ,allah1 the first ,vizier of ,al ,mahdi1 advised the ,caliph to be moderate in his expenses and to spare the public money4 ,when ,abu ,obaid ,allah was deposed1 his successor1 ,yakub ibn ,daud1 flattered the inclinations of the ,caliph1 and encouraged him to spend money1 enjoy all sorts of pleasures1 drink wine1 and listen to music4 ,by this means he succeeded in obtaining the entire administration of the ,state4 ,one of the poets of the time composed an ode containing the following lines3 ,family of ,abbas6 your ,caliphate is ruined6 ,if you seek for the ,vicar of ,god1 you will find him with a wine-flask on one side and a lute on the other4 ,abu ,haritha1 the guardian of the treasure-chambers1 seeing that they had become empty1 waited on ,al ,mahdi with the keys1 and said3 ,since you have spent all your treasures1 what is the use of my keeping these keys8 ,give orders that they be taken from me4 ,al ,mahdi replied3 ,keep them still1 for money will be coming in to you4 ,he then dispatched messengers to all quarters in order to press the payment of the revenues1 and in a very short time these sums arrived4 ,they were so abundant that ,abu ,haritha had enough to do in receiving them and verifying the amount4 ,during three days he did not appear before ,al ,mahdi1 who at length said3 ,what is he about1 that silly ,bedouin ,arab8 ,being informed of the cause which kept him away1 he sent for him and said3 ,what prevented your coming to see us8 ,the arrival of cash1 replied the other4 ,how foolish it was in you1 said ,al ,mahdi1 to suppose that money would not come in to us6 ,commander of the ,faithful1 replied ,abu ,haritha1 if some unforeseen event happened which could not be surmounted without the aid of money1 we should not have time to wait till you sent to have the cash brought in4 ,it is related that ,al ,mahdi made the pilgrimage one year1 and passed by a milestone on which he saw something written4 ,he stopped to see what it was1 and read the following line3 ,o ,mahdi6 you would be truly excellent if you had not taken for a favorite ,yakub1 the son of ,daud4 ,he then said to a person who was with him3 ,write underneath that3 ',it shall still be so1 in spite of the fellow who wrote that--bad luck attend him6' ,on his return from the pilgrimage1 he stopped at the same milestone1 because the verse had probably made an impression on his mind2 and such1 in fact1 appears to have been the case1 for very soon after he let his vengeance fall on ,yakub4 ,rumors unfavorable to this minister had greatly multiplied4 ,his enemies had discovered a point by which he might be attacked1 and they reminded the ,caliph of his having seconded ,ibn ,abd ,allah the ,alide#e in the revolt against ,al ,mansur4 ,one of ,yakub's servants informed ,al ,mahdi that he had heard his master say3 ,the ,caliph has built a pleasure-house1 and spent on it fifty millions of dirhems 7#f1bej1jjj7 out of the public money4 ,the fact was that ,al ,mahdi had just founded the town of ,isabad4 ,another time ,al ,mahdi was about to execute some project when ,yakub said to him3 ,commander of the ,faithful1 that is mere profusion4 ,to this ,al ,mahdi answered3 ,evil betide you6 does not profusion befit persons of a noble race8 ,at last ,yakub got so tired of the post which he filled that he requested of ,al ,mahdi permission to give it up1 but that favor he could not obtain4 ,al ,mahdi then wished to try if he was still inclined toward the party of the ,alides1 and sent for him1 after taking his seat in a salon of which all the furniture was red4 ,he himself had on red clothes1 and behind him stood a young female slave dressed in red2 before him was a garden filled with roses of all sorts4 ,tell me1 ,yakub1 said he1 what do you think of this salon of ours8 ,the other replied3 ,it is the very perfection of beauty4 ,may ,god permit the ,commander of the ,faithful to enjoy it long6 ,well1 said ,al ,mahdi1 all that it contains is yours1 with this girl to crown your happiness1 and1 moreover1 a sum of one hundred thousand dirhems 7#ab1ejj74 ,yakub invoked ,god's blessing on the ,caliph1 who then said to him3 ,i have something to ask of you4 ,on this1 ,yakub stood up from his seat1 and exclaimed3 ,commander of the ,faithful1 such words can only proceed from anger4 ,may ,god protect me from your wrath4 ,al ,mahdi replied3 ,i wish you to promise to do what ,i ask4 ,yakub answered3 ,i hear1 and shall obey4 ,swear by ,allah1 said the ,caliph4 ,he swore4 ,swear again by ,allah4 ,he swore4 ,swear again by ,allah4 ,he swore for the third time1 and the ,caliph then said to him3 ,lay your hand on my head and swear again4 ,yakub did so4 ,al ,mahdi1 having thus obtained from him the firmest promise that could be made1 said3 ,there is an ,alide1 and ,i wish you to deliver me from the uneasiness which he causes me1 and thus set my mind at rest4 ,here he is2 ,i give him up to you4 ,he then delivered the ,alide over to him1 and bestowed on him the girl1 with all the furniture that was in the salon and the money4 ,when the ,alide was alone with him1 he said3 ,yakub1 beware lest you have my blood to answer for before ,god4 ,i am descended from ,fatima1 the daughter of ,mohammed1 on whom ,god's blessings and favors always repose4 ,to this ,yakub replied3 ,tell me1 sir1 if there be good in you4 ,the ,alide answered3 ,if you do good to me1 ,i shall be grateful and pray for your happiness4 ,receive the money1 said ,yakub1 and take whatever road you like4 ,such a road1 said the ,alide1 naming it1 is the safest4 ,depart with my good wishes1 said ,yakub4 ,the girl heard all this conversation1 and told a servant of hers to go and relate it to ,al ,mahdi1 and to say in her name3 ,such is the conduct of one whom in giving me to him you preferred to yourself2 such is the return he makes you for your kindness4 ,al ,mahdi immediately had the road watched1 so that the ,alide was taken prisoner4 ,he then sent for ,yakub1 and said to him3 ,what has become of that man8 ,yakub replied3 ,i have delivered you from the uneasiness he gave you4 ,is he dead8 ,he is4 ,swear by ,allah4 ,i swear by ,allah4 ,lay your hand upon my head4 ,yakub did so1 and swore by his head4 ,al ,mahdi then said to an attendant3 ,boy1 bring out to us those who are in that room4 ,the boy opened the door1 and there the ,alide was seen with the very money which ,yakub had given him4 ,yakub was so much astounded that he was unable to utter a word4 ,your life1 said ,al ,mahdi1 is justly forfeited1 and it is in my power to shed your blood1 but ,i will not4 ,shut him up in the matbak4#f ,he had him confined in that dungeon1 and gave orders that no one should ever speak to him or to any other about him4 ,yakub remained there during the rest of ,al ,mahdi's reign 7over two years71 and during the reign of ,musa-al-,hadi1 the son of ,al ,mahdi1 and during five years and seven months of the reign of ,haroun al ,rashid4 ,al ,mahdi and the ,poet ,abu'l ,atahiyah ,some historians relate that the poet ,abu'l ,atahiyah had conceived a passion for ,otbah1 the slave of ,khayzuran1 the chief wife of the ,caliph4 ,this young girl complained to her mistress of the gossip to which this affair gave rise4 ,one day ,al ,mahdi found her seated near her mistress in tears4 ,he questioned her1 and having discovered the cause of her grief1 sent for ,abu'l ,atahiyah4 ,when the poet came and stood before him1 ,al ,mahdi said to him3 ,you are the author of this verse concerning ,otbah3 ',may ,god judge between me and my mistress1 since she shows me nothing but disdain and reproach6' ,he then continued3 ,what kindness has ,otbah ever shown you that you have the right to complain of her disdainfulness8 ,sire1 answered ,abu'l ,atahiyah1 ,i am not the author of that verse1 but of these3 ',o my camel1 carry me rapidly2 be not beguiled by what thou deemest repose-- ,carry me to a ,prince to whom ,god has given the gift of working miracles2 ,a ,prince who1 when the wind rises1 says1 ,o wind1 hast thou partaken of my benefits8 ,two crowns adorn his brow the crown of beauty and the diadem of humility4' ,al ,mahdi sat silent for some time1 looking at the ground1 which he tapped with his staff2 then he lifted his head and continued3 ,you have also said3 ',what does my mistress think upon when she displays her charms and allurements8 ,there is among the slaves of ,princes a young girl who conceals beneath her veil ,beauty itself4' ,how do you know what she conceals beneath her veil8 the ,caliph asked4 ,abu'l ,atahiyah replied in the same flattering style3 ,royalty has come to do him obeisance1 and trailing her robe majestically1 ,she only is fit for him1 as he for her4 ,but as the ,caliph continued to ply him with questions ,abu'l ,atahiyah became embarrassed in his answers1 and was condemned to expiate his temerity by a flogging4 ,he had just undergone his punishment when ,otbah met him in this piteous plight4 ,the poet reproached her thus3 ,praise be to thee1 ,otbah6 ,it is because of thee that the ,caliph has shed the blood of a man already dying of love4 ,tears started to ,otbah's eyes2 she ran sobbing to her mistress1 ,khayzuran1 and there met the ,caliph4 ,he asked why she wept1 and hearing she had seen the poet after his flagellation1 consoled her2 then he caused a sum of fifty thousand dirhems to be given to the former4 ,abu'l ,atahiyah distributed them to all those whom he met in the palace4 ,al ,mahdi1 being informed of his generosity1 asked him why he had thus disposed of the money he had just received from the ,caliph4 ,the poet answered3 ,i did not wish to profit by what my love had won4 ,al ,mahdi sent him fifty thousand more dirhems1 making him swear not to employ them in fresh benefactions4 ,another historian relates that ,abu'l ,atahiyah1 on a certain ,new ,year's ,day1 presented ,al ,mahdi with a ,chinese vase containing perfumes4 ,on the vase were engraved these verses3 ,my soul is attached to one of the good things of this world2 the accomplishment of its desires depends on ,god and ,al ,mahdi1 his ,vicar4 ,i despair of obtaining my object1 but thy contempt of the world and all which it contains reanimates my hope4 ,the ,caliph thought of giving him ,otbah1 when she said to him4 ,prince of the believers6 would you1 in spite of my privileges1 my rights1 and my services1 bestow me upon a pottery merchant--a man who makes money out of his poetry8 ,al ,mahdi then sent a message to the poet3 ,as to ,otbah1 you will never obtain her1 but ,i have ordered the vase you sent to be filled with money4 ,soon afterward ,otbah1 passing by1 found the poet disputing with the clerks of the treasury1 and maintaining that by money the ,caliph meant gold dinars1 while they alleged that he only intended silver dirhems4 ,if you really loved ,otbah1 she said to him1 you would not think of the difference between gold and silver4 ,death of ,al ,mahdi ,tabari1 the historian1 describes the death of ,al ,mahdi as taking place in the following tragic manner3 ,among his wives there were two for whom he seems to have entertained an equal degree of affection2 but as one of them seemed to the other to have the preference in his heart1 the latter1 whose name was ,hassanna1 conceived a bitter jealousy against her rival1 and determined to be avenged on her4 ,in order to accomplish her purpose1 she prepared a dish of confectionery1 in which she mixed a malignant poison1 and sent it as an offering to her rival4 ,as the damsel who was dispatched upon the errand happened to pass beneath one of the balconies of the palace1 ,al ,mahdi1 who was watching the sunset1 saw her4 ,the confectionery1 which was uncovered1 attracting his notice1 he asked the messenger whither she was bound4 ,she having informed him1 he took and ate heartily of it1 saying3 ,hassanna will1 ,i am sure1 be better pleased that ,i should partake of her sweets than any one else4 ,in a few hours he was a corpse4 ,,the ,,caliph ,,haroun ,,al ,,rashid ,haroun al ,rashid became ,caliph in the year ,a4,d4 #ghf1 and he ranks among the ,caliphs who have been most distinguished by eloquence1 learning1 and generosity4 ,during the whole of his reign he performed the pilgrimage to ,mecca or carried on war with the unbelievers nearly every year4 ,his daily prayers exceeded the number fixed by the law1#g and he used to perform the pilgrimage on foot1 an act which no previous ,caliph had done4 ,when he went on pilgrimage he took with him a hundred learned men and their sons1 and when he did not perform it himself he sent three hundred substitutes1 whom he appareled richly1 and whose expenses he defrayed with generosity4 ,his conduct generally resembled that of the ,caliph ,mansur1 but he did not imitate the parsimony of the latter4 ,he always repaid services done to him1 and that without much delay4 ,he was fond of poetry and poets1 and patronized literary and learned men4 ,religious controversies were hateful to him4 ,eulogy he relished highly1 especially eulogy by gifted poets1 whom he richly rewarded4 ,the historian ,asmai relates the following anecdote3 ,one day the ,caliph gave a feast in a magnificently decorated hall4 ,during the feast he sent for the poet ,abu'l ,atahiyah1 and commanded him to depict in verse the gorgeous scene4 ,the poet began3 ,live1 ,o ,caliph1 in the fulfilment of all thy desire1 in the shelter of thy lofty palace6 ,very good6 exclaimed ,rashid4 ,let us hear the rest4 ,the poet continued3 ,each morn and eve be all thy servitors swift to execute thy behests6 ,excellent6 said the ,caliph4 ,go on6 ,the poet replied3 ,but when the death-rattle chokes thy breath thou wilt learn1 alas6 that all thy delights were a shadow4 ,rashid burst into tears4 ,fadhl1 the son of ,yahya 7,haroun's ,vizier71 seeing this1 said to the poet3 ,the ,caliph sent for you to divert him1 and you have plunged him into melancholy4 ,let him be1 said ,rashid2 he saw us in a state of blindness1 and tried to open our eyes4 ,this ,prince treated learned men with great regard4 ,abou ,moawia1 one of the most learned men of his time1 related that when he was sitting one day at food with the ,caliph1 the latter poured water on his hands after the meal1 and said to him3 ,abou ,moawia1 do you know who has just washed your hands8 ,he answered3 ,no4 ,rashid informed him that it was himself4 ,abou ,moawia replied3 ,prince1 you doubtless act in this manner in order to do homage to learning4 ,you speak truth1 answered ,rashid4 ,ibrahim ,mouseli relates the following story3 ,rashid one day summoned all his musicians4 ,i and ,meskin of ,medina were among the performers4 ,rashid had partaken freely of wine1 and wished to hear performed an air which had suddenly occurred to his mind4 ,the officer stationed before the curtain which concealed the ,caliph told ,ibn ,jami to sing this piece4 ,the latter obeyed1 but did not succeed in pleasing the ,caliph4 ,each of the singers present attempted it1 but were no more successful than ,ibn ,jami4 ,then the officer1 addressing ,meskin1 said3 ',the ,commander of the ,faithful orders you to sing this air if you can do it properly4' ,meskin commenced at once to sing1 to the great surprise of the audience1 who could not understand how a musician like him had the courage to attempt1 before us1 an air which none of us had been able to render to the satisfaction of the ,caliph4 ,as soon as he had finished ,i heard ,rashid raise his voice and ask to hear it a second time4 ,meskin recommenced with a skill and spirit which won him everybody's applause4 ,the ,caliph congratulated and praised him to the skies2 then he had the curtain behind which he had been sitting drawn aside4 ',prince of the believers1' then said ,meskin to him1 'a strange story attaches to this piece'2 and at the invitation of the ,caliph he narrated it in these words3 ',i was formerly a slave of a member of the family of ,zobeir1 and carried on the trade of a tailor4 ,my master claimed from me a tax of two dirhems daily1 after paying which ,i was free to do what ,i liked4 ,i was passionately fond of singing4 ,one day a descendant of ,ali1 for whom ,i had just completed a tunic1 paid me two dirhems for it1 kept me to eat with him1 and made me drink generously4 ,as ,i left him ,i met a negress carrying her pitcher on her shoulder1 and singing the song you have just heard4 ,i was so delighted at it that1 forgetting everything else1 ,i said to her3 ,by the ,prophet1 ,i adjure thee to teach me that air4 ,by the ,prophet1 she answered1 ,i will not teach it unless you pay me two dirhems4 ',then1 ,prince of believers1 ,i took out the two dirhems1 with which ,i had intended to pay my daily tax1 and gave them to the negress4 ,she1 setting her pitcher down1 sat on the ground and1 keeping time with her fingers on the pitcher1 sang the piece1 and repeated it till it was well impressed on my memory4 ',i then proceeded to my master4 ,as soon as he saw me he demanded his two dirhems1 and ,i related my adventure to him4 ,scoundrel6 he said4 ,have ,i not warned you that ,i will take no excuse1 even if a farthing is missing8 ,saying this1 he laid me on the ground and1 with the utmost vigor of his arm1 gave me fifty strokes of a rod1 and1 as an additional disgrace1 caused my head and chin to be shaved4 ,verily1 ,o ,prince1 ,i passed a melancholy night4 ,the severe punishment ,i had undergone made me forget the piece ,i had learned1 and this was the saddest of all4 ,in the morning1 wrapping my head in a cloak1 ,i hid my large tailor's scissors in my sleeve1 and directed my steps to the spot where ,i had met the negress4 ,i waited there in perplexity1 not knowing her name nor her abode4 ,all at once ,i saw her coming2 the sight of her dispersed all my cares4 ,i approached her1 and she said to me3 ,by the ,lord of the ,kaaba1 you have forgotten the song6 ,yes1 ,i have1 ,i answered4 ,i told her how my head and chin had been shaved1 and offered her a reward if she would sing her song again4 ,by the ,prophet1 she answered1 ,i will not for less than two dirhems4 ',i took out my scissors and ran and pawned them for two dirhems1 which ,i gave her4 ,she put down her pitcher1 and began to sing as she had done the evening before2 but as soon as she began1 ,i said3 ,give me back the two dirhems2 ,i don't need your song4 ,by ,allah1 she said1 you shall not see them again2 don't think it4 ,then she added3 ,i am certain that the four dirhems you have spent will be worth to you four thousand dinars from the hand of the ,caliph4 ,then she resumed her song1 accompanying herself1 as before1 on her pitcher1 and did not cease repeating it till ,i had got it by heart4 ',we separated4 ,i returned to my master1 but in a state of great apprehension4 ,when he saw me he demanded his daily due1 while ,i stammered out excuses4 ,beast6 he shouted1 was not yesterday's lesson enough for you8 ,i wish to speak to you frankly and without falsehood1 ,i answered4 ,yesterday's and to-day's dirhems went in payment for a song2 and ,i began to sing it to him4 ,what6 he exclaimed1 you have known an air like that for two days and told me nothing of it8 ,may my wife be divorced if it is not true that ,i would have let you go yesterday if you had sung it to me6 ,your head and chin have been shaved--,i can not help that--but ,i let you off your tax till your hair grows again4' ,hearing this recital1 ,rashid laughed heartily1 and said to the musician3 ',i don't know which is better1 your song or your story2 ,i will see in my turn that the forecast of the negress is verified4' ,so ,meskin went out from the ,caliph's presence richer by four thousand dinars4 ,the ,barmecides1 ,viziers of ,haroun al ,rashid ,on attaining the ,caliphate1 ,rashid conferred the ,viziership on ,yahya1 son of ,khaled1 son of ,barmek4 ,yahya had served him as secretary before his accession to the throne1 and this was the foundation of the magnificence of the family of the ,barmecides1 whose commencement and whose tragic fall we are about to narrate4 ,the family of the ,barmecides had originally been ,zoroastrians in religion1 but from the time of their embracing ,islam they continued to be good ,mussulmen4 ,they were the crown and ornament of their age4 ,their generosity passed into a proverb2 adherents thronged to their court from every side1 and multitudes centered their hopes on them4 ,fortune showered upon them a prodigality of favors4 ,yahya and his sons were like brilliant stars1 vast oceans1 impetuous torrents1 beneficent showers4 ,every kind of talent and learning was represented in their court1 and men of worth received a hearty welcome there4 ,the world was revived under their administration1 and the empire reached its culminating point of splendor4 ,they were a refuge for the afflicted and a haven for the distressed4 ,the poet ,abou-,nowas said of them3 ,since the world has lost you1 ,o sons of ,barmek1 we no longer see the ways crowded with travelers at sunrise and sunset4 ,we have an example of the generosity of the ,barmecides in the following story1 related by ,salih bin ,muhran1 one of the intimate attendants of ,haroun al ,rashid3 ,one day ,haroun sent for me1 and when ,i arrived in his presence ,i saw that he was vexed and perplexed1 and full of thought1 and very much enraged4 ,when ,i stood still awhile he lifted up his head1 and said3 ',go this moment to ,mansur ,bin ,ziyad1 and before night thou must have from him ten thousand thousand dirhems1 and1 if not1 cut off his head and bring it to me2 and if thou fail in this1 ,i swear by the soul of ,mahdi ,i will command thy head to be severed from thy body4' ,i said3 ',may the life of the ,commander of the ,faithful be prolonged6 ,if he gives a part to-day1 and sends somewhat more to-morrow on the condition that he gives me a pledge for the payment of the whole----' ,he replied3 ',no6 ,if he does not give thee to-day ten thousand thousand dirhems in coined money1 bring me his head4 ,what concern hast thou in this matter8' ,when he said this ,i knew he was aiming at the life of ,mansur1 and ,i went out from him in great perplexity and distress1 saying1 ',o ,lord1 what has come to me8 ,it will be needful to slay ,mansur1 and he is one of the most worthy and best-known men of ,bagdad1 and has a numerous following4' ,at length ,i went to the house of ,mansur1 and1 taking him on one side1 told him the whole story as it had happened1 and what my commands were4 ,when he heard he wept aloud1 and fell at my feet1 saying3 ',in truth the ,commander of the ,faithful seeks my life2 for his courtiers and many others know there is no such sum in my house4 ,nor could ,i in my whole life bring together so much2 how1 then1 can ,i do it in one day8 ,but do thou show me one favor1 for ,god's sake-4 take me to my house1 that ,i may bid farewell to my children and followers and clansmen1 and ask forgiveness of my offenses from my companions and acquaintances4' ,i took him to his house1 as he desired1 and when his family and chief friends heard what had happened there was an outcry among them4 ,they wept and bewailed so that jinns and men1 and wild beasts and birds1 were sorrowful for them1 and my heart burned to see them4 ,at last he brought out what money and valuables he had1 amounting to two million dirhems1 and gave it to me1 saying3 ',in days past1 before ,haroun al ,rashid was ,caliph1 ,i often vexed ,yahya the ,barmecide1 and during this present reign also he suffered much annoyance and persecution from me4 ,but on a certain occasion he treated me with kindness1 and put my hand in his1 and ,i knew that he had forgiven my fault1 and that there was no feeling of revenge remaining in his heart2 and afterward he did me many kindnesses with the ,caliph4 ,if thou wilt deal kindly with me--his house is at the head of the way--take me there4 ,it may be his heart will be touched for me2 for all the members of his house are men of liberality1 and they desire that even their enemy and ill-wisher may take refuge with them1 that they may help him in his distress and misery4' ,i said3 ',thou speakest truly1 and it will be a delight to myself to take thee there4 ,come1 let us go4 ,by ,allah the ,most ,high1 it must needs be they will cause thee to rejoice4' ,when we arrived at the house of ,yahya1 he had just finished the afternoon prayer1 and was repeating the ,tesbih4#h ,when he saw ,mansur1 and he had explained to him his distress and misery1 ,yahya came up to me and inquired of me the state of the case1 which ,i revealed to him4 ,he comforted ,mansur1 and bade him keep up his heart2 ',for1' said he1 ',i will not be wanting in doing all that is in my power to help thee4' ,at the same time he called his treasurer1 and said to him3 ',bring me all that is in the treasury4' ,the treasurer brought all that he had of coined money and jewels1 and the amount was two hundred thousand dirhems4 ,then he wrote a letter to his eldest son1 ,fadhl1 bidding him send what money he had1 for that an unfortunate man was waiting for it4 ,when ,fadhl had read the note1 he immediately sent two hundred thousand dirhems4 ,then he wrote a note to ,jafar1 his younger son1 bidding him send immediately all the money he had4 ,he also sent three hundred thousand dirhems4 ,then he said to me3 ',take this money to the ,commander of the ,faithful1 and represent to him that ,i will send to-morrow three million dirhems more into his treasury4' ,i replied3 ',this is not in my orders4 ,to-day1 by the hour of evening prayer1 ,i must be in the presence of the ,caliph with the gold or the head4' ,when ,yahya heard this he sent for his slave ,otbah1 and bade her go to ,fatima1 the sister of the ,commander of the ,faithful1 and to explain the case to her4 ,when ,otbah had told ,fatima how the matter stood1 that lady1 who was a woman of much generosity1 took off a collar set with jewels which she had received from the ,caliph1 of which the value was estimated at two hundred thousand dinars of gold1 and sent it to ,yahya1 asking besides a thousand pardons that she could do no more4 ,when at last the ten million of dirhems was raised1 ,yahya delivered it all to porters1 and sent it by me to the ,caliph4 ,it was near the setting of the sun when ,i brought the money to ,haroun al ,rashid4 ,when he saw me1 he cried3 ',hast thou brought ,mansur8' ,i told him all that had passed1 whereupon he bade me send the money to the treasury and go for ,yahya4 ,when ,i had placed the money in the treasury1 ,i went to ,yahya and told him that the ,caliph had accepted the money1 and wished to see him4 ,he broke out into exclamations of gladness when he heard this1 and1 calling for ,mansur1 he said3 ',take courage1 for thou art saved from destruction4 ,the ,commander of the ,faithful has just asked for me1 and ,i will so contrive as to render him again favorably disposed toward thee4' ,then ,mansur's soul again returned to his body1 and he thanked ,yahya fervently4 ,when ,yahya arrived in the presence of the ,caliph and saw his face averted1 he was afraid2 for he thought3 ',perchance he will reprove me for my want of respect in releasing ,mansur4' ,so1 after some time1 he prayed for pardon of his offense1 and conciliated the ,caliph4 ,afterward he said3 ',wilt thou tell me what was the crime of which ,mansur was guilty8' ,the ,caliph replied3 ',his crime was his enmity against you and his evil-speaking concerning you4 ,for this reason ,i have long wished to strike off his head4 ,to-day ,i was so incensed that ,i commanded either that he should pay this money or that his head should be cut off4 ,but thou hast done as the generous always do4' ,yahya said3 ',may the life of the ,commander of the ,faithful be long6 ,for if the ,commander of the ,faithful had said1 ,the wealth of ,yahya and his sons is of my gift1 and this necklace1 too1 of my sister's is a gift of mine4 ,what has any one to do in this matter8 ,go and cut off ,mansur's head1 what could he have done and what could ,i have done8' ,this speech pleased ,haroun al ,rashid1 but he blamed ,yahya because he had asked for his sister's necklace1 and sent it to the treasury to meet the demand on ,mansur4 ,he also blamed his sister for giving away the necklace4 ,she replied3 ',it would have been shame if ,i had not answered the request of one who was in the place of a father to me4' ,this reply pleased the ,caliph1 and he restored to ,fatima the jeweled collar1 and ,yahya and ,mansur were again glad at heart4 ,the ,fall of the ,barmecides ,haroun al ,rashid had such an extraordinary affection to ,jafar the ,barmecide that he could not bear to be one hour apart from him4 ,rashid loved his own sister ,abbasah also with an extreme affection1 and could not bear to be long absent from her4 ,she was a woman of extraordinary beauty1 and exceeded all in science and knowledge4 ,zobeidah1 who was the chief favorite of the ,caliph1 and all her dependents were opposed to ,abbasah4 ,one day ,rashid said to ,jafar3 ,thou knowest how great is my affection to thee1 and also how greatly ,i love my sister ,abbasah1 and that ,i can not live without the company of either of you4 ,i have thought of an expedient whereby you may both accompany me in the same assembly--that a marriage take place between you4 ,that will legalize your meeting and authorize your beholding one another4 ,but all this is on condition that you never meet except ,i am a third in the party4 ,when ,jafar heard this1 the world on all sides grew black with darkness to his eyes4 ,distressed and confounded1 he fell at the feet of ,rashid1 and said3 ,commander of the ,faithful1 wilt thou slay me8 ,from the time of ,adam to our day no servant has been admitted to such confidence as that he should marry with the family of his lords and benefactors2 or if any one hath treacherously imagined such a thing1 very shortly he hath been reduced to nothingness1 and all men have counted him a bread-and-salt traitor4 ,and what sin hath thy slave committed1 ,o ,commander of the ,faithful1 that thou shouldest seek after his blood8 ,is this the reward of all my services and devotion8 ,and1 besides1 how should ,i1 the son of a ,persian ,guebre 7fire-worshiper71 be allied to the family of ,hashem and the nephews of the ,prophet--may the mercy of ,god be upon him and his family6--and by what right can ,i aspire to such a distinction8 ,if my father and mother heard of this1 they would mourn for me1 and my enemies would rejoice4 ,some days passed1 and he neither ate nor drank1 but all was of no avail4 ,he could not oppose the decrees of heaven and the ordainment of ,god by remedy or contrivance4 ,unable to help himself1 he submitted and consented to a marriage on the terms before mentioned4 ,when ,yahya1 the father of ,jafar and ,fadhl1 and his other brothers heard of this1 they were full of sorrow1 and looked for the reversal of their fortune and the downfall of their power4 ,these forebodings were soon justified4 ,the cruel commands of ,rashid to his favorite and his sister were disregarded1 and ,abbasah became a mother4 ,the birth of the child1 concealed for a time1 was revealed to ,rashid by a revengeful slave-girl whom ,abbasah had struck4 ,the ,caliph was intensely wroth1 but concealed his indignation for a time1 though betraying it at unguarded moments4 ,ahmed ,bin ,muhammad ,wasil1 who was one of his confidential attendants1 relates as follows3 ,one day ,i was standing before ,rashid in his private apartment when no one besides was there4 ,perfumes were burning1 and the place was filled with sweet odors4 ,haroun al ,rashid lay down to rest1 and wrapped his head in the skirt of his garment to keep his eyes cool1 when ,jafar the ,barmecide came in and told his business to the ,caliph1 receiving in return a gracious answer1 and retiring4 ,in those days the story of ,abbasah and her union with ,jafar was talked of currently among the people4 ,when ,jafar was gone ,rashid lifted his head out of his skirt1 and from his mouth came these words3 ',o ,god1 do thou so favor ,jafar the ,barmecide that he may kill me1 or make me quickly powerful over him that ,i may cut off his head from his body2 for with anger and jealousy against him ,i am near to destruction4' ,these words he spoke to himself1 but they reached my ears1 and ,i trembled within and without1 and ,i said to myself3 ',if the ,commander of the ,faithful knows that ,i have heard this1 he will not leave me alive4' ,suddenly ,haroun al ,rashid lifted up his head from its covering1 and said to me3 ',hast thou heard that which ,i said to myself just now8' ,i said3 ',i have not heard it4' ,the ,commander of the ,faithful said3 ',there is no one but thyself here1 and so truly as the censer is in thy hand1 thou hast heard all4 ,if thou care for thy life1 keep this secret concealed2 and if not1 ,i will strike off thy head4' ,i replied3 ',may the life of the ,commander of the ,faithful be long6 ,i have not heard any of these words4' ,and with this the ,caliph was satisfied4 ,it was not long after this that the blow fell on the ,barmecides4 ,on his return from one of his pilgrimages to ,mecca1 ,rashid came by water from ,hira to ,anbar1 on the ,river ,euphrates4 ,here he invited the three brothers ,fadhl1 ,jafar1 and ,mousa1 to his presence1 and1 having caressed them with extraordinary cordiality1 dismissed them once more to their quarters1 with rich khelats1 the customary robe of honor4 ,the ,caliph withdrew to his apartments1 and betook himself to his usual indulgence in wine4 ,in a little time he sent one of his domestics to inquire if ,jafar was employed in the same way4 ,finding that such was not the case1 ,rashid sent his attendant again to ,jafar1 urging him by the life of his master to imitate his example without further delay1 for that his wine seemed deprived of all its zest until he knew that his faithful ,jafar partook of the same enjoyment4 ,jafar felt1 however1 unaccountably alarmed and averse to such a gratification1 and1 reluctantly withdrawing to his chamber1 called for the wine4 ,it happened that he was attended by a favorite blind minstrel named ,abou ,zaccar1 to whom1 after a few goblets1 he could not forbear from communicating his apprehensions4 ,the minstrel treated them as merely imaginary1 urged his master to banish them from his thoughts1 and to resume his usual cheerfulness4 ,but ,jafar declared that he found it impossible to dispel the uneasiness which seemed to haunt him4 ,about the hour of evening prayer another messenger arrived from ,rashid with a present of nuts and sweetmeats for ,jafar1 as a relish to his wine1 from his own table4 ,when midnight came1 ,rashid called for ,mesrour1 his favorite domestic1 and directed him to bring ,jafar and strike off his head4 ,mesrour proceeded accordingly1 and entering ,jafar's apartment while ,abou ,zaccar was singing some ,arabic verses1 stood suddenly at the head of ,jafar1 who started involuntarily at his appearance4 ,mesrour told him that he was summoned to attend the ,caliph4 ,jafar entreated that he might be permitted to withdraw for a moment1 to speak to the women of his family4 ,this last indulgence was withheld1 ,mesrour observing that any instructions which he had to communicate might as well be delivered where he was4 ,this he was accordingly obliged to do1 after which he accompanied ,mesrour to his tent1 on entering which the latter immediately drew his sword4 ,jafar asked that the ,caliph's instructions might be explained to him1 and when he heard them1 cautioned ,mesrour to beware how he carried into execution an order which had evidently been given under the influence of wine1 lest1 when their sovereign should be restored to himself1 it might be followed by unavailing repentance and remorse4 ,he further adjured ,mesrour by the memory of their past friendship that he would return to the ,caliph's presence1 and require his final commands4 ,mesrour yielded to these entreaties1 and appeared before ,rashid1 whom he found expecting his return4 ,is this the head of ,jafar8 demanded the ,caliph4 ,jafar is at the door1 my lord1 replied ,mesrour1 with some trepidation4 ,i wanted not ,jafar1 said the ,caliph sternly2 ,i wanted his head4 ,this sealed the fate of the unhappy favorite4 ,mesrour immediately withdrew1 decapitated ,jafar in the antechamber1 and returned with his head1 which he laid at the ,caliph's feet4 ,he was then directed by ,rashid to keep that head by him till he should receive further orders4 ,in the meantime he was enjoined to proceed without delay and apprehend ,yahya1 his three sons1 ,fadhl1 ,muhammad1 and ,mousa1 and his brother ,muhammad4 ,these commands were immediately carried into execution4 ,the head of ,jafar was dispatched the next day1 to be suspended to a gibbet on the bridge of ,bagdad1 after which the ,caliph continued his journey to ,rakkah4 ,stripped of all their wealth and honors1 ,yahya1 his three sons1 and his brother ,muhammad1 languished in confinement1 until the former perished in prison4 ,at first they were allowed some liberty1 but subsequently they experienced alternatives of rigor and relaxation1 according to the reports which reached ,rashid concerning them4 ,he then confiscated the property of every member of the family4 ,it is said that ,mesrour was sent by him to the prison1 and that he told the jailor to bring ,fadhl before him4 ,when he was brought out1 ,mesrour addressed him thus3 ,the ,commander of the ,faithful sends me to say that he ordered thee to make a true statement of thy property1 and that thou didst pretend to do so2 but he is assured that thou hast still great wealth in reserve1 and his orders to me are that1 if thou dost not inform me where the money is1 ,i am to give thee two hundred strokes of a whip4 ,i should therefore advise thee not to prefer thy riches to thyself4 ,on this ,fadhl looked up at him and said3 ,by ,allah1 ,i made no false statements2 and were the choice offered to me of being sent out of the world or of receiving a single stroke of a whip1 ,i should prefer the former alternative--that the ,commander of the ,faithful well knoweth1 and thou also knowest full well that we maintained our reputation at the expense of our wealth4 ,how1 then1 could we now shield our wealth at the expense of our bodies8 ,if thou hast really got any orders1 let them be executed4 ,on this ,mesrour produced some whips1 which he brought with him rolled up in a napkin1 and ordered his servants to inflict on ,al ,fadhl two hundred stripes4 ,they struck him with all their force1 using no moderation in their blows1 so that they nearly killed him4 ,there was in that place a man skilled in treating wounds1 who was called in to attend ,al ,fadhl4 ,when he saw him he observed that fifty strokes had been inflicted on him2 and when the others declared that two hundred had been given1 he asserted that his back bore the traces of fifty1 and not more4 ,he then told ,al ,fadhl that he must lie down on his back on a reed-mat1 so that they might tread on his breast4 ,al ,fadhl shuddered at the proposal1 but1 having at length given his consent1 they placed him on his back4 ,the operator then trod on him1 after which he took him by the arms and dragged him along the mat1 by which means a great quantity of flesh was torn off the back4 ,he then proceeded to dress the wounds1 and continued his services regularly1 till one day1 when1 on examining them1 he immediately prostrated himself in thanksgiving to ,god4 ,they asked him what was the matter1 and he replied that the patient was saved1 because new flesh was forming4 ,he then said3 ,did ,i not say that he had received fifty strokes8 ,well1 by ,allah6 one thousand strokes could not have left worse marks2 but ,i merely said so that he might take courage1 and thus aid my efforts to cure him4 ,al ,fadhl1 on his recovery1 borrowed ten thousand dirhems from a friend1 and sent them to the doctor1 who returned them4 ,thinking that he had offered too little1 he borrowed ten thousand more2 but the man refused them1 and said3 ,i can not accept a fee for curing the greatest among the generous4 ,were it even twenty thousand dinars1 ,i should refuse them4 ,when this was told to ,al ,fadhl1 he declared that such an act of generosity surpassed all that he himself had done during the whole course of his life4 ,when ,rashid had overthrown the family of the ,barmecides1 he endeavored to obliterate even their very name4 ,he forbade the poets to compose elegies on their fall1 and commanded that those who did so should be punished4 ,one day one of the soldiers of the guard1 passing near some ruined and abandoned buildings1 perceived a man standing upright with a paper in his hand4 ,it contained a lament for the ruin of the ,barmecides1 which he was reciting with tears4 ,the soldier arrested him1 and conducted him to the palace of ,rashid4 ,he related the whole matter to the ,caliph1 who caused the accused to be brought before him4 ,when he was convinced by the man's own confession of the truth of the accusation1 he said to him3 ,did you not know that ,i have forbidden the utterance of any lament for the family of the ,barmecides8 ,assuredly ,i will treat thee according to thy deserts4 ,prince1 the accused answered1 if thou wilt allow1 ,i will relate my history4 ,afterward deal with me as thou pleasest4 ,rashid having allowed him to speak1 he went on3 ,i was one of the petty officials in the court of ,yahya4 ,one day he said to me3 ',i must dine at your house4' ',my lord1' ,i said to him1 ',i am far too mean for such an honor1 and my house is not fit to receive you4' ',no1' replied ,yahya1 ',i must come to you4' ',in that case1' ,i said1 'will you allow me some time to make the proper arrangements and put my house in order8--and afterward do as you like4' ,he then wished to know how much time ,i wanted4 ,at first ,i asked for a year4 ,this appeared to him too much2 ,i therefore asked for some months4 ,he consented1 and ,i immediately began to prepare everything necessary for his reception4 ,when all the preparations were complete ,i sent to inform ,yahya1 who said he would come on the morrow4 ,on the next day1 accordingly1 he came1 with his two sons ,jafar and ,fadhl and a few of his most intimate friends4 ,scarcely had he dismounted than he addressed me by name1 and said3 ',make haste and get me something to eat1 for ,i am hungry4' ,fadhl told me that his father was especially fond of roast fowl2 accordingly ,i brought some1 and when ,yahya had eaten he rose and began to walk about the house1 and asked me to show him all over it4 ',my lord1' ,i said1 'you have just been over it3 there is no more4' ',certainly there is more1' he replied4 ,it was in vain that ,i assured him1 in the name of ,god1 that that was all ,i had3 he had a mason sent for1 and told him to make a hole in the wall4 ,the mason began to do so4 ,i said to ,yahya3 ',my ,lord1 is it permissible to make a hole into one's neighbor's house when ,god has commanded us to respect our neighbors' rights8' ',never mind1' said he4 ,and when the mason had made a sufficiently wide entrance1 he went through1 with his sons4 ,i followed them1 and we came into a delicious garden1 well planted and watered by fountains4 ,in this garden were pavilions and halls adorned with all kinds of marbles and tapestry2 on all sides were numbers of beautiful slaves of both sexes4 ,yahya then said to me3 ,this house and all that you see is yours4' ,i hastened to kiss his hands and to pray ,god to bless him1 and then ,i learned that from the very day he had told me that he was coming to my house he had bought the ground adjacent to it1 and caused a beautiful mansion to be constructed1 furnished1 and adorned1 without my knowing anything of it4 ,i saw indeed that building was going on1 but ,i thought it was some work being carried on by one of my neighbors4 ,yahya then1 addressing his son ,jafar1 said to him3 ',well1 here is a house1 with attendants1 but how is he to keep it up8' ',i will make over to him such and such a farm1 with its revenues1' answered ,jafar1 'and sign a contract with him to that effect4' ',very good1' said ,yahya1 turning to his other son1 ,fadhl2 'but till he receives those revenues1 how is he to meet current expenses8' ',i will give him ten thousand pieces of gold1' answered ,fadhl1 'and have them conveyed to his house4' ',be quick1 then1' said ,yahya1 'and fulfil your promises without delay4' ,this they both did1 so that ,i found myself rich of a sudden and living a life of ease4 ,thus1 ,o ,commander of the ,faithful1 ,i have never failed on all fitting occasions to rehearse their praises and to pray for them1 in order to discharge my debt of gratitude1 but never shall ,i be able to do so completely4 ,if thou choosest1 slay me for doing that4 ,rashid was moved at this recital1 and let him go4 ,he also gave a general permission to the poets to bewail the tragic end of the ,barmecides4 ,a pathetic anecdote relating to their fall is recorded by ,muhammad1 son of ,abdur ,bahman the ,hashimite4 ,having gone to visit my mother on the day of the ,feast of ,sacrifice1 ,i found her talking with an old woman of venerable appearance1 but meanly clad4 ,my mother asked if ,i knew her1 and ,i answered1 ',no4' ,she replied3 ',it is ,abbadab1 the mother of ,jafar ,bin ,yahya4' ,i turned to her and saluted her with respect4 ,after some time ,i said to her3 ',madam1 what is the strangest thing you have seen8' ',my friend1' she replied1 'there was once a time when this same festival saw me escorted by four hundred slaves1 and still ,i thought that my son was not sufficiently grateful to me4 ,to-day the feast has returned1 and all ,i wish for is two sheepskins--one to lie down on and one to cover me4' ,i gave her1 adds the narrator1 five hundred dirhems1 and she nearly died of joy4 ,she did not cease her visits till the day death separated us4 ,after the destruction of this family1 the affairs of ,rashid fell into irretrievable confusion4 ,treason1 revolt1 and rebellion assailed him in different parts of the empire4 ,he himself became a prey to disease1 and was tortured by unavailing remorse4 ,if any one blamed the ,barmecides in his presence he would say3 ,cease to blame them or fill the void4 ,so great was the disaffection aroused by his treatment of them that he removed the seat of government from ,bagdad to ,rakkah1 on the ,euphrates4 ,yahya1 the father of ,jafar and ,fadhl1 died in prison1 ,a4,d4 #hje4 ,on his body was found a paper containing these words3 ,the accuser has gone on before to the tribunal1 and the accused shall follow soon4 ,the ,cadi will be that just ,judge who never errs and who needs no witnesses4 ,this1 being reported to ,rashid1 deepened his gloom1 which began to wear the appearance of madness4 ,one morning his physician1 finding him greatly discomposed1 inquired the reason4 ,rashid replied3 ,i will describe to thee what presented itself to my imagination4 ,methought ,i saw an arm suddenly extend itself from beneath my pillow1 holding in the palm of the hand a quantity of red earth1 while a voice addressed me in the following words3 ',haroun1 behold this handful of earth2 it is that in which they are about to bury thee4' ,i demanded to know where ,i was about to find my grave1 and the voice replied3 ',at ,tus4' ,the arm disappeared and ,i awoke4 ,shortly after this ,rashid1 though suffering from the disease which was to end his life1 set out to put down a rebellion in ,transoxiana4 ,when one of the captured rebel leaders was brought into his presence1 he ordered him to be cut to pieces limb by limb on the spot4 ,when the execution was over ,rashid fell into a swoon1 and1 on recovering himself1 asked his physician if he did not recollect the dream which had occurred to him at ,rakkah1 for they were now in the neighborhood of ,tus4 ,he also desired his chamberlain ,mesrour to bring him a sample of the native earth of the country4 ,when ,mesrour returned with his naked arm extended1 ,rashid immediately exclaimed3 ,behold the arm and the earth1 precisely as they appeared in my dream6 ,the ,caliph died at midnight the following ,saturday1 ,march #bc1 ,a4,d4 #hji4 ,,the ,,caliph ,,al ,,mamoun ,when ,haroun al ,rashid died he left the empire to his sons ,emin and ,mamoun1 giving the former ,irak and ,syria1 and the latter ,khorassan and ,persia4 ,emin had the title of ,caliph1 to which ,mamoun was to succeed4 ,war broke out between the brothers2 ,emin fled from ,bagdad1 but was captured and slain1 and his head sent to ,mamoun in ,khorassan1 who wept at the sight of it4 ,he had1 however1 previously1 when his general ,tahir sent to him requesting to know what to do with ,emin in case he caught him1 sent to the general a shirt with no opening in it for the head4 ,by this ,tahir knew that he wished ,emin to be put to death1 and acted accordingly4 ,the ,caliph1 however1 bore a grudge against ,tahir for the death of his brother1 as was shown by the following circumstance3 ,tahir went one day to ask some favor from ,al ,mamoun2 the latter granted it1 and then wept till his eyes were bathed in tears4 ,commander of the ,faithful1 said ,tahir1 why do you weep8 ,may ,god never cause you to shed a tear6 ,the universe obeys you1 and you have obtained your utmost wishes4 ,i weep not1 replied the ,caliph1 from any humiliation which may have befallen me1 neither do ,i weep from grief1 but my mind is never free from cares4 ,these words gave great uneasiness to ,tahir1 and1 on retiring1 he said to ,husain1 the eunuch who waited at the door of the ,caliph's private apartment3 ,i wish you to ask the ,commander of the ,faithful why he wept on seeing me4 ,on reaching home ,tahir sent ,husain one hundred thousand dirhems4 ,some time afterward1 when ,al ,mamoun was alone and in a good humor1 ,husain said to him3 ,why did you weep when ,tahir came to see you8 ,what is that to you8 replied the ,prince4 ,it made me sad to see you weep1 answered the eunuch4 ,i shall tell you the reason1 the ,caliph said2 but if you ever allow it to pass your lips1 ,i shall have your head taken off4 ,o my master1 the eunuch replied1 did ,i ever disclose any of your secrets8 ,i was thinking of my brother ,emin1 said the ,caliph1 and of the misfortune which befell him1 so that ,i was nearly choked with weeping2 but ,tahir shall not escape me6 ,i shall make him feel what he will not like4 ,husain related this to ,tahir1 who immediately rode off to the ,vizier ,abi ,khalid1 and said to him3 ,i am not parsimonious in my gratitude1 and a service rendered to me is never lost2 contrive to have me removed away from ,al ,mamoun4 ,i shall1 replied ,abi ,khalid4 ,come to me to-morrow morning4 ,he then rode off to ,al ,mamoun1 and said3 ,i was not able to sleep last night4 ,why so8 asked the ,caliph4 ,because you have entrusted ,ghassan with the government of ,khorassan1 and his friends are very few1 and ,i fear that ruin awaits him4 ,and whom do you think a proper person for it8 said ,al ,mamoun4 ,tahir1 replied ,abi ,khalid4 ,he is ambitious1 observed the ,caliph4 ,i will answer for his conduct1 said the other4 ,al ,mamoun then sent for ,tahir1 and named him governor of ,khorassan on the spot2 he made him also a present of an eunuch1 to whom he had just given orders to poison his new master if he remarked anything suspicious in his conduct4 ,when ,tahir was solidly established in his government he ceased mentioning ,al ,mamoun's name in the public prayers as the reigning ,caliph4 ,a dispatch was immediately sent off by express to inform ,al ,mamoun of the circumstance1 and the next morning ,tahir was found dead in his bed4 ,it is said that the eunuch administered the poison to him in some sauce4 ,al ,mamoun placed his two sons under the tuition of ,al ,farra1 so that they might be instructed in grammar4 ,one day ,al ,farra rose to leave the house1 and the two young princes hastened to bring his shoes4 ,they struggled between themselves for the honor of offering them to him1 and they finally agreed that each of them should present him with one slipper4 ,as ,al ,mamoun had secret agents who informed him of everything that passed1 he learned what had taken place1 and caused ,al ,farra to be brought before him4 ,when he entered1 the ,caliph said to him3 ,who is the most honored of men8 ,al ,farra answered3 ,i know not any one more honored than the ,commander of the ,faithful4 ,nay1 replied ,al ,mamoun1 it is he who arose to go out1 and the two designated successors of the ,commander of the ,faithful contended for the honor of presenting him his slippers1 and at length agreed that each of them should offer him one4 ,al ,farra answered3 ,commander of the ,faithful1 ,i should have prevented them from doing so had ,i not been apprehensive of discouraging their minds in the pursuit of that excellence to which they ardently aspire4 ,we know by tradition that ,ibn ,abbas held the stirrups of ,hasan and ,husain1 when they were getting on horseback after paying him a visit4 ,one of those who were present said to him3 ',how is it that you hold the stirrups of these striplings1 you who are their elder8' ,to which he replied3 ',ignorant man6 ,no one can appreciate the merit of people of merit except a man of merit4' ,al ,mamoun then said to him3 ,had you prevented them1 ,i should have declared you in fault4 ,that which they have done is no debasement of their dignity2 on the contrary1 it exalts their merit4 ,no man1 though great in rank1 can be dispensed from three obligations3 he must respect his sovereign1 venerate his father1 and honor his preceptor4 ,as a reward for their conduct1 ,i bestow upon them twenty thousand dinars 7#ej1jjj71 and on you for the good education you give them1 ten thousand dirhems 7#b1ejj74 ,when ,al ,mamoun was still in ,khorassan1 a revolt was raised against him in ,bagdad by his uncle1 ,ibrahim1 the son of ,mahdi4 ,this prince had great talent as a singer1 and was a skilful performer on musical instruments4 ,being of a dark complexion1 which he inherited from his mother1 ,shikla1 who was a negress1 and of a large frame of body1 he received the name of ,at-,tinnin 7the ,dragon74 ,he was proclaimed ,caliph at ,bagdad during the absence of ,al ,mamoun4 ,the cause which led the people to renounce ,al ,mamoun and choose ,ibrahim was that the former had chosen as his successor one of the descendants of ,ali1 and in doing so had ordered the public to cease wearing black1 which was the distinctive color of the ,abbassides1 the reigning family1 and to put on green1 the color of the family of ,ali and their partizans4 ,on ,mamoun's entry into ,bagdad1 ,ibrahim fled disguised as a woman4 ,he was1 however1 detected and arrested by one of the negro police4 ,when he was before ,al ,mamoun1 who addressed him in ironic terms1 he replied3 ,prince of the believers1 my crime gives you the right of retaliation1 but 'forgiveness is near neighbor to piety4'#i ,god has placed you above all those who are generous1 as he has placed me above all criminals in the magnitude of my crime4 ,if you punish me you will be just2 if you pardon me you will be great4 ,then ,i pardon you1 said ,mamoun1 and prostrated himself in prayer4 ,he commanded1 however1 that ,ibrahim should continue to wear the burqa1 or long female veil in which he had fled1 so that people might see in what disguise he had been arrested2 he ordered also that he should be exposed to view in the palace courtyard2 then he committed him to police supervision1 and finally1 after some days of detention1 set him free4 ,the following anecdote was related by ,ibrahim regarding the time when he was in hiding with a price set on his head3 ,i went out one day at the hour of noon without knowing whither ,i was going4 ,i found myself in a narrow street1 which ended in a cul-de-sac1 and noticed a negro standing in front of the door of a house4 ,i went straight to him1 and asked if he could afford me shelter for a short time4 ,he consented1 and bade me enter4 ,the hall was adorned with mats and leather cushions4 ,then he left me alone1 closed the door1 and departed4 ,a suspicion flashed across my mind2 this man knew that a price was set on my head1 and had gone to denounce me4 ,while ,i was revolving these gloomy thoughts1 he returned with a servant bearing a tray loaded with victuals4 ',may my life be a sacrifice for you1' he said4 ',i am a barber1 and therefore ,i have not touched any of these things with my hand2 do me the honor to partake of them4' ,hunger pressed me2 ,i rose and obeyed4 ',what about some wine8' he asked4 ',i do not detest it1' ,i replied4 ,he brought some1 and then said again3 ',may my life be your ransom6 ,will you allow me to sit near you and drink to your health8' ,i consented4 ,after having emptied three cups1 he opened a cupboard and took out a lute4 ',sir1' he said1 'it does not behoove a man of my low degree to beg you to sing1 but your kindness prompts me to do so2 if you deign to consent it will be a great honor for your slave4' ',how do you know that ,i am a good singer8' ,i asked him4 ',by ,allah6' he answered1 with an air of astonishment1 'your reputation is too great for me not to know it3 you are ,ibrahim1 the son of ,mahdi1 and a reward of a hundred thousand dirhems is promised by ,al ,mamoun to the man who will find you4' ,at these words ,i took the lute1 and was about to commence1 when he added3 ',sir1 would you be so kind as first to sing the piece which ,i shall choose8' ,when ,i consented he chose three airs in which ,i had no rival4 ,then ,i said to him3 ',you know me1 ,i admit2 but where did you learn to know these three airs8' ',i have been1' he answered1 'in the service of ,ishak1 son of ,ibrahim ,mausili1#aj and ,i have often heard him speak of the great singers and the airs in which they excelled2 but who could have guessed that ,i would hear you myself and in my own house8' ,i sang to him accordingly1 and remained some time in his company1 charmed with his agreeable manners4 ,at nightfall ,i took leave of him4 ,i had brought with me a purse full of gold pieces2 ,i offered it to him1 promising him a greater reward some day4 ,this is strange1' he said2 'it is rather ,i who should offer you all ,i possess1 and implore you to do me the honor to accept it4 ,only respect has restrained me from doing so4' ,he refused1 accordingly1 to receive anything from me2 but he went out with me and put me on the road to the place whither ,i wished to go4 ,then he went off1 and ,i have never seen him since4 ,al ,mamoun and ,ibrahim1 the ,son of ,mahdi ,one day ten inhabitants of ,basra were denounced to ,al ,mamoun as heretics who held the doctrine of ,manes 7,manichans7 and the two principles of light and darkness4 ,he ordered them to be brought into his presence4 ,a parasite1 who saw them being taken1 said to himself3 ,here are folk who are going off for a jollification4 ,he slipped in among them1 and accompanied them without perceiving who they were till they reached the boat in which their guards made them embark4 ,doubtless this is a pleasure party6 he exclaimed1 and went on board with them4 ,soon1 however1 the guards brought chains and fettered the whole band1 including the parasite1 who said to himself3 ,my greediness has ended by making me a prisoner4 ,then he addressed the seniors of the band3 ,pardon me1 he said2 may ,i ask who you are8 ,tell us1 rather1 who you are1 they answered1 and whether we may reckon you among our brothers4 ,god knows ,i scarcely know you1 he replied4 ,as for me1 to tell the truth1 ,i am a professional parasite4 ,when ,i left my home this morning ,i happened to fall in with you4 ,struck with your agreeable appearance and good manners1 ,i said to myself3 ',here are some well-to-do people going to enjoy themselves4' ,consequently ,i joined your company1 and took my place beside you as though ,i were one of you4 ,when we reached the boat1 which was provided with carpets and cushions1 and ,i saw all these bags and well-filled baskets1 ,i thought3 ',they are going for an outing in some park or pleasure-ground2 this is a lucky day for me4' ,i was still congratulating myself when the guards came and fettered you1 and me with you4 ,i now feel quite bewildered2 tell me1 therefore1 what it is all about4 ,these words amused the prisoners1 and made them smile4 ,they replied3 ,now that you are on the list of the suspected1 and are chained1 know that we are ,manichans who have been denounced to ,mamoun1 and are being taken to him4 ,he will ask us who we are1 will question us concerning our belief1 and will exhort us to repent and to abjure our religion1 proposing various tests to us2 he will1 for example1 show us an image of ,manes1 commanding us to spit upon it and to renounce him2 he will command us to sacrifice a pheasant4 ,whoever will do so will save his life2 whoever refuses will be put to death4 ,when you are called and put to the test you will say who you are and what your belief is1 according as you feel prompted4 ,but did you not say you were a parasite8 ,now1 such people have an ample store of anecdotes and stories2 shorten our journey1 then1 by recounting some4 ,as soon as they arrived at ,bagdad the prisoners were conducted into the presence of ,mamoun4 ,he called each in turn as his name was on the list2 he asked each concerning his sect1 and urged them to renounce ,manes1 showing them his image1 and commanding them to spit on it4 ,as they refused1 he had them handed over one by one to the executioner4 ,at last the parasite's turn came4 ,but as the ten prisoners had been done with and the list was exhausted1 ,mamoun asked the guards who he was4 ,truly1 we know nothing about him1 they answered4 ,we found him among them and brought him hither4 ,who are you8 the ,caliph asked him4 ,prince of the believers1 he said1 may my wife be divorced if ,i understand what they are talking about6 ,i am only a poor parasite4 ,and he told him his whole story from beginning to end4 ,the ,caliph was much amused1 and ordered the image of ,manes to be presented to him2 the parasite cursed and renounced the heretic heartily4 ,al ,mamoun1 however1 was about to punish him for his temerity and impudence1 when ,ibrahim1 the son of ,mahdi1 who was present1 said3 ,sire1 let this man off1 and ,i will relate to you a kind of ,bohemian adventure1 of which ,i was the hero4 ,the ,caliph assented1 and ,ibrahim continued3 ,prince of the believers1 ,i had gone out one day1 and was roving at random through the streets of ,bagdad1 when ,i came to the porch of a lofty mansion1 whence issued a delicious odor of spices and dressed meats1 by which ,i was strongly attracted4 ,i addressed a passer-by1 and asked to whom the house belonged4 ',to a linen-merchant1' he answered4 ',what is his name8' ,i asked4 ',such a one1 son of such a one1' was his reply4 ,i lifted my eyes to the house4 ,through the lattice-work which covered one of the windows ,i saw appear such a beautiful hand and wrist as ,i had never seen before4 ,the charm of this apparition made me forget the enticing odors1 and ,i stood there troubled and perplexed4 ,finally1 ,i asked the man1 who had remained standing near1 if the master of the house ever gave entertainments4 ',yes1 ,i think he is giving one to-day1' he answered2 'but his guests are merchants1 staid and sober people like himself4' ,we were thus engaged in talk when two persons of well-to-do appearance came down the street toward us4 ',there are his two guests1' the man said to me4 ',what are their names and their fathers' names8' ,i asked4 ,he informed me1 and ,i accosted them immediately1 saying3 ',may my life be your sacrifice2 your host is waiting impatiently for you4' ,i escorted them to the door as if ,i belonged to the house2 they went in1 and ,i followed4 ,the master of the house perceived me1 and1 supposing that ,i had been brought by his friends1 received me graciously1 and placed me in the seat of honor4 ,then the meal was brought2 it was well served1 and we did honor to the dishes1 whose savor excelled their odor4 ,when the food had been removed and we had washed our hands1 our host led us into another hall richly adorned4 ,he redoubled his politeness toward me1 and specially addressed his conversation to me4 ,the two guests believed me to be an intimate friend of his1 while the host treated me in this fashion because he believed ,i had been brought by his two friends4 ,we had already emptied several cups when a young female slave came forward1 as graceful as a willow-branch1 and saluted us without timidity4 ,she was offered a cushion to sit upon1 and a lute was brought to her1 which she tuned with a skill which struck me4 ,she then sang an air in a most enchanting fashion2 so great was the skill and art with which she sang that ,i could not suppress a feeling of jealousy4 ',young girl1' ,i said to her1 'you have still a good deal to learn4' ,these words irritated her2 she threw down the lute1 and exclaimed to the host3 ',since when do you admit to your intimacy such vexatious guests8' ,i repented of my remark when ,i saw the others look at me askance4 ',is there a lute here8' ,i asked4 ',yes1' was the reply4 ,they brought me one1 which ,i tuned to my liking1 and then sang4 ,i had hardly finished when the young slave cast herself at my feet1 and1 embracing them1 said3 ',sir1 pardon me in the name of heaven2 ,i have never heard that air sung so exquisitely4' ,her master and those present followed her example in praising me2 cheerfulness was restored1 and the cups circulated rapidly4 ,i sang again1 and the enthusiasm of my hearers was roused to such a pitch that ,i thought they would take leave of their senses4 ,i waited awhile to let them recover themselves2 then1 taking my lute again1 ,i sang for the third time4 ',by ,allah6' cried the slave1 'that is what deserves to be called singing6' ,the others1 however1 were beginning to feel the effects of the wine2 the master of the house1 who had a stronger head than his guests1 entrusted them to the care of his own servants and of theirs1 and had them conveyed home4 ,i remained alone with him4 ,after we had emptied some more cups1 he said to me3 ',truly1 sir1 ,i consider the past days of my life1 in which ,i did not know you1 wasted4 ,kindly inform me who you are4' ,he pressed me so much that at last ,i told him my name4 ,immediately he rose1 kissed my hand1 and said3 ',i should have been surprised1 sir1 had any one of a rank inferior to your own possessed such skill4 ,to think one of the royal house was with me all the time1 and ,i knew it not6' ,being pressed by him to tell my story and what had attracted me to his house1 ,i told him how ,i had stopped when ,i smelt the odor of the food1 and described the hand and wrist ,i had seen at the window4 ,he straightway called one of his female slaves and said3 ',go and tell ,so-and-so to come down4' ,he had all the slaves in succession brought before me4 ,after having examined their hands1 ,i said3 ',no6 the possessor of the hand ,i saw is not among them4' ',by ,allah6' said my host1 'there are only my mother and my sister left6 ,i will send for them4' ,such generosity and kindness of heart surprised me4 ,i said to him3 ',may my life be your sacrifice6 ,before calling your mother1 call your sister2 it is probably she of whom ,i am in search4' ',very well1' he said1 and sent for her4 ,as soon as ,i set eyes on her hand and wrist ,i cried3 ',it is she1 my dear host1 it is she6' ,without losing a moment1 he ordered his servants to bring together ten respectable elderly men from the neighborhood4 ,they came2 he then sent for a sum of twenty thousand dirhems in two bags1 and1 addressing the ten men1 said3 ',i take you to witness that ,i give my sister here in marriage to ,ibrahim1 son of ,mahdi1 and that ,i bestow upon her a dowry of twenty thousand dirhems4' ,his sister and ,i both gave our agreement to the marriage1 after which ,i gave one of the bags of money to my young wife1 and distributed the other among the witnesses1 saying3 ',excuse me1 but this is all ,i have by me at present4' ,they accepted my present and retired4 ,my host then proposed to prepare in his own house an apartment for us4 ,such generosity and kindness made me feel quite embarrassed4 ,i said that ,i only desired a litter to convey my wife4 ,he readily agreed1 and sent along with it so magnificent a trousseau that it entirely fills one of my houses4 ,mamoun was astonished at the generosity of the merchant4 ,he granted his freedom and a rich present to the parasite1 and ordered ,ibrahim to present his father-in-law at court4 ,the latter became one of the most intimate courtiers and companions of the ,caliph4 ,the ,death of ,al ,mamoun ,during ,al ,mamoun's last campaign against the ,greek ,emperor he arrived at the ,river ,qushairah1 and encamped on its banks4 ,charmed by the clearness and purity of its waters1 and by the beauty and fertility of the surrounding country1 he had a kind of arbor constructed by the banks of the stream1 intending to rest there some days4 ,so clear was the water that the inscription on a coin lying at the bottom could be clearly read2 but it was so cold that it was impossible for any one to bathe in it4 ,all at once a fish1 about a fathom in length and flashing like an ingot of silver1 appeared in the water4 ,the ,caliph promised a reward to any one who would capture it2 an attendant went down1 caught the fish and regained the shore1 but as he approached the spot where ,al ,mamoun was sitting1 the fish slipped from his grasp1 fell into the water1 and sank like a stone to the bottom4 ,some of the water was splashed on the ,caliph's neck1 chest1 and arms1 and wetted his clothes4 ,the attendant went down again1 recaptured the fish1 and placed it1 wriggling1 in a napkin before the ,caliph4 ,just as he had ordered it to be fried1 ,al ,mamoun felt a sudden shiver1 and could not move from the place4 ,in vain he was covered with rugs and skins2 he trembled like a leaf1 and exclaimed3 ,i am cold6 ,i am cold6 ,he was carried into his tent1 covered with clothes1 and a fire was lit1 but he continued to complain of cold4 ,when the fish had been cooked it was brought to him1 but he could neither taste nor touch it1 so great was his suffering4 ,as he grew rapidly worse1 his brother ,mutasim questioned ,bakhteshou and ,ibn ,masouyieh1 his physicians1 on his condition1 and whether they could do him any good4 ,ibn ,masouyieh took one of the patient's hands and ,bakhteshou the other1 and felt his pulse together2 the irregular pulsations heralded his dissolution4 ,just then ,al ,mamoun awoke out of his stupor2 he opened his eyes1 and caused some of the natives of the place to be sent for1 and questioned them regarding the stream and the locality4 ,when asked regarding the meaning of the name ,qushairah they replied that it signified ,stretch out thy feet 7i4e41 die74 ,al ,mamoun then inquired the ,arabic name of the country1 and was told ,rakkah4 ,now1 the horoscope drawn at the moment of his birth announced that he would die in a place of that name2 therefore he had always avoided residing in the city of ,rakkah1 fearing to die there4 ,when he heard the answer given by these people1 he felt sure that this was the place predicted by his horoscope4 ,feeling himself becoming worse1 he commanded that he should be carried outside his tent in order to survey his camp and his army once more4 ,it was now night-time4 ,as his gaze wandered over the long lines of the camp and the lights twinkling into the distance1 he cried3 ,o thou whose reign will never end1 have mercy on him whose reign is now ending4 ,he was then carried back to his bed4 ,mutasim1 seeing that he was sinking1 commanded some one to whisper in his ear the confession of the ,mohammedan faith 7,there is no ,god but ,god1 and ,mohammed is the ,apostle of ,god74 ,as the attendant was about to speak1 in order that ,al ,mamoun might repeat the words after him1 ,ibn ,masouyieh said to him3 ,do not speak1 for truly he could not now distinguish between ,god and ,manes4 ,the dying man opened his eyes--they seemed extraordinarily large1 and shone with a wonderful luster2 his hands clutched at the doctor2 he tried to speak to him1 but could not2 then his eyes turned toward heaven and filled with tears2 finally his tongue was loosened1 and he spoke3 ,o thou who diest not1 have mercy on him who dies1 and he expired immediately4 ,his body was carried to ,tarsus and buried there4 ,,on ,,medicine 7,,by ,,avicenna7 ,medicine considers the human body as to the means by which it is cured and by which it is driven away from health4 ,the knowledge of anything1 since all things have causes1 is not acquired or complete unless it is known by its causes4 ,therefore in medicine we ought to know the causes of sickness and health4 ,and because health and sickness and their causes are sometimes manifest1 and sometimes hidden and not to be comprehended except by the study of symptoms1 we must also study the symptoms of health and disease4 ,now it is established in the sciences that no knowledge is acquired save through the study of its causes and beginnings1 if it has had causes and beginnings2 nor completed except by knowledge of its accidents and accompanying essentials4 ,of these causes there are four kinds3 material1 efficient1 formal1 and final4 ,material causes1 on which health and sickness depend1 are--the affected member1 which is the immediate subject1 and the humors2 and in these are the elements4 ,and these two are subjects that1 according to their mixing together1 alter4 ,in the composition and alteration of the substance which is thus composed1 a certain unity is attained4 ,efficient causes are the causes changing and preserving the conditions of the human body2 as airs1 and what are united with them2 and evacuation and retention2 and districts and cities1 and habitable places1 and what are united with them2 and changes in age and diversities in it1 and in races and arts and manners1 and bodily and animate movings and restings1 and sleepings and wakings on account of them2 and in things which befall the human body when they touch it1 and are either in accordance or at variance with nature4 ,formal causes are physical constitutions1 and combinations and virtues which result from them4 ,pinal causes are operations4 ,and in the science of operations lies the science of virtues1 as we have set forth4 ,these are the subjects of the doctrine of medicine2 whence one inquires concerning the disease and curing of the human body4 ,one ought to attain perfection in this research2 namely1 how health may be preserved and sickness cured4 ,and the causes of this kind are rules in eating and drinking1 and the choice of air1 and the measure of exercise and rest2 and doctoring with medicines and doctoring with the hands4 ,all this with physicians is according to three species3 the well1 the sick1 and the medium of whom we have spoken4 ,,the ,,existing ,,monuments ,,or ,,chronology ,,of ,,al ,,biruni ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,god1 ,,the ,,compassionate1 ,,the ,,merciful ,praise be to ,god who is high above all things1 and blessings be on ,mohammed1 the elected1 the best of all created beings1 and on his family1 the guides of righteousness and truth4 ,one of the exquisite plans in ,god's management of the affairs of his creation1 one of the glorious benefits which he has bestowed upon the entirety of his creatures1 is that categorical decree of his1 not to leave in his world any period without a just guide1 whom he constitutes as a protector for his creatures1 with whom to take refuge in unfortunate and sorrowful cases and accidents1 and upon whom to devolve their affairs1 when they seem indissolubly perplexed1 so that the order of the world should rest upon--and its existence be supported by--his genius4 ,and this decree 7that the affairs of mankind should be governed by a prophet7 has been settled upon them as a religious duty1 and has been linked together with the obedience toward ,god1 and the obedience toward his prophet1 through which alone a reward in future life may be obtained--in accordance with the word of him1 who is truth and justice--and his word is judgment and decree1 ,o ye believers1 obey ,god1 and obey the prophets1 and those among yourselves who are invested with the command4 ,,era ,,of ,,the ,,creation4--,the first and most famous of the beginnings of antiquity is the fact of the creation of mankind4 ,but among those who have a book of divine revelation1 such as the ,jews1 ,christians1 ,magians1 and their various sects1 there exists such a difference of opinion as to the nature of this fact1 and as to the question how to date from it1 the like of which is not allowable for eras4 ,everything1 the knowledge of which is connected with creation and with the history of bygone generations1 is mixed up with falsifications and myths1 because it belongs to a far remote age2 because a long interval separates us therefrom1 and because the student is incapable of keeping it in memory1 and of fixing it 7so as to preserve it from confusion74 ,god says3 ,have they not got the stories about those who were before them gone but ,god knows them4 7,surah ix1 #ga47 ,therefore it is becoming not to admit any account of a similar subject1 if it is not attested by a book1 the correctness of which is relied upon1 or by a tradition1 for which the conditions of authenticity1 according to the prevalent opinion1 furnish grounds of proof4 ,if we now first consider this era1 we find a considerable divergence of opinion regarding it among these nations4 ,for the ,persians and ,magians think that the duration of the world is #ab1jjj years1 corresponding to the number of signs in the zodiac and of the months2 and that ,zoroaster1 the founder of their law1 thought that of those there had passed1 till the time of his appearance1 #c1jjj years1 intercalated with the day-quarters1 for he himself had made their computation1 and had taken into account that defect1 which had accrued to them on account of the day-quarters1 till the time when they were intercalated and made to agree with real time4 ,from his appearance to the beginning of the ,aera ,alexandri1 they count #beh years2 therefore they count from the beginning of the world to ,alexander #c1beh years4 ,however1 if we compute the years from the creation of ,gayomarth1 whom they hold to be the first man1 and sum up the years of the reign of each of his successors--for the rule of ,iran remained with his descendants without interruption--this number is1 for the time till ,alexander1 the sum total of #c1ced years4 ,so the specification of the single items of the addition does not agree with the sum total4 ,a section of the ,persians is of the opinion that those past #c1jjj years which we have mentioned are to be counted from the creation of ,gayomarth2 because1 before that1 already six thousand years had elapsed--a time during which the celestial globe stood motionless1 the natures 7of created beings7 did not interchange1 the elements did not mix--during which there was no growth1 and no decay1 and the earth was not cultivated4 ,thereupon1 when the celestial globe was set a-going1 the first man came into existence on the equator1 so that part of him in longitudinal direction was on the north1 and part south of the line4 ,the animals were reproduced1 and mankind commenced to reproduce their own species and to multiply2 the atoms of the elements mixed1 so as to give rise to growth and decay2 the earth was cultivated1 and the world was arranged in conformity with fixed forms4 ,the ,jews and ,christians differ widely on this subject2 for1 according to the doctrine of the ,jews1 the time between ,adam and ,alexander is #c1ddh years1 whilst1 according to the ,christian doctrine it is #e1ahj years4 ,the ,christians reproach the ,jews with having diminished the number of years with the view of making the appearance of ,jesus fall into the fourth millennium in the middle of the seven millennia1 which are1 according to their view1 the time of the duration of the world1 so as not to coincide with that time at which1 as the prophets after ,moses had prophesied1 the birth of ,jesus from a pure virgin at the end of time1 was to take place4 ,,era ,,of ,,the ,,deluge4--,the next following era is the era of the great deluge1 in which everything perished at the time of ,noah4 ,here1 too1 there is such a difference of opinions1 and such a confusion1 that you have no chance of deciding as to the correctness of the matter1 and do not even feel inclined to investigate thoroughly its historical truth4 ,the reason is1 in the first instance1 the difference regarding the period between the ,aera ,adami and the ,deluge1 which we have mentioned already2 and secondly1 that difference1 which we shall have to mention1 regarding the period between the ,deluge and the ,aera ,alexandri4 ,for the ,jews derive from the ,torah1 and the following books1 for this latter period #a1gib years1 whilst the ,christians derive from their ,torah for the same period #b1ich years4 ,the ,persians1 and the great mass of the ,magians1 deny the ,deluge altogether2 they believe that the rule of the world has remained with them without any interruption ever since ,gayomarth ,gilshah1 who was1 according to them1 the first man4 ,in denying the ,deluge1 the ,indians1 ,chinese1 and the various nations of the ,east1 concur with them4 ,some1 however1 of the ,persians admit the fact of the ,deluge1 but they describe it in a different way from what it is described in the books of the prophets4 ,they say1 a partial deluge occurred in ,syria and the ,west at the time of ,tahmurath1 but it did not extend over the whole of the then civilized world1 and only a few nations were drowned in it2 it did not extend beyond the peak of ,hulwan1 and did not reach the empires of the ,east4 ,further1 they relate1 that the inhabitants of the ,west1 when they were warned by their sages1 constructed buildings of the kind of the two pyramids that have been built in ,egypt1 saying3 ,if the disaster comes from heaven1 we shall go into them2 if it comes from the earth1 we shall ascend above them4 ,people are of opinion that the traces of the water of the ,deluge1 and the efforts of the waves1 are still visible on these two pyramids half-way up1 above which the water did not rise4 ,another report says1 that ,joseph had made them a magazine where he deposited the bread and victuals for the years of drought4 ,it is related that ,tahmurath on receiving the warning of the ,deluge--#bca years before the ,deluge--ordered his people to select a place of good air and soil in his realm4 ,now they did not find a place that answered better to this description than ,ispahan4 ,thereupon1 he ordered all scientific books to be preserved for posterity and to be buried in a part of that place least exposed to obnoxious influences4 ,in favor of this report we may state that in our time in ,jay1 the city of ,ispahan1 there have been discovered hills1 which1 on being excavated1 disclosed houses1 filled with many loads of that tree-bark with which arrows and shields are covered1 and which is called ,tuz1 bearing inscriptions1 of which no one was able to say what they are and what they mean4 ,these discrepancies in their reports inspire doubts in the student1 and make him inclined to believe what is related in some books1 that ,gayomarth was not the first man1 but that he was ,gomer ben ,yaphet ben ,noah1 that he was a prince to whom a long life was given1 that he settled on the ,mount ,dumbawand1 where he founded an empire1 and that finally his power became very great1 whilst mankind was still living in elementary conditions1 similar to those at the time of creation and of the first stage of the development of the world4 ,then he1 and some of his children1 took control of the guidance of the world4 ,toward the end of his life1 he became tyrannical1 and called himself ,adam1 saying3 ,if anybody calls me by another name than this1 ,i shall cut off his head4 ,,arabic ,,literature ,,philosophy ,,and ,,religion ,,al ,,ghazali',s ,,rescuer ,,from ,,error ,if all the other books of ,islam were destroyed1 the loss would be small if but ,al ,ghazali's work were preserved4 ,,mohammedan ,,proverb4 ,the variety of doctrines and sects which divide men are like a deep ocean strewed with shipwrecks1 from which very few escape4 ,,al ,,ghazali ,,in ,,the ,,rescuer ,,from ,,error4 ,al ,ghazali is the greatest1 certainly the most sympathetic1 figure in the history of ,islam4 ,,prof4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,macdonald ,,philosophy ,,and ,,religion 7,,introduction7 ,when we move with ,al ,ghazali or ,zamakhshari through the deeply searching paths of ,arab philosophy1 we feel that we are following the guidance of men whom modern thought has in no way outgrown4 ,they lacked much of our scientific knowledge1 but none of our reasoning powers4 ,al ,ghazali has sounded all philosophy's profundities of thought1 and ,zamakhshari has soared to theology's highest peak of adoration4 ,al ,ghazali 7#ajdi-aaaa71 as we have already said1 is often ranked next to ,mohammed as a teacher and uplifter of his ,arab brethren4 ,he was a native of ,khorassan1 named ,abu ,hamid ,mohammed4 ,arab custom1 however1 seldom designates a noted man by his birth-name4 ,he is most often honored with the distinctive prefix ,al1 which means ,the1 much as we use the word as a superlative4 ,thus just as ,holy ,writ speaks of ,the ,nazarine1 so ,al ,ghazali probably means ,the ,man of ,ghazali1 the village of his birth1 though the name may also be derived from his father's trade in gazzel 7thread71 and so may mean ,the ,thread ,merchant4 ,as a youth ,al ,ghazali studied much and traveled widely2 and his wanderings led1 as did those of most men in his day1 to ,bagdad4 ,here he became famed as the foremost philosophic teacher of the age4 ,but his own philosophy did not satisfy him4 ,withdrawing from his official position on the ground of ill-health1 he wandered over the world for eleven years1 seeking true wisdom4 ,he felt at last that he had found it in the ecstasy of religious faith2 and then1 resuming his public teaching1 he led an earnest reform in ,mohammedanism1 bringing his people to look more deeply and nobly upon their faith4 ,so convincing were his appeals and explanations that his people called him ,the ,decisive ,argument for the ,faith4 ,al ,ghazali's own search for truth is told in his remarkable little book here given in full1 ,the ,rescuer from ,error1 in which the ,rescuer is ,mohammed with his ,koran4 ,al ,ghazali wrote many other works1 religious and philosophical1 but none which have so profoundly touched modern readers as this simple1 earnest account of himself4 ,it is a confession worthy to rank with the ,confessions of ,saint ,augustine1 or any greatest work of its own type4 ,al ,ghazali soon afterward withdrew from public life1 hoping to teach men more by his books than by spoken words1 and he died in seclusion in his native home4 ,great as was the influence of ,al ,ghazali1 he was scarcely a typical ,mohammedan teacher4 ,he was1 as his book will show1 an independent thinker who reached his firm religious faith only after seeking through all systems of philosophy4 ,he had tasted of the emptiness of materialism1 and had faced the black shadows of despair4 ,of far other type was ,zamakhshari1 the most renowned of commentators on the ,koran4 ,he seems never to have doubted the divinity of the holy book4 ,he spent years in studying it1 and while he used keen intelligence in weighing its every word1 and even shocked his narrower coreligionists by the freedom of his criticism1 yet it was always criticism based on the assumption that of course the ,koran was right1 and that the only danger lay in that men might blunder in interpreting its meaning4 ,he therefore called his celebrated commentary the ,kashshaf1 or ,discoverer of ,truth4 ,we give here the noted opening of this work4 ,the main attack upon the author by the orthodox ,mohammedans of a later age was because the commentary began with the words1 ,praise be to ,god who created the ,koran1 whereas the orthodox regarded the book as always existent with ,god1 so that instead of created they would have had the writer say that ,god revealed the ,koran4 ,zamakhshari 7#ajgj-aadc7 was born and died in ,khiva in ,turkestan4 ,he was1 however1 another of the many youths eager for knowledge who took advantage of the wide-spread dominion of the ,arab caliphs to travel far through the ,east4 ,he journeyed indeed through such hardships that he lost a leg1 frozen in a snowstorm2 and he dwelt so long in ,mecca1 the holy city1 that he was called the neighbor of ,god4 ,it was from such earnest men as ,zamakhshari and ,al ,ghazali1 the neighbor of ,god and the ,decisive ,argument1 that the ,mohammedan religion learned its final form1 and the reader will be ignoring the real and manifest energy and intellect of these great men if he dismisses their religion lightly as a teaching easily to be disproved or childishly defective4 ,,philosophy ,,and ,,religion ,,the ,,rescuer ,,from ,,error ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,merciful ,,god ,quoth the ,imam ,ghazali3 ,glory be to ,god1 whose praise should precede every writing and every speech6 ,may the blessings of ,god rest on ,mohammed1 his ,prophet and his ,apostle1 on his family and companions1 by whose guidance error is escaped6 ,you have asked me1 ,o brother in the faith1 to expound the aim and the mysteries of religious sciences1 the boundaries and depths of theological doctrines4 ,you wish to know my experiences while disentangling truth lost in the medley of sects and divergencies of thought1 and how ,i have dared to climb from the low levels of traditional belief to the topmost summit of assurance4 ,you desire to learn what ,i have borrowed1 first of all from scholastic theology2 and secondly from the method of the ,ta'limites1 who1 in seeking truth1 rest upon the authority of a leader2 and why1 thirdly1 ,i have been led to reject philosophic systems2 and finally1 what ,i have accepted of the doctrine of the ,sufis1 and the sum total of truth which ,i have gathered in studying every variety of opinion4 ,you ask me why1 after resigning at ,bagdad a teaching post which attracted a number of hearers1 ,i have1 long afterward1 accepted a similar one at ,nishapur4 ,convinced as ,i am of the sincerity which prompts your inquiries1 ,i proceed to answer them1 invoking the help and protection of ,god4 ,know then1 my brothers 7may ,god direct you in the right way71 that the diversity in beliefs and religions1 and the variety of doctrines and sects which divide men1 are like a deep ocean strewn with shipwrecks1 from which very few escape safe and sound4 ,each sect1 it is true1 believes itself in possession of the truth and of salvation1 each party1 as the ,koran saith1 rejoices in its own creed2 but as the chief of the apostles1 whose word is always truthful1 has told us1 ,my people will be divided into more than seventy sects1 of whom only one will be saved4 ,this prediction1 like all others of the ,prophet1 must be fulfilled4 ,from the period of adolescence1 that is to say1 previous to reaching my twentieth year to the present time when ,i have passed my fiftieth1 ,i have ventured into this vast ocean2 ,i have fearlessly sounded its depths1 and like a resolute diver1 ,i have penetrated its darkness and dared its dangers and abysses4 ,i have interrogated the beliefs of each sect and scrutinized the mysteries of each doctrine1 in order to disentangle truth from error and orthodoxy from heresy4 ,i have never met one who maintained the hidden meaning of the ,koran without investigating the nature of his belief1 nor a partizan of its exterior sense without inquiring into the results of his doctrine4 ,there is no philosopher whose system ,i have not fathomed1 nor theologian the intricacies of whose doctrine ,i have not followed out4 ,sufism has no secrets into which ,i have not penetrated2 the devout adorer of ,deity has revealed to me the aim of his austerities2 the atheist has not been able to conceal from me the real reason of his unbelief4 ,the thirst for knowledge was innate in me from an early age2 it was like a second nature implanted by ,god1 without any will on my part4 ,no sooner had ,i emerged from boyhood than ,i had already broken the fetters of tradition and freed myself from hereditary beliefs4 ,having noticed how easily the children of ,christians become ,christians1 and the children of ,moslems embrace ,islam1 and remembering also the traditional saying ascribed to the ,prophet1 ,every child has in him the germ of ,islam1 then his parents make him ,jew1 ,christian1 or ,zoroastrian1 ,i was moved by a keen desire to learn what was this innate disposition in the child1 the nature of the accidental beliefs imposed on him by the authority of his parents and his masters1 and finally the unreasoned convictions which he derives from their instructions4 ,struck with the contradictions which ,i encountered in endeavoring to disentangle the truth and falsehood of these opinions1 ,i was led to make the following reflection3 ,the search after truth being the aim which ,i propose to myself1 ,i ought in the first place to ascertain what are the bases of certitude4 ,in the next place ,i recognized that certitude is the clear and complete knowledge of things1 such knowledge as leaves no room for doubt nor possibility of error and conjecture1 so that there remains no room in the mind for error to find an entrance4 ,in such a case it is necessary that the mind1 fortified against all possibility of going astray1 should embrace such a strong conviction that1 if1 for example1 any one possessing the power of changing a stone into gold1 or a stick into a serpent1 should seek to shake the bases of this certitude1 it would remain firm and immovable4 ,suppose1 for instance1 a man should come and say to me1 who am firmly convinced that ten is more than three1 ,no2 on the contrary1 three is more than ten1 and1 to prove it1 ,i change this rod into a serpent1 and supposing that he actually did so1 ,i should remain none the less convinced of the falsity of his assertion1 and although his miracle might arouse my astonishment1 it would not instil any doubt into my belief4 ,i then understood that all forms of knowledge which do not unite these conditions 7imperviousness to doubt1 etc47 do not deserve any confidence1 because they are not beyond the reach of doubt1 and what is not impregnable to doubt can not constitute certitude4 ,the ,subterfuges of the ,sophists ,i then examined what knowledge ,i possessed1 and discovered that in none of it1 with the exception of sense-perceptions and necessary principles1 did ,i enjoy that degree of certitude which ,i have just described4 ,i then sadly reflected as follows3 ,we can not hope to find truth except in matters which carry their evidence in themselves--that is to say1 in sense-perceptions and necessary principles2 we must therefore establish these on a firm basis4 ,is my absolute confidence in sense-perceptions and on the infallibility of necessary principles analogous to the confidence which ,i formerly possessed in matters believed on the authority of others8 ,is it only analogous to the reliance most people place on their organs of vision1 or is it rigorously true without admixture of illusion or doubt8 ,i then set myself earnestly to examine the notions we derive from the evidence of the senses and from sight in order to see if they could be called in question4 ,the result of a careful examination was that my confidence in them was shaken4 ,our sight1 for instance1 perhaps the best practised of all our senses1 observes a shadow1 and finding it apparently stationary pronounces it devoid of movement4 ,observation and experience1 however1 show subsequently that a shadow moves not suddenly1 it is true1 but gradually and imperceptibly1 so that it is never really motionless4 ,again1 the eye sees a star and believes it as large as a piece of gold1 but mathematical calculations prove1 on the contrary1 that it is larger than the earth4 ,these notions1 and all others which the senses declare true1 are subsequently contradicted and convicted of falsity in an irrefragable manner by the verdict of reason4 ,then ,i reflected in myself3 ,since ,i can not trust to the evidence of my senses1 ,i must rely only on intellectual notions based on fundamental principles1 such as the following axioms3 ',ten is more than three4 ,affirmation and negation can not coexist together4 ,a thing can not both be created and also existent from eternity1 living and annihilated simultaneously1 at once necessary and impossible4' ,to this the notions ,i derived from my senses made the following objections3 ,who can guarantee you that you can trust to the evidence of reason more than to that of the senses8 ,you believed in our testimony till it was contradicted by the verdict of reason1 otherwise you would have continued to believe it to this day4 ,well1 perhaps1 there is above reason another judge who1 if he appeared1 would convict reason of falsehood1 just as reason has confuted us4 ,and if such a third arbiter is not yet apparent1 it does not follow that he does not exist4 ,to this argument ,i remained some time without reply2 a reflection drawn from the phenomena of sleep deepened my doubt4 ,do you not see1 ,i reflected1 that while asleep you assume your dreams to be indisputably real8 ,once awake1 you recognize them for what they are--baseless chimeras4 ,who can assure you1 then1 of the reliability of notions which1 when awake1 you derive from the senses and from reason8 ,in relation to your present state they may be real2 but it is possible also that you may enter upon another state of being which will bear the same relation to your present state as this does to your condition when asleep4 ,in that new sphere you will recognize that the conclusions of reason are only chimeras4 ,this possible condition is1 perhaps1 that which the ,sufis call ecstasy 7hal71 that is to say1 according to them1 a state in which1 absorbed in themselves and in the suspension of sense-perceptions1 they have visions beyond the reach of intellect4 ,perhaps also ,death is that state1 according to that saying of the prince of prophets3 ,men are asleep2 when they die1 they wake4 ,our present life in relation to the future is perhaps only a dream1 and man1 once dead1 will see things in direct opposition to those now before his eyes2 he will then understand that word of the ,koran1 ,to-day we have removed the veil from thine eyes and thy sight is keen4 ,such thoughts as these threatened to shake my reason1 and ,i sought to find an escape from them4 ,but how8 ,in order to disentangle the knot of this difficulty1 a proof was necessary4 ,now a proof must be based on primary assumptions1 and it was precisely these of which ,i was in doubt4 ,this unhappy state lasted about two months1 during which ,i was1 not1 it is true1 explicitly or by profession1 but morally and essentially1 a thorough-going skeptic4 ,god at last deigned to heal me of this mental malady2 my mind recovered sanity and equilibrium1 the primary assumptions of reason recovered with me all their stringency and force4 ,i owed my deliverance1 not to a concatenation of proofs and arguments1 but to the light which ,god caused to penetrate into my heart--the light which illuminates the threshold of all knowledge4 ,to suppose that certitude can be only based upon formal arguments is to limit the boundless mercy of ,god4 ,some one asked the ,prophet the explanation of this passage in the ,divine ,book3 ,god opens to ,islam the heart of him whom he chooses to direct4 ,that is spoken1 replied the ,prophet1 of the light which ,god sheds in the heart4 ,and how can man recognize that light8 he was asked4 ,by his detachment from this world of illusion and by a secret drawing toward the eternal world1 the ,prophet replied4 ,on another occasion he said3 ,god has created his creatures in darkness1 and then has shed upon them his light4 ,it is by the help of this light that the search for truth must be carried on4 ,as by his mercy this light descends from time to time among men1 we must ceaselessly be on the watch for it4 ,this is also corroborated by another saying of the ,apostle3 ,god sends upon you1 at certain times1 breathings of his grace2 be prepared for them4 ,my object in this account is to make others understand with what earnestness we should search for truth1 since it leads to results we never dreamed of4 ,primary assumptions have not got to be sought for1 since they are always present to our minds2 if we engage in such a search1 we only find them persistently elude our grasp4 ,but those who push their investigation beyond ordinary limits are safe from the suspicion of negligence in pursuing what is within their reach4 ,the ,different ,kinds of ,seekers after ,truth ,when ,god in the abundance of his mercy had healed me of this malady1 ,i ascertained that those who are engaged in the search for truth may be divided into three groups4 ,i4 ,scholastic theologians1 who profess to follow theory and speculation4 ,,ii4 ,the philosophers1 who profess to rely upon formal logic4 ,,iii4 ,the ,sufis1 who call themselves the elect of ,god and possessors of intuition and knowledge of the truth by means of ecstasy4 ,the truth1 ,i said to myself1 must be found among these three classes of men who devote themselves to the search for it4 ,if it escapes them1 one must give up all hope of attaining it4 ,having once surrendered blind belief1 it is impossible to return to it1 for the essence of such belief is to be unconscious of itself4 ,as soon as this unconsciousness ceases it is shattered like a glass whose fragments can not be again reunited except by being cast again into the furnace and refashioned4 ,determined to follow these paths and to search out these systems to the bottom1 ,i proceeded with my investigations in the following order3 ,scholastic theology2 philosophical systems2 and1 finally ,sufism4 ,the ,aim of ,scholastic ,theology and ,its ,results ,commencing with theological science1 ,i carefully studied and meditated upon it4 ,i read the writings of the authorities in this department and myself composed several treatises4 ,i recognized that this science1 while sufficing its own requirements1 could not assist me in arriving at the desired goal4 ,in short1 its object is to preserve the purity of orthodox beliefs from all heretical innovation4 ,god1 by means of his apostle1 has revealed to his creatures a belief which is true as regards their temporal and eternal interests2 the chief articles of it are laid down in the ,koran and in the traditions4 ,subsequently1 ,satan suggested to innovators principles contrary to those of orthodoxy2 they listened greedily to his suggestions1 and the purity of the faith was menaced4 ,god then raised up a school of theologians and inspired them with the desire to defend orthodoxy by means of a system of proofs adapted to unveil the devices of the heretics and to foil the attacks which they made on the doctrines established by tradition4 ,such is the origin of scholastic theology4 ,many of its adepts1 worthy of their high calling1 valiantly defended the orthodox faith by proving the reality of prophecy and the falsity of heretical innovations4 ,but1 in order to do so1 they had to rely upon a certain number of premises1 which they accepted in common with their adversaries1 and which authority and universal consent or simply the ,koran and the traditions obliged them to accept4 ,their principal effort was to expose the self-contradictions of their opponents and to confute them by means of the premises which they had professed to accept4 ,now a method of argumentation like this has little value for one who only admits self-evident truths4 ,scholastic theology could not consequently satisfy me nor heal the malady from which ,i suffered4 ,it is true that in its later development theology was not content to defend dogma2 it betook itself to the study of first principles1 of substances1 accidents and the laws which govern them2 but through want of a thoroughly scientific basis1 it could not advance far in its researches1 nor succeed in dispelling entirely the overhanging obscurity which springs from diversities of belief4 ,i do not1 however1 deny that it has had a more satisfactory result for others2 on the contrary1 ,i admit that it has2 but it is by introducing the principle of authority in matters which are not self-evident4 ,moreover1 my object is to explain my own mental attitude and not to dispute with those who have found healing for themselves4 ,remedies vary according to the nature of the disease2 those which benefit some may injure others4 ,,philosophy4--,how far it is open to censure or not--,on what points its adherents may be considered believers or unbelievers1 orthodox or heretical--,what they have borrowed from the true doctrine to render their chimerical theories acceptable--,why the minds of men swerve from the truth--,what criteria are available wherewith to separate the pure gold from the alloy in their systems4 ,i proceeded from the study of scholastic theology to that of philosophy4 ,it was plain to me that1 in order to discover where the professors of any branch of knowledge have erred1 one must make a profound study of that science2 must equal1 nay surpass1 those who know most of it1 so as to penetrate into secrets of it unknown to them4 ,only by this method can they be completely answered1 and of this method ,i can find no trace in the theologians of ,islam4 ,in theological writings devoted to the refutation of philosophy ,i have only found a tangled mass of phrases full of contradictions and mistakes1 and incapable of deceiving1 ,i will not say a critical mind1 but even the common crowd4 ,convinced that to dream of refuting a doctrine before having thoroughly comprehended it was like shooting at an object in the dark1 ,i devoted myself zealously to the study of philosophy2 but in books only and without the aid of a teacher4 ,i gave up to this work all the leisure remaining from teaching and from composing works on law4 ,there were then attending my lectures three hundred of the students of ,bagdad4 ,with the help of ,god1 these studies1 carried on in secret1 so to speak1 put me in a condition to thoroughly comprehend philosophical systems within a space of two years4 ,i then spent about a year in meditating on these systems after having thoroughly understood them4 ,i turned them over and over in my mind till they were thoroughly clear of all obscurity4 ,in this manner ,i acquired a complete knowledge of all their subterfuges and subtleties1 of what was truth and what was illusion in them4 ,i now proceed to give a rsum of these doctrines4 ,i ascertained that they were divided into different varieties1 and that their adherents might be ranged under diverse heads4 ,all1 in spite of their diversity1 are marked with the stamp of infidelity and irreligion1 although there is a considerable difference between the ancient and modern1 between the first and last of these philosophers1 according as they have missed or approximated to the truth in a greater or less degree4 ,concerning the ,philosophical ,sects and the ,stigma of ,infidelity ,which ,attaches to ,them ,all ,the philosophical systems1 in spite of their number and variety1 may be reduced to three3 7#a7 the ,materialists2 7#b7 the ,naturalists2 7#c7 the ,theists4 7#a7 ,the ,materialists4 ,they reject an intelligent and omnipotent ,creator and disposer of the universe4 ,in their view the world exists from all eternity and had no author4 ,the animal comes from semen and semen from the animal2 so it had always been and will always be2 those who maintain this doctrine are atheists4 7#b7 ,the ,naturalists4 ,these devote themselves to the study of nature and of the marvelous phenomena of the animal and vegetable world4 ,having carefully analyzed animal organs with the help of anatomy1 struck with the wonders of ,god's work and with the wisdom therein revealed1 they are forced to admit the existence of a wise ,creator who knows the end and purpose of everything4 ,and certainly no one can study anatomy and the wonderful mechanism of living things without being obliged to confess the profound wisdom of him who has framed the bodies of animals and especially of man4 ,but carried away by their natural researches they believed that the existence of a being absolutely depended upon the proper equilibrium of its organism4 ,according to them1 as the latter perishes and is destroyed1 so is the thinking faculty which is bound up with it2 and as they assert that the restoration of a thing once destroyed to existence is unthinkable1 they deny the immortality of the soul4 ,consequently they deny heaven1 hell1 resurrection1 and judgment4 ,acknowledging neither a recompense for good deeds nor a punishment for evil ones1 they fling off all authority and plunge into sensual pleasures with the avidity of brutes4 ,these also ought to be called atheists1 for the true faith depends not only on the acknowledgment of ,god1 but of his ,apostle and of the day of judgment4 ,and although they acknowledge ,god and his attributes1 they deny a judgment to come4 7#c7 ,next come the ,theists4 ,among them should be reckoned ,socrates1 who was the teacher of ,plato as ,plato was of ,aristotle4 ,this latter drew up for his disciples the rules of logic1 organized the sciences1 elucidated what was formerly obscure1 and expounded what had not been understood4 ,this school refuted the systems of the two others1 i4e41 the ,materialists and ,naturalists2 but in exposing their mistaken and perverse beliefs1 they made use of arguments which they should not4 ,god suffices to protect the faithful in war 7,koran1 xxxiii4 #be74 ,aristotle also contended with success against the theories of ,plato1 ,socrates1 and the theists who had preceded him1 and separated himself entirely from them2 but he could not eliminate from his doctrine the stains of infidelity and heresy which disfigure the teaching of his predecessors4 ,we should therefore consider them all as unbelievers1 as well as the so-called ,mussulman philosophers1 such as ,ibn ,sina 7,avicenna7 and ,farabi1 who have adopted their systems4 ,let us1 however1 acknowledge that among ,mussulman philosophers none has better interpreted the doctrine of ,aristotle than the latter4 ,what others have handed down as his teaching is full of error1 confusion1 and obscurity adapted to disconcert the reader4 ,the unintelligible can neither be accepted nor rejected4 ,the philosophy of ,aristotle1 all serious knowledge of which we owe to the translation of these two learned men1 may be divided into three portions3 the first contains matter justly chargeable with impiety1 the second is tainted with heresy1 and the third we are obliged to reject absolutely4 ,we proceed to details3 ,divisions of the ,philosophic ,sciences ,these sciences1 in relation to the aim we have set before us1 may be divided into six sections3 7#a7 ,mathematics2 7#b7 ,logic2 7#c7 ,physics2 7#d7 ,metaphysics2 7#e7 ,politics2 7#f7 ,moral ,philosophy4 7#a7 ,mathematics4 ,mathematics comprises the knowledge of calculation1 geometry1 and cosmography3 it has no connection with the religious sciences1 and proves nothing for or against religion2 it rests on a foundation of proofs which1 once known and understood1 can not be refuted4 ,mathematics tend1 however1 to produce two bad results4 ,the first is this3 ,whoever studies this science admires the subtlety and clearness of its proofs4 ,his confidence in philosophy increases1 and he thinks that all its departments are capable of the same clearness and solidity of proof as mathematics4 ,but when he hears people speak of the unbelief and impiety of mathematicians1 of their professed disregard for the ,divine ,law1 which is notorious1 it is true that1 out of regard for authority1 he echoes these accusations1 but he says to himself at the same time that1 if there was truth in religion1 it would not have escaped those who have displayed so much keenness of intellect in the study of mathematics4 ,next1 when he becomes aware of the unbelief and rejection of religion on the part of these learned men1 he concludes that to reject religion is reasonable4 ,how many of such men gone astray ,i have met whose sole argument was that just mentioned4 ,and supposing one puts to them the following objection3 ,it does not follow that a man who excels in one branch of knowledge excels in all others1 nor that he should be equally versed in jurisprudence1 theology1 and medicine4 ,it is possible to be entirely ignorant of metaphysics1 and yet to be an excellent grammarian4 ,there are past masters in every science who are entirely ignorant of other branches of knowledge4 ,the arguments of the ancient philosophers are rigidly demonstrative in mathematics and only conjectural in religious questions4 ,in order to ascertain this one must proceed to a thorough examination of the matter4 ,supposing1 ,i say1 one makes the above objection to these apes of unbelief1 they find it distasteful4 ,falling a prey to their passions1 to a besotted vanity1 and the wish to pass for learned men1 they persist in maintaining the pre-eminence of mathematicians in all branches of knowledge4 ,this is a serious evil1 and for this reason those who study mathematics should be checked from going too far in their researches4 ,for though far removed as it may be from the things of religion1 this study1 serving as it does as an introduction to the philosophic systems1 casts over religion its malign influence4 ,it is rarely that a man devotes himself to it without robbing himself of his faith and casting off the restraints of religion4 ,the second evil comes from the sincere but ignorant ,mussulman who thinks the best way to defend religion is by rejecting all the exact sciences4 ,accusing their professors of being astray1 he rejects their theories of the eclipses of the sun and moon1 and condemns them in the name of religion4 ,these accusations are carried far and wide1 they reach the ears of the philosopher who knows that these theories rest on infallible proofs2 far from losing confidence in them1 he believes1 on the contrary1 that ,islam has ignorance and the denial of scientific proofs for its basis1 and his devotion to philosophy increases with his hatred to religion4 ,it is therefore a great injury to religion to suppose that the defense of ,islam involves the condemnation of the exact sciences4 ,the religious law contains nothing which approves them or condemns them1 and in their turn they make no attack on religion4 ,the words of the ,prophet1 ,the sun and the moon are two signs of the power of ,god2 they are not eclipsed for the birth or the death of any one2 when you see these signs take refuge in prayer and invoke the name of ,god--these words1 ,i say1 do not in any way condemn the astronomical calculations which define the orbits of these two bodies1 their conjunction and opposition according to particular laws4 ,but as for the so-called tradition1 ,when ,god reveals himself in anything1 he abases himself thereto1 it is unauthentic1 and not found in any trustworthy collection of the traditions4 ,such is the bearing and the possible danger of mathematics4 7#b7 ,logic4 ,this science1 in the same manner1 contains nothing for or against religion4 ,its object is the study of different kinds of proofs and syllogisms1 the conditions which should hold between the premises of a proposition1 the way to combine them1 the rules of a good definition1 and the art of formulating it4 ,for knowledge consists of conceptions which spring from a definition or of convictions which arise from proofs4 ,there is therefore nothing censurable in this science1 and it is laid under contribution by theologians as well as by philosophers4 ,the only difference is that the latter use a particular set of technical formul and that they push their divisions and subdivisions further4 ,it may be asked1 ,what1 then1 this has to do with the grave questions of religion1 and on what ground opposition should be offered to the methods of logic8 ,the objector1 it will be said1 can only inspire the logician with an unfavorable opinion of the intelligence and faith of his adversary1 since the latter's faith seems to be based upon such objections4 ,but1 it must be admitted1 logic is liable to abuse4 ,logicians demand in reasoning certain conditions which lead to absolute certainty1 but when they touch on religious questions they can no longer postulate these conditions1 and ought therefore to relax their habitual rigor4 ,it happens1 accordingly1 that a student who is enamored of the evidential methods of logic1 hearing his teachers accused of irreligion1 believes that this irreligion reposes on proofs as strong as those of logic1 and immediately1 without attempting the study of metaphysics1 shares their mistake4 ,this is a serious disadvantage arising from the study of logic4 7#c7 ,physics4 ,the object of this science is the study of the bodies which compose the universe3 the sky and the stars1 and1 here below1 simple elements such as air1 earth1 water1 fire1 and compound bodies--animals1 plants1 and minerals2 the reasons of their changes1 developments1 and intermixture4 ,by the nature of its researches it is closely connected with the study of medicine1 the object of which is the human body1 its principal and secondary organs1 and the law which governs their changes4 ,religion having no fault to find with medical science1 can not justly do so with physical1 except on some special1 matters which we have mentioned in the work entitled1 ,the ,destruction of the ,philosophers4 ,besides these primary questions1 there are some subordinate ones depending on them1 on which physical science is open to objection4 ,but all physical science rests1 as we believe1 on the following principle3 ,nature is entirely subject to ,god2 incapable of acting by itself1 it is an instrument in the hand of the ,creator2 sun1 moon1 stars1 and elements are subject to ,god and can produce nothing of themselves4 ,in a word1 nothing in nature can act spontaneously and apart from ,god4 7#d7 ,metaphysics4 ,this is the fruitful breeding-ground of the errors of philosophers4 ,here they can no longer satisfy the laws of rigorous argumentation such as logic demands1 and this is what explains the disputes which arise between them in the study of metaphysics4 ,the system most closely akin to the system of the ,mohammedan doctors is that of ,aristotle as expounded to us by ,farabi and ,avicenna4 ,the sum total of their errors can be reduced to twenty propositions3 three of them are irreligious1 and the other seventeen heretical4 ,it was in order to combat their system that we wrote the work1 ,destruction of the ,philosophers4 ,the three propositions in which they are opposed to all the doctrines of ,islam are the following3 7a7 ,bodies do not rise again2 spirits alone will be rewarded or punished2 future punishments will be therefore spiritual and not physical4 ,they are right in admitting spiritual punishments1 for there will be such2 but they are wrong in rejecting physical punishments1 and contradicting in this manner the assertions of the ,divine ,law4 7b7 ,god takes cognizance of universals1 not of specials4 ,this is manifestly irreligious4 ,the ,koran asserts truly1 ,not an atom's weight in heaven or earth can escape his knowledge 7x4 #fb74 7c7 ,they maintain that the universe exists from all eternity and will never end4 ,none of these propositions has ever been admitted by ,moslems4 ,besides this1 they deny that ,god has attributes1 and maintain that he knows by his essence only and not by means of any attribute accessory to his essence4 ,in this point they approach the doctrine of the ,mutazilites1 doctrines which we are not obliged to condemn as irreligious4 ,on the contrary1 in our work entitled1 ,criteria of the ,differences ,which ,divide ,islam from ,atheism1 we have proved the wrongness of those who accuse of irreligion everything which is opposed to their way of looking at things4 7#e7 ,political ,science4 ,the professors of this confine themselves to drawing up the rules which regulate temporal matters and the royal power4 ,they have borrowed their theories on this point from the books which ,god has revealed to his prophets and from the sentences of ancient sages1 gathered by tradition4 7#f7 ,moral ,philosophy4 ,the professors of this occupy themselves with defining the attributes and qualities of the soul1 grouping them according to genus and species1 and pointing out the way to moderate and control them4 ,they have borrowed this system from the ,sufis4 ,these devout men1 who are always engaged in invoking the name of ,god1 in combating concupiscence and following the way of ,god by renouncing the pleasures of this world1 have received1 while in a state of ecstasy1 revelations regarding the qualities of the soul1 its defects and its evil inclinations4 ,these revelations they have published1 and the philosophers making use of them have introduced them into their own systems in order to embellish and give currency to their falsehoods4 ,in the times of the philosophers1 as at every other period1 there existed some of these fervent mystics4 ,god does not deprive this world of them1 for they are its sustainers1 and they draw down to it the blessings of heaven according to the tradition3 ,it is by them that you obtain rain2 it is by them that you receive your subsistence4 ,such were the ,companions of the ,cave1 who lived in ancient times1 as related by the ,koran 7xviii474 ,now this mixture of moral and philosophic doctrine with the words of the ,prophet and those of the ,sufis gives rise to two dangers1 one for the upholder of those doctrines1 the other for their opponent4 ,the danger for their opponent is serious4 ,a narrow-minded man1 finding in their writings moral philosophy mixed with unsupported theories1 believes that he ought to entirely reject them and to condemn those who profess them4 ,having only heard them from their mouth he does not hesitate in his ignorance to declare them false because those who teach them are in error4 ,it is as if some one was to reject the profession of faith made by ,christians1 ,there is only one ,god and ,jesus is his prophet1 simply because it proceeds from ,christians and without inquiring whether it is the profession of this creed or the denial of ,mohammed's prophetic mission which makes ,christians infidels4 ,now1 if they are only infidels because of their rejection of our ,prophet1 we are not entitled to reject those of their doctrines which do not wear the stamp of infidelity4 ,in a word1 truth does not cease to be true because it is found among them4 ,such1 however1 is the tendency of weak minds3 they judge the truth according to its professors instead of judging its professors by the standard of the truth4 ,but a liberal spirit will take as its guide this maxim of the prince of believers1 ,ali the son of ,abu ,talib3 ,do not seek for the truth by means of men2 find first the truth and then you will recognize those who follow it4 ,this is the procedure followed by a wise man4 ,once in possession of the truth he examines the basis of various doctrines which come before him1 and when he has found them true1 he accepts them without troubling himself whether the person who teaches them is sincere or a deceiver4 ,much rather1 remembering how gold is buried in the bowels of the earth1 he endeavors to disengage the truth from the mass of errors in which it is engulfed4 ,the skilled coin-assayer plunges without hesitation his hand into the purse of the coiner of false money1 and relying on experience1 separates good coins from bad4 ,it is the ignorant rustic1 and not the experienced assayer1 who will ask why we should have anything to do with a false coiner4 ,the unskilled swimmer must be kept away from the seashore1 not the expert in diving4 ,the child1 not the charmer1 must be forbidden to handle serpents4 ,as a matter of fact1 men have such a good opinion of themselves1 of their mental superiority and intellectual depth2 they believe themselves so skilled in discerning the true from the false1 the path of safety from those of error1 that they should be forbidden as much as possible the perusal of philosophic writings1 for though they sometimes escape the danger just pointed out1 they can not avoid that which we are about to indicate4 ,some of the maxims found in my works regarding the mysteries of religion have met with objectors of an inferior rank in science1 whose intellectual penetration is insufficient to fathom such depths4 ,they assert that these maxims are borrowed from the ancient philosophers1 whereas the truth is that they are the fruit of my own meditations1 but as the proverb says1 ,sandal follows the impress of sandal4#aa ,some of them are found in our books of religious law1 but the greater part are derived from the writings of the ,sufis4 ,but even if they were borrowed exclusively from the doctrines of the philosophers1 is it right to reject an opinion when it is reasonable in itself1 supported by solid proofs1 and contradicting neither the ,koran nor the traditions8 ,if we adopt this method and reject every truth which has chanced to have been proclaimed by an impostor1 how many truths we should have to reject6 ,how many verses of the ,koran and traditions of the prophets and ,sufi discourses and maxims of sages we must close our ears to because the author of the ,treatise of the ,brothers of ,purity has inserted them in his writings in order to further his cause1 and in order to lead minds gradually astray in the paths of error6 ,the consequence of this procedure would be that impostors would snatch truths out of our hands in order to embellish their own works4 ,the wise man1 at least1 should not make common cause with the bigot blinded by ignorance4 ,honey does not become impure because it may happen to have been placed in the glass which the surgeon uses for cupping purposes4 ,the impurity of blood is due1 not to its contact with this glass1 but to a peculiarity inherent in its own nature2 this peculiarity1 not existing in honey1 can not be communicated to it by its being placed in the cupping-glass2 it is therefore wrong to regard it as impure4 ,such is1 however1 the whimsical way of looking at things found in nearly all men4 ,every word proceeding from an authority which they approve is accepted by them1 even were it false2 every word proceeding from one whom they suspect is rejected1 even were it true4 ,in every case they judge of the truth according to its professors and not of men according to the truth which they profess1 a ne plus ultra of error4 ,such is the peril in which philosophy involves its opponents4 ,the second danger threatens those who accept the opinions of the philosophers4 ,when1 for instance1 we read the ,treatise of the ,brothers of ,purity1 and other works of the same kind1 we find in them sentences spoken by the ,prophet and quotations from the ,sufis4 ,we approve these works2 we give them our confidence2 and we finish by accepting the errors which they contain1 because of the good opinion of them with which they have inspired us at the outset4 ,thus1 by insensible degrees1 we are led astray4 ,in view of this danger the reading of philosophic writings so full of vain and delusive utopias should be forbidden1 just as the slippery banks of a river are forbidden to one who knows not how to swim4 ,the perusal of these false teachings must be prevented just as one prevents children from touching serpents4 ,a snake-charmer himself will abstain from touching snakes in the presence of his young child1 because he knows that the child1 believing himself as clever as his father1 will not fail to imitate him2 and in order to lend more weight to his prohibition the charmer will not touch a serpent under the eyes of his son4 ,such should be the conduct of a learned man who is also wise4 ,but the snake-charmer1 after having taken the serpent and separated the venom from the antidote1 having put the latter on one side and destroyed the venom1 ought not to withhold the antidote from those who need it4 ,in the same way the skilled coin-assayer1 after having put his hand in the bag of the false coiner1 taken out the good coins and thrown away the bad ones1 ought not to refuse the good to those who need and ask for it4 ,such should be the conduct of the learned man4 ,if the patient feels a certain dislike of the antidote because he knows that it is taken from a snake whose body is the receptacle of poison1 he should be disabused of this fallacy4 ,if a beggar hesitates to take a piece of gold which he knows comes from the purse of a false coiner1 he should be told that his hesitation is a pure mistake which would deprive him of the advantage which he seeks4 ,it should be proved to him that the contact of the good coins with the bad does not injure the former and does not improve the latter4 ,in the same way the contact of truth with falsehood does not change truth into falsehood1 any more than it changes falsehood into truth4 ,thus much1 then1 we have to say regarding the inconveniences and dangers which spring from the study of philosophy4 ,sufism ,when ,i had finished my examination of these doctrines ,i applied myself to the study of ,sufism4 ,i saw that in order to understand it thoroughly one must combine theory with practise4 ,the aim which the ,sufis set before them is as follows3 ,to free the soul from the tyrannical yoke of the passions1 to deliver it from its wrong inclinations and evil instincts1 in order that in the purified heart there should only remain room for ,god and for the invocation of his holy name4 ,as it was more easy to learn their doctrine than to practise it1 ,i studied first of all those of their books which contain it3 ,the ,nourishment of ,hearts1 by ,abu ,talib of ,mecca1 the works of ,hareth el ,muhasibi1 and the fragments which still remain of ,junaid1 ,shibli1 ,abu ,yezid ,bustami1 and other leaders 7whose souls may ,god sanctify74 ,i acquired a thorough knowledge of their researches1 and ,i learned all that was possible to learn of their methods by study and oral teaching4 ,it became clear to me that the last stage could not be reached by mere instruction1 but only by transport1 ecstasy1 and the transformation of the moral being4 ,to define health and satiety1 to penetrate their causes and conditions1 is quite another thing from being well and satisfied4 ,to define drunkenness1 to know that it is caused by vapors which rise from the stomach and cloud the seat of intelligence1 is quite a different thing to being drunk4 ,the drunken man has no idea of the nature of drunkenness1 just because he is drunk and not in a condition to understand anything1 while the doctor1 not being under the influence of drunkenness1 knows its character and laws4 ,or if the doctor fall ill1 he has a theoretical knowledge of the health of which he is deprived4 ,in the same way there is a considerable difference between knowing renouncement1 comprehending its conditions and causes1 and practising renouncement and detachment from the things of this world4 ,i saw that ,sufism consists in experiences rather than in definitions1 and that what ,i was lacking belonged to the domain1 not of instruction1 but of ecstasy and initiation4 ,the researches to which ,i had devoted myself1 the path which ,i had traversed in studying religious and speculative branches of knowledge1 had given me a firm faith in three things--,god1 ,inspiration1 and the ,last ,judgment4 ,these three fundamental articles of belief were confirmed in me1 not merely by definite arguments1 but by a chain of causes1 circumstances1 and proofs which it is impossible to recount4 ,i saw that one can only hope for salvation by devotion and the conquest of one's passions1 a procedure which presupposes renouncement and detachment from this world of falsehood in order to turn toward eternity and meditation on ,god4 ,finally1 ,i saw that the only condition of success was to sacrifice honors and riches and to sever the ties and attachments of worldly life4 ,coming seriously to consider my state1 ,i found myself bound down on all sides by these trammels4 ,examining my actions1 the most fair-seeming of which were my lecturing and professorial occupations1 ,i found to my surprise that ,i was engrossed in several studies of little value1 and profitless as regards my salvation4 ,i probed the motives of my teaching and found that1 in place of being sincerely consecrated to ,god1 it was only actuated by a vain desire of honor and reputation4 ,i perceived that ,i was on the edge of an abyss1 and that without an immediate conversion ,i should be doomed to eternal fire4 ,in these reflections ,i spent a long time4 ,still a prey to uncertainty1 one day ,i decided to leave ,bagdad and to give up everything2 the next day ,i gave up my resolution4 ,i advanced one step and immediately relapsed4 ,in the morning ,i was sincerely resolved only to occupy myself with the future life2 in the evening a crowd of carnal thoughts assailed and dispersed my resolutions4 ,on the one side the world kept me bound to my post in the chains of covetousness1 on the other side the voice of religion cried to me1 ,up6 ,up6 ,thy life is nearing its end1 and thou hast a long journey to make4 ,all thy pretended knowledge is naught but falsehood and fantasy4 ,if thou dost not think now of thy salvation1 when wilt thou think of it8 ,if thou dost not break thy chains to-day1 when wilt thou break them8 ,then my resolve was strengthened1 ,i wished to give up all and flee2 but the ,tempter1 returning to the attack1 said1 ,you are suffering from a transitory feeling2 don't give way to it1 for it will soon pass4 ,if you obey it1 if you give up this fine position1 this honorable post exempt from trouble and rivalry1 this seat of authority safe from attack1 you will regret it later on without being able to recover it4 ,thus ,i remained1 torn asunder by the opposite forces of earthly passions and religious aspirations1 for about six months from the month ,rajab of the year ,a4,d4 #ajif4 ,at the close of them my will yielded and ,i gave myself up to destiny4 ,god caused an impediment to chain my tongue and prevented me from lecturing4 ,vainly ,i desired1 in the interest of my pupils1 to go on with my teaching1 but my mouth became dumb4 ,the silence to which ,i was condemned cast me into a violent despair2 my stomach became weak2 ,i lost all appetite2 ,i could neither swallow a morsel of bread nor drink a drop of water4 ,the enfeeblement of my physical powers was such that the doctors1 despairing of saving me1 said1 ,the mischief is in the heart1 and has communicated itself to the whole organism2 there is no hope unless the cause of his grievous sadness be arrested4 ,finally1 conscious of my weakness and the prostration of my soul1 ,i took refuge in ,god as a man at the end of himself and without resources4 ,he who hears the wretched when they cry 7,koran1 xxvii4 #fc7 deigned to hear me2 ,he made easy to me the sacrifice of honors1 wealth1 and family4 ,i gave out publicly that ,i intended to make the pilgrimage to ,mecca1 while ,i secretly resolved to go to ,syria1 not wishing that the ,caliph 7may ,god magnify him7 or my friends should know my intention of settling in that country4 ,i made all kinds of clever excuses for leaving ,bagdad with the fixed intention of not returning thither4 ,the ,imams of ,irak criticized me with one accord4 ,not one of them could admit that this sacrifice had a religious motive1 because they considered my position as the highest attainable in the religious community4 ,behold how far their knowledge goes6 7,koran1 liii4 #ca74 ,all kinds of explanations of my conduct were forthcoming4 ,those who were outside the limits of ,irak attributed it to the fear with which the ,government inspired me4 ,those who were on the spot and saw how the authorities wished to detain me1 their displeasure at my resolution and my refusal of their request1 said to themselves1 ,it is a calamity which one can only impute to a fate which has befallen the ,faithful and ,learning6 ,at last ,i left ,bagdad1 giving up all my fortune4 ,only1 as lands and property in ,irak can afford an endowment for pious purposes1 ,i obtained a legal authorization to preserve as much as was necessary for my support and that of my children2 for there is surely nothing more lawful in the world than that a learned man should provide sufficient to support his family4 ,i then betook myself to ,syria1 where ,i remained for two years1 which ,i devoted to retirement1 meditation1 and devout exercises4 ,i only thought of self-improvement and discipline and of purification of the heart by prayer in going through the forms of devotion which the ,sufis had taught me4 ,i used to live a solitary life in the ,mosque of ,damascus1 and was in the habit of spending my days on the minaret after closing the door behind me4 ,from thence ,i proceeded to ,jerusalem1 and every day secluded myself in the ,sanctuary of the ,rock4#ab ,after that ,i felt a desire to accomplish the pilgrimage1 and to receive a full effusion of grace by visiting ,mecca1 ,medina1 and the tomb of the ,prophet4 ,after visiting the shrine of the ,friend of ,god 7,abraham71 ,i went to the ,hedjaz4 ,finally1 the longings of my heart and the prayers of my children brought me back to my country1 although ,i was so firmly resolved at first never to revisit it4 ,at any rate ,i meant1 if ,i did return1 to live there solitary and in religious meditation2 but events1 family cares1 and vicissitudes of life changed my resolutions and troubled my meditative calm4 ,however irregular the intervals which ,i could give to devotional ecstasy1 my confidence in it did not diminish2 and the more ,i was diverted by hindrances1 the more steadfastly ,i returned to it4 ,ten years passed in this manner4 ,during my successive periods of meditation there were revealed to me things impossible to recount4 ,all that ,i shall say for the edification of the reader is this3 ,i learned from a sure source that the ,sufis are the true pioneers on the path of ,god2 that there is nothing more beautiful than their life1 nor more praiseworthy than their rule of conduct1 nor purer than their morality4 ,the intelligence of thinkers1 the wisdom of philosophers1 the knowledge of the most learned doctors of the law would in vain combine their efforts in order to modify or improve their doctrine and morals2 it would be impossible4 ,with the ,sufis1 repose and movement1 exterior or interior1 are illumined with the light which proceeds from the ,central ,radiance of ,inspiration4 ,and what other light could shine on the face of the earth8 ,in a word1 what can one criticize in them8 ,to purge the heart of all that does not belong to ,god is the first step in their cathartic method4 ,the drawing up of the heart by prayer is the key-stone of it1 as the cry ,allahu ,akbar 7,god is great7 is the key-stone of prayer1 and the last stage is the being lost in ,god4 ,i say the last stage1 with reference to what may be reached by an effort of will2 but1 to tell the truth1 it is only the first stage in the life of contemplation1 the vestibule by which the initiated enter4 ,from the time that they set out on this path1 revelations commence for them4 ,they come to see in the waking state angels and souls of prophets2 they hear their voices and wise counsels4 ,by means of this contemplation of heavenly forms and images they rise by degrees to heights which human language can not reach1 which one can not even indicate without falling into great and inevitable errors4 ,the degree of proximity to ,deity which they attain is regarded by some as intermixture of being 7haloul71 by others as identification 7ittihad71 by others as intimate union 7wasl74 ,but all these expressions are wrong1 as we have explained in our work entitled1 ,the ,chief ,aim4 ,those who have reached that stage should confine themselves to repeating the verse-- ,what ,i experience ,i shall not try to say2 ,call me happy1 but ask me no more4 ,in short1 he who does not arrive at the intuition of these truths by means of ecstasy1 knows only the name of inspiration4 ,the miracles wrought by the saints are1 in fact1 merely the earliest forms of prophetic manifestation4 ,such was the state of the ,apostle of ,god1 when1 before receiving his commission1 he retired to ,mount ,hira to give himself up to such intensity of prayer and meditation that the ,arabs said3 ,mohammed is become enamored of ,god4 ,this state1 then1 can be revealed to the initiated in ecstasy1 and to him who is incapable of ecstasy1 by obedience and attention1 on condition that he frequents the society of ,sufis till he arrives1 so to speak1 at an imitative initiation4 ,such is the faith which one can obtain by remaining among them1 and intercourse with them is never painful4 ,but even when we are deprived of the advantage of their society1 we can comprehend the possibility of this state 7revelation by means of ecstasy7 by a chain of manifest proofs4 ,we have explained this in the treatise entitled ,marvels of the ,heart1 which forms part of our work1 ,the ,revival of the ,religious ,sciences4 ,the certitude derived from proofs is called knowledge2 passing into the state we describe is called transport2 believing the experience of others and oral transmission is faith4 ,such are the three degrees of knowledge1 as it is written1 ,the ,lord will raise to different ranks those among you who have believed and those who have received knowledge from him 7,koran1 lviii4 #ab74 ,but behind those who believe comes a crowd of ignorant people who deny the reality of ,sufism1 hear discourses on it with incredulous irony1 and treat as charlatans those who profess it4 ,to this ignorant crowd the verse applies3 ,there are those among them who come to listen to thee1 and when they leave thee1 ask of those who have received knowledge1 ',what has he just said8' ,these are they whose hearts ,god has sealed up with blindness and who only follow their passions4 ,among the number of convictions which ,i owe to the practise of the ,sufi rule is the knowledge of the true nature of inspiration4 ,this knowledge is of such great importance that ,i proceed to expound it in detail4 ,the ,reality of ,inspiration3 ,its ,importance for the ,human ,race ,the substance of man at the moment of its creation is a simple monad1 devoid of knowledge of the worlds subject to the ,creator1 worlds whose infinite number is only known to him1 as the ,koran says3 ,only thy ,lord knoweth the number of his armies4 ,man arrives at this knowledge by the aid of his perceptions2 each of his senses is given him that he may comprehend the world of created things1 and by the term world we understand the different species of creatures4 ,the first sense revealed to man is touch1 by means of which he perceives a certain group of qualities--heat1 cold1 moist1 dry4 ,the sense of touch does not perceive colors and forms1 which are for it as though they did not exist4 ,next comes the sense of sight1 which makes him acquainted with colors and forms2 that is to say1 with that which occupies the highest rank in the world of sensation4 ,the sense of hearing succeeds1 and then the senses of smell and taste4 ,when the human being can elevate himself above the world of sense1 toward the age of seven1 he receives the faculty of discrimination2 he enters then upon a new phase of existence and can experience1 thanks to this faculty1 impressions1 superior to those of the senses1 which do not occur in the sphere of sensation4 ,he then passes to another phase and receives reason1 by which he discerns things necessary1 possible1 and impossible2 in a word1 all the notions which he could not combine in the former stages of his existence4 ,but beyond reason and at a higher level by a new faculty of vision is bestowed upon him1 by which he perceives invisible things1 the secrets of the future and other concepts as inaccessible to reason as the concepts of reason are inaccessible to mere discrimination and what is perceived by discrimination to the senses4 ,just as the man possessed only of discrimination rejects and denies the notions acquired by reason1 so do certain rationalists reject and deny the notion of inspiration4 ,it is a proof of their profound ignorance2 for1 instead of argument1 they merely deny inspiration as a sphere unknown and possessing no real existence4 ,in the same way1 a man blind from birth1 who knows neither by experience nor by information what colors and forms are1 neither knows nor understands them when some one speaks of them to him for the first time4 ,god1 wishing to render intelligible to men the idea of inspiration1 has given them a kind of glimpse of it in sleep4 ,in fact1 man perceives while asleep the things of the invisible world either clearly manifest or under the veil of allegory to be subsequently lifted by divination4 ,if1 however1 one was to say to a person who had never himself experienced these dreams that1 in a state of lethargy resembling death and during the complete suspension of sight1 hearing1 and all the senses1 a man can see the things of the invisible world1 this person would exclaim1 and seek to prove the impossibility of these visions by some such argument as the following3 ,the sensitive faculties are the causes of perception4 ,now1 if one can perceive certain things when one is in full possession of these faculties1 how much more is their perception impossible when these faculties are suspended4 ,the falsity of such an argument is shown by evidence and experience4 ,for in the same way as reason constitutes a particular phase of existence in which intellectual concepts are perceived which are hidden from the senses1 similarly1 inspiration is a special state in which the inner eye discovers1 revealed by a celestial light1 mysteries out of the reach of reason4 ,the doubts which are raised regarding inspiration relate 7#a7 to its possibility1 7#b7 to its real and actual existence1 7#c7 to its manifestation in this or that person4 ,to prove the possibility of inspiration is to prove that it belongs to a category of branches of knowledge which can not be attained by reason4 ,it is the same with medical science and astronomy4 ,he who studies them is obliged to recognize that they are derived solely from the revelation and special grace of ,god4 ,some astronomical phenomena only occur once in a thousand years2 how then can we know them by experience8 ,we may say the same of inspiration1 which is one of the branches of intuitional knowledge4 ,further1 the perception of things which are beyond the attainment of reason is only one of the features peculiar to inspiration1 which possesses a great number of others4 ,the characteristic which we have mentioned is only1 as it were1 a drop of water in the ocean1 and we have mentioned it because people experience what is analogous to it in dreams and in the sciences of medicine and astronomy4 ,these branches of knowledge belong to the domain of prophetic miracles1 and reason can not attain to them4 ,as to the other characteristics of inspiration1 they are only revealed to adepts in ,sufism and in a state of ecstatic transport4 ,the little that we know of the nature of inspiration we owe to the kind of likeness to it which we find in sleep2 without that we should be incapable of comprehending it1 and consequently of believing in it1 for conviction results from comprehension4 ,the process of initiation into ,sufism exhibits this likeness to inspiration from the first4 ,there is in it a kind of ecstasy proportioned to the condition of the person initiated1 and a degree of certitude and conviction which can not be attained by reason4 ,this single fact is sufficient to make us believe in inspiration4 ,we now come to deal with doubts relative to the inspiration of a particular prophet4 ,we shall not arrive at certitude on this point except by ascertaining1 either by ocular evidence or by reliable tradition1 the facts relating to that prophet4 ,when we have ascertained the real nature of inspiration and proceed to the serious study of the ,koran and the traditions1 we shall then know certainly that ,mohammed is the greatest of prophets4 ,after that we should fortify our conviction by verifying the truth of his preaching and the salutary effect which it has upon the soul4 ,we should verify in experience the truth of sentences such as the following3 ,he who makes his conduct accord with his knowledge receives from ,god more knowledge2 or this1 ,god delivers to the oppressor him who favors injustice2 or again1 ,whosoever when rising in the morning has only one anxiety 7to please ,god71 ,god will preserve him from all anxiety in this world and the next4 ,when we have verified these sayings in experience thousands of times1 we shall be in possession of a certitude on which doubt can obtain no hold4 ,such is the path we must traverse in order to realize the truth of inspiration4 ,it is not a question of finding out whether a rod has been changed into a serpent1 or whether the moon has been split in two4#ac ,if we regard miracles in isolation1 without their countless attendant circumstances1 we shall be liable to confound them with magic and falsehood1 or to regard them as a means of leading men astray1 as it is written1 ,god misleads and directs as he chooses 7,koran1 xxxv4 #i72 we shall find ourselves involved in all the difficulties which the question of miracles raises4 ,if1 for instance1 we believe that eloquence of style is a proof of inspiration1 it is possible that an eloquent style composed with this object may inspire us with a false belief in the inspiration of him who wields it4 ,the supernatural should be only one of the constituents which go to form our belief1 without our placing too much reliance on this or that detail4 ,we should rather resemble a person who1 learning a fact from a group of people1 can not point to this or that particular man as his informant1 and who1 not distinguishing between them1 can not explain precisely how his conviction regarding the fact has been formed4 ,such are the characteristics of scientific certitude4 ,as to the transport which permits men to see the truth and1 so to speak1 to handle it1 it is only known to the ,sufis4 ,what ,i have just said regarding the true nature of inspiration is sufficient for the aim which ,i have proposed to myself4 ,i may return to the subject later1 if necessary4 ,i pass now to the causes of the decay of faith and show the means of bringing back those who have erred and of preserving them from the dangers which threaten them4 ,to those who doubt because they are tinctured with the doctrine of the ,ta'limites1 my treatise entitled1 ,the ,just ,balance1 affords a sufficient guide2 therefore it is unnecessary to return to the subject here4 ,as to the vain theories of the ,ibahat1 ,i have grouped them in seven classes1 and explained them in the work entitled1 ,alchemy of ,happiness4 ,for those whose faith has been undermined by philosophy1 so far that they deny the reality of inspiration1 we have proved the truth and necessity of it1 seeking our proofs in the hidden properties of medicines and of the heavenly bodies4 ,it is for them that we have written this treatise1 and the reason for our seeking for proofs in the sciences of medicine and of astronomy is because these sciences belong to the domain of philosophy4 ,all those branches of knowledge which our opponents boast of--astronomy1 medicine1 physics1 and divination--provide us with arguments in favor of the ,prophet4 ,as to those who1 professing a lip-faith in the ,prophet1 adulterate religion with philosophy1 they really deny inspiration1 since in their view the ,prophet is only a sage whom a superior destiny has appointed as guide to men1 and this view belies the true nature of inspiration4 ,to believe in the ,prophet is to admit that there is above intelligence a sphere in which are revealed to the inner vision truths beyond the grasp of intelligence1 just as things seen are not apprehended by the sense of hearing1 nor things understood by that of touch4 ,if our opponent denies the existence of such a higher region1 we can prove to him1 not only its possibility1 but its actuality4 ,if1 on the contrary1 he admits its existence1 he recognizes at the same time that there are in that sphere things which reason can not grasp2 nay1 which reason rejects as false and absurd4 ,suppose1 for instance1 that the fact of dreams occurring in sleep were not so common and notorious as it is1 our wise men would not fail to repudiate the assertion that the secrets of the invisible world can be revealed while the senses are1 so to speak1 suspended4 ,again1 if it were to be said to one of them1 ,is it possible that there is in the world a thing as small as a grain1 which being carried into a city can destroy it and afterward destroy itself so that nothing remains either of the city or of itself8 ,certainly1 he would exclaim1 it is impossible and ridiculous4 ,such1 however1 is the effect of fire1 which would certainly be disputed by one who had not witnessed it with his own eyes4 ,now1 the refusal to believe in the mysteries of the other life is of the same kind4 ,as to the fourth cause of the spread of unbelief--the decay of faith owing to the bad example set by learned men--there are three ways of checking it4 7#a7 ,one can answer thus3 ,the learned man whom you accuse of disobeying the divine law knows that he disobeys1 as you do when you drink wine or exact usury or allow yourself in evil-speaking1 lying1 and slander4 ,you know your sin and yield to it1 not through ignorance1 but because you are mastered by concupiscence4 ,the same is the case with the learned man4 ,how many believe in doctors who do not abstain from fruit and cold water when strictly forbidden them by a doctor6 ,that does not prove that those things are not dangerous1 or that their faith in the doctor was not solidly established4 ,similar errors on the part of learned men are to be imputed solely to their weakness4 7#b7 ,or again1 one may say to a simple and ignorant man3 ,the learned man reckons upon his knowledge as a viaticum for the next life4 ,he believes that his knowledge will save him and plead in his favor1 and that his intellectual superiority will entitle him to indulgence2 lastly1 that if his knowledge increases his responsibility1 it may also entitle him to a higher degree of consideration4 ,all that is possible2 and even if the learned man has neglected practise1 he can at any rate produce proofs of his knowledge4 ,but you1 poor1 witless one1 if1 like him1 you neglect practise1 destitute as you are of knowledge1 you will perish without anything to plead in your favor4 7#c7 ,or one may answer1 and this reason is the true one3 ,the truly learned man only sins through carelessness1 and does not remain in a state of impenitence4 ,for real knowledge shows sin to be a deadly poison1 and the other world to be superior to this4 ,convinced of this truth1 man ought not to exchange the precious for the vile4 ,but the knowledge of which we speak is not derived from sources accessible to human diligence1 and that is why progress in mere worldly knowledge renders the sinner more hardened in his revolt against ,god4 ,true knowledge1 on the contrary1 inspires in him who is initiate in it more fear and more reverence1 and raises a barrier of defense between him and sin4 ,he may slip and stumble1 it is true1 as is inevitable with one encompassed by human infirmity1 but these slips and stumbles will not weaken his faith4 ,the true ,moslem succumbs occasionally to temptation1 but he repents and will not persevere obstinately in the path of error4 ,i pray ,god the ,omnipotent to place us in the ranks of his chosen1 among the number of those whom he directs in the path of safety1 in whom he inspires fervor lest they forget him2 whom he cleanses from all defilement1 that nothing may remain in them except himself2 yea1 of those whom he indwells completely1 that they may adore none beside him4 ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,rescues ,,from ,,error ,,the ,,discoverer ,,of ,,truth ,,zamakhshari',s ,,commentary ,,on ,,the ,,koran ,,preface ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,merciful ,,god1 ,,kind ,,and ,,pitying ,praise to ,god1 who has sent from heaven the ,koran1 in the form of an address of which the words are coherent and arranged in order1 and who has sent it in continuous chapters according to the demands of necessity2 who has willed that it should begin by expressing the praise due to ,god1 and end by recounting his power and protection2 who has included in it two kinds of revelations1 the one obscure1 the other perfectly clear2 who has divided the ,koran into ,suras1 and the ,suras into verses1 and has distinguished the different parts by divisions and conclusions3 qualifications which apply only to that which has been created1 and produced without a model1 and could only be the attributes of things which have had a beginning and recognize an author of whom they are the work4 ,praise to him who has reserved to himself alone the privilege of priority and eternity1 and who has given to everything save himself the characteristic of having been created4 ,praise to him who has created the ,koran1 the sense of which is a light to guide the spirit1 the demonstrations of which are clear2 like an inspiration which blazons forth its proof and authentic title2 like a lecture written in the ,arabic language1 and free from all faults1 which is the key to open the treasures of all spiritual and temporal blessings1 and which confirms and witnesses the truth of all the ,holy ,books which have preceded it2 like a miracle which1 alone among all miracles1 has existed during all the passage of the centuries1 and a book which1 alone among all books1 will be repeated in every language and in every place4 ,by this book1 he has shut the mouths of the most nobly born ,arabs1 in that they are challenged to produce something to be compared with it1 he has rendered mute the most eloquent orators in that he has defied them to imitate it4 ,amongst those who possess the greatest command of the language in all its purity1 no one has the enterprise to compose anything which equals it1 or even approaches it4 ,no one of those who are distinguished for their eloquence has dared to compete with him in a single chapter equal to the shortest ,sura included in the ,koran4 ,yet the orators of the land are more numerous than the pebbles of the ,batha valley and more plentiful than the grains of sand in the desert of ,dahna4 ,the blood of patriotism has not boiled in their veins1 and zeal for the honor of their cause has not moved them to the undertaking1 although they are known to be naturally inclined to disputes and quarrels1 and ready to embrace with ardor and without moderation every opportunity for rivalry and hostility2 although when roused to fight for the defense of their reputation1 they are quick to face the gravest dangers1 and will plunge themselves into every excess to obtain the object of their desires4 ,if any one opposes their title to glory or prevails against them1 they oppose him in great numbers2 if any one in their hearing boasts of a glorious deed1 they respond with a multitude of glorious deeds4 ,god has employed against them two kinds of weapons1 first the written law1 then the sword2 but they have not challenged him to combat nor attempted to cope with the sword1 although the drawn sword is no more than a trifling weapon1 fitted only for badinage1 if the strength of authentic truth is not joined to the victorious point4 ,certainly1 if they have in no way put up even a semblance of resistance to the truth which has been presented to them1 it is simply because they know well that the sea1 released from its boundaries1 would envelop and overflow any mere well made by human hands2 and the sun1 by the brightness of its fire1 eclipses the light of all the stars4 ,may the favors of ,god shine on the most worthy of those who have received revelations1 on the friend of ,god1 ,abu'l-,kasem ,mohammed1 son of ,abd-,allah1 son of ,abd-,almotalleb1 son of ,haschem1 whose standard is raised amongst the descendants of ,lowaiy2 who has been fortified by constant protection and assisted by wisdom1 whose visage radiates glory1 and who shines with all the signs of nobility2 on the illustrious ,prophet whose name has been inscribed in the ,law and the ,gospel6 ,may blessings fall also upon his sainted descendants1 on those successors to his authority who have with him the ties which are born of marriage6 ,it is well known that1 in the profundities of science and the principles of the arts1 there is little difference between the learned of different classes4 ,those who practise the various arts are equal1 or nearly equal4 ,if one professor outdistances another1 it is only by a few steps2 and if one artist outstrips another1 it is only by a short distance4 ,but where one sees a true difference among the classes1 where they make every effort to surpass each other1 where there is true emulation and rivalry1 there one finds real inferiors and superiors1 of the sort that there is among those who pursue the same career from incomprehensible distances1 distances so great that one alone balances a thousand others4 ,there are1 in the sciences as in the arts1 the beauties of certain delicate points2 there are subtle thoughts which arouse the wisdom of reflective spirits1 profound1 hidden secrets covered with veils which very few men1 even among those of the most distinguished talent1 can lift1 secrets which can only be discovered and brought to light by those who among men of merit are like the pearl placed in the center of the necklace1 and like the stone which is set in the gold of the ring4 ,ordinary men have not the eyes to create such excellences1 and are as though chained to their seats by a servile desire to imitate1 and can not even flatter themselves that any one will trim the hair from their foreheads#ad and give them freedom4 ,of all the sciences1 that which abounds in the most difficulties1 which demands the greatest effort in spirit1 which offers the largest number of problems capable of fatiguing the strongest intellect1 ,i mean those extraordinary subtleties from which it is difficult to extricate oneself1 which are locked as if in vaults1 whose thread is cut and difficult to regain--that science is the interpreting of the ,koran4 ,it is a science for which1 as has been said by ,djahed in his work entitled1 ,composition of the ,koran1 no savants are fitted1 and to which they devote their lives without hope of complete success4 ,i have often noticed that my confrres in religion1 men who hold the foremost rank among the disciples of the true faith and law1 men exceptionally proficient in the knowledge of the language of the ,arabs and in the fundamental dogmas of religion1 have been enthusiastic in expressing their satisfaction and admiration every time that1 consulted by them for the interpretation of some passage of the ,koran1 ,i have explained their difficulty and disclosed to them the truth which was hidden from them4 ,they expressed a keen desire for me to write a work treating on the subject in all its phases4 ,at last they joined in begging me to dictate to them a commentary which should unveil all the mysteries of the ,holy ,book1 and help them to understand the different explanations and opinions4 ,i excused myself from doing as they desired1 but they continually renewed their pleading2 and1 to conquer my resistance1 they employed the mediation of the chief religious men1 and the most learned among those who professed doctrines of justice and unity4 ,i realized that it was obligatory upon me to defer to their desires1 so that ,i came to consider such a work as a personal duty and task2 but that which finally brought me to consent was that ,i saw our age to be in a state of decay1 and the men of our time to be degenerating4 ,i realized that far from being able to raise themselves to worthy heights in the two sciences of thought and exposition1 they were not even capable of attaining to those weaker means which serve as instruments in the interpretation of the ,koran4 ,i therefore resolved to write this book that it might be for them ,the ,discoverer of ,truth4 ,,golden ,,necklaces ,,or ,,the ,,maxims ,,of ,,zamakhshahi ,i ,when you go to the mosque1 walk with reverence2 and when you pray1 fill your heart with humility4 ,think of the power of the glorious ,king1 and do not forget what is written concerning the temptations of the devil4 ,consider before what all-powerful sovereign you kneel1 and what deceitful enemy you have to combat4 ,verily1 no one can maintain himself on a firm foundation in this difficult world1 except it be the man who is loyal to noble principles and fortified by his profession of faith2 the faithful who sighs in fear of chastisement1 contrite1 repentant1 eager in the pursuit of reward1 who spurs his horse into the arena of obedience1 and disciplines his spirit in the practise of submission4 ,,ii ,did ,i say to you that our country is destined to mourning8 ,that will become true when an unjust sovereign rules4 ,tyranny is heavier than the horse's hoofs1 more destructive than the unchained torrents1 more deadly than the poisoned winds of ,yemen1 more devastating than the plague4 ,tyranny prevents prayers rising to heaven and prevents the blessings of heaven from falling upon the earth4 ,flee far from the abode of this menace1 even if you are one of the highest nobles of the land1 the most illustrious because of your wealth and your children4 ,fear lest the birds of ruin fatten on the land1 and earthquakes or lightnings destroy its inhabitants4 ,,iii ,do not pride yourself on the nobility of your birth1 for that belongs to your father2 join to your hereditary virtues those which you have acquired recently4 ,by this union you will be truly noble4 ,do not feel elated over the nobility of your father1 if you can not draw pride from that which is in yourself2 for the glory of your ancestors is vain if you have not a personal glory4 ,there is the same difference between the fame of your ancestors and your own fame that there is between your food of yesterday and of to-day2 for the feast that has passed can not calm the hunger of to-day1 and still less can it provide for the days which follow4 ,,arabic ,,literature ,,the ,,assemblies ,,of ,,al ,,hariri ,the richness of the style is even more wonderful than the delicate web of the stories4 ,,clement ,,huart4 ,i composed fifty assemblies1 comprising the serious in language and the lively1 the delicate and the dignified1 the brilliancies of eloquence and its pearls1 the beauties of scholarship and its rarities4 ,,al ,,hariri4 ,,the ,,assemblies ,,of ,,al ,,hariri 7,,introduction7 ,the work of ,al ,hariri may well stand as our best example of typical ,arab prose4 ,with regard to religious writing1 a few thoughtful ,mohammedans1 as we have seen1 might travel1 and seek new light1 and meditate profoundly2 but the great mass of the people were merely blindly fanatic4 ,mohammed was the prophet of ,god1 and any one who failed to shout this with the rest of the world1 was to be killed4 ,popular interest went but little further4 ,but when you turned to the art of stringing words together1 every true ,arab was immediately attentive4 ,there was an ,arab proverb that ,god had given genius1 or true creative ability1 to three things1 the brain of the ,frank1 the hand of the ,chinaman1 and the tongue of the ,arab4 ,to our own more sober literary sense the clever twists of phrase and sound in which these people took such pride1 seem but the outer garment of thought1 more apt to confuse than to reveal its deeper meaning4 ,yet what the ,arabs admire1 they admire2 and they find it to perfection in ,al ,hariri's ,assemblies4 ,no mere translation can convey its intricacies of sound and sense4 ,only such an artistic word-juggler as ,al ,hariri himself could convey the impression of the original4 ,and ,al ,hariri himself labored long on each brief ,assembly1 polishing and repolishing1 before he submitted each tale to the judgment of his keenly critical listeners4 ,the name ,assemblies he gave to his work because each tale pictures an assembly of people4 ,the form is highly artificial1 for1 while the author represents himself as accidentally stumbling upon each assembly1 yet each proves ultimately to consist of a gathering of people listening with admiration to the brilliant words and clever rascalities of the same old beggar1 ,abu ,zayd4 ,the trick played by ,abu ,zayd is usually slight1 the chief interest from the ,arab view-point depending on the beggar's witty words and especially upon his supposedly extemporaneous verse4 ,neither should the reader pass unnoticed the moral side of ,hariri's work4 ,he quite definitely thinks of himself as a teacher1 and studies to make each ,assembly a worthy guide to righteousness4 ,his ,assemblies number fifty in all1 but the earlier ones are generally accepted as the best1 the eleventh and twelfth being particularly noted for their excellence1 after which the collection seems slightly to decline4 ,of course ,al ,hariri was by no means alone in composing this sort of tale4 ,similar ,assemblies had preceded his2 many more were to follow4 ,in short we touch here upon the popular literature of the ,arabs1 the collection of short stories which were to blossom into the ,arabian ,nights--though in the later tales of this character we find less of verse and more of story1 in short less of the ,arab and more of the increasing ,persian influence4 ,,the ,,assemblies ,,of ,,al ,,hariri ,,preface ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,god ,,the ,,merciful1 ,,most ,,merciful ,thus saith the excellent1 the incomparable1 ,abu ,mohammed al ,kasim ibn ',ali ibn ,mohammed ibn ',othman ,al ,hariri of ,basrah 7,god cool his resting-place74 ,o ,god1 we praise thee for what perspicuity thou hast taught1 and what enunciation thou hast inspired2 as we praise thee for what bounty thou hast enlarged1 what mercy thou hast diffused3 ,and we take refuge with thee from the vehemence of fluency and the immoderation of talkativeness1 as we take refuge with thee from the vice of inarticulateness and the shame of hesitation4 ,and by thee we seek to be kept from temptation through the flattery of the praiser and the connivance of the favor1 as we seek to be kept from exposure to the defaming of the slanderer and the betrayal of the informer4 ,and we ask pardon of thee if our desires carry us into the region of ambiguities1 as we ask pardon if our steps advance to the domain of errors4 ,and we ask of thee succor which shall lead us aright1 and a heart turning with justice1 and a tongue adorned with truth1 and a speech strengthened with demonstration1 and accuracy that shall keep us from mistake1 and resolution that shall conquer caprice1 and perception by which we may estimate duly3 ,and that thou wilt help us by thy guidance to conceive1 and enable us by thy assistance to express2 that thou wilt guard us from error in narration1 and turn us from unseemliness in jesting2 that we may be secure from slanders of the tongue2 that we may be free from the ill of tinseled speech2 that we walk not in the road of sin1 nor stand in the place of repentance2 that we be not pursued by suit or censure1 nor need to flee from hastiness to excuse4 ,o ,god1 fulfil to us this wish2 give us to attain to this desire3 put us not forth of thy large shadow1 make us not a morsel for the devourer4 ,for now we stretch forth to thee the hand of entreaty2 we are thorough in humiliation to thee and abasement4 ,and we call down thy abundant grace and thy bounty that is over all1 with humbleness of seeking and with the venture of hope4 ,also approaching thee through the merits of ,mohammed1 lord of men1 the intercessor whose intercession shall be received at the congregation of judgment4 ,by whom thou hast set the seal to the prophets1 and whose degree thou hast exalted to the highest heaven2 whom thou hast described in thy clear-speaking ,book1 and hast said 7and thou art the most truthful of sayers73 ,it is the word of a noble envoy1 of him who is mighty in the presence of the ,lord of the throne1 having authority1 obeyed1 yea1 faithful4 ,o ,god1 send thy blessing on him and his house who guide aright1 and his companions who built up the faith2 and make us followers of his guidance and theirs1 and profit us all by the loving of him and them3 for thou art ,almighty1 and one meet to answer prayer4 ,and now3 ,in a meeting devoted to that learning whose breeze has stilled in this age1 whose lights are nigh gone out1 there ran a mention of the ,assemblies which had been invented by ,badi'az ,zeman1 the sage of ,hamadan 7,god show him mercy72 in which he had referred the composition to ,abu'l ,fath of ,alexandria and the relation of ',isa1 son of ,hisham4 ,and both these are persons obscure1 not known2 vague1 not to be recognized4 ,then suggested to me one whose suggestion is as a decree1 and obedience to whom is as a prize1 that ,i should compose ,assemblies1 following in them the method of ,badi' 7although the lame steed attains not to outrun like the stout one74 ,then ,i reminded him of what is said concerning him who joins even two words1 or strings together one or two verses3 and deprecated this position in which the understanding is bewildered1 and the fancy misses aim1 and the depth of the intelligence is probed1 and a man's real value is made manifest3 and in which one is forced to be as a wood-gatherer by night1 or as he who musters footmen and horsemen together3 considering1 too1 that the voluble man is seldom secure or pardoned if he trips4 ,but when he consented not to forbearance1 and freed me not from his demand1 ,i assented to his invitation with the assenting of the obedient1 and displayed in according with him all my endeavor2 and composed1 in spite of what ,i suffered from frozen genius1 and dimmed intelligence1 and failing judgment1 and afflicting cares1 fifty ,assemblies1 comprising what is serious in language and lively1 what is delicate in expression and dignified2 the brilliancies of eloquence and its pearls1 and beauties of scholarship and its rarities3 besides what ,i have adorned them with of verses of the ,koran and goodly metonymies1 and studded them with of ,arab proverbs1 and scholarly elegancies1 and grammatical riddles1 and decisions dependent on the meaning of words1 and original addresses1 and ornate orations1 and tear-moving exhortations1 and amusing jests3 all of which ,i have indited as by the tongue of ,abu ,zayd of ,seruj1 while ,i have attributed the relating of them to ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 of ,basra4 ,and whenever ,i change the pasture ,i have no purpose but to inspirit the reader1 and to increase the number of those who shall seek my book4 ,and of the poetry of others ,i have introduced nothing but two single verses1 on which ,i have based the fabric of the ,assembly of ,holwan2 and two others1 in a couplet1 which ,i have inserted at the conclusion of the ,assembly of ,kerej4 ,and1 as for the rest1 my own mind is the father of its virginity1 the author of its sweet and its bitter4 ,yet ,i acknowledge withal that ,badi' 7,god show him mercy7 is a mighty passer of goals1 a worker of wonders2 and that he who essays after him to the composition of an ,assembly1 even though he be gifted with the eloquence of ,kodameh1 does but scoop up of his overflow1 and travels that path only by his guidance4 ,and excellently said one3 ,if before it mourned1 ,i had mourned my love for ,su'da1 then should ,i have healed my soul1 nor had afterward to repent4 ,but it mourned before me1 and its mourning excited mine1 and ,i said1 ,the superiority is to the one that is first4 ,now ,i hope ,i shall not be1 in respect of the playful style that ,i display1 and the source that ,i repair to1 like the beast that scratched up its death with its hoof1 or he who cut off his nose with his own hand2 so as to be joined to those who are most of all losers in their works1 whose course on earth has been in vain1 while they count that they have done fair deeds4 ,since ,i know that although he who is intelligent and liberal will connive at me1 and he who is friendly and partial may defend me1 ,i can hardly escape from the simpleton who is ignorant1 or the spiteful man who feigns ignorance2 who will detract from me on account of this composition1 and will give out that it is among the things forbidden of the law4 ,but yet1 whoever scans matters with the eye of intelligence1 and makes good his insight into principles1 will rank these ,assemblies in the order of useful writings1 and class them with the fables that relate to brutes and lifeless objects4 ,now none was ever heard of whose hearing shrank from such tales1 or who held as sinful those who related them at ordinary times4 ,moreover1 since deeds depend on intentions1 and in these lies the effectiveness of religious obligations1 what fault is there in one who composes stories for instruction1 not for display1 and whose purpose in them is the education and not the fablings8 ,nay1 is he not in the position of one who assents to doctrine1 and guides to the right path8 ,yet am ,i content if ,i may carry my caprice1 and then be quit of it1 without any debt against me or to me4 ,and of ,god ,i seek to be helped in what ,i purpose1 and to be kept from that which makes defective1 and to be led to that which leads aright4 ,for there is no refuge but to him1 and no seeking of succor but in him1 and no prospering but from him1 and no sanctuary but he4 ,on him ,i rely1 and to him ,i have recourse4 ,,the ,,first ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,san',a7#ae ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,when ,i mounted the hump of exile1 and misery removed me from my fellows1 the shocks of the time cast me to ,san'a of ,yemen4 ,and ,i entered it with wallets empty1 manifest in my need2 ,i had not a meal2 ,i found not in my sack a mouthful4 ,then began ,i to traverse its ways like one crazed1 and to roam in its depths as roams the thirsting bird4 ,and wherever ranged my glances1 wherever ran my goings at morn or even1 ,i sought some generous man before whom ,i might fray the tissue of my countenance1 to whom ,i might be open concerning my need2 or one well bred1 whose aspect might dispel my pain1 whose anecdote might relieve my thirsting4 ,until the close of my circuit brought me1 and the overture of courtesy guided me1 to a wide place of concourse1 in which was a throng and a wailing4 ,then ,i entered the thicket of the crowd to explore what was drawing forth tears4 ,and ,i saw in the middle of the ring a person slender of make2 upon him was the equipment of pilgrimage1 and he had the voice of lamentation4 ,and he was studding cadences with the jewels of his wording1 and striking hearings with the reproofs of his admonition4 ,and now the medley of the crowds had surrounded him1 as the halo surrounds the moon1 or the shell the fruit4 ,so ,i crept toward him1 that ,i might catch of his profitable sayings1 and gather up of his gems4 ,and ,i heard him say1 as he coursed along in his career1 and the throat of his improvisation made utterance3 ,o thou reckless in petulance1 trailing the garment of vanity6 ,o thou headstrong in follies1 turning aside to idle tales6 ,how long wilt thou persevere in thine error1 and eat sweetly of the pasture of thy wrong8 ,how far wilt thou be extreme in thy pride1 and not abstain from thy wantonness8 ,thou provokest by thy rebellion the ,master of thy forelock2 in the foulness of thy behaving thou goest boldly against the ,knower of thy secret4 ,thou hidest thyself from thy neighbor1 but thou art in the sight of thy ,watcher2 thou concealest from thy slave1 but no hidden thing is hidden from thy ,ruler4 ,thinkest thou that thy state will profit thee when thy departure draweth near8 or that thy wealth will deliver thee when thy deeds destroy thee8 or that thy repentance will suffice for thee when thy foot slippeth8 or that thy kindred will lean to thee in the day that thy judgment-place gathereth thee8 ,how is it thou hast not walked in the high-road of guidance1 and hastened the treatment of thy disease1 and blunted the edge of thine iniquity1 and restrained thyself--thy chief enemy8 ,is not death thy doom8 ,what then is thy preparation8 ,is not gray hair thy warning8 ,what then is thy excuse8 ,and in the grave's niche thy sleeping-place8 ,what dost thou say8 ,and to ,god thy going8 and who shall be thy defender8 ,oft hath the time awakened thee1 but thou hast set thyself to slumber2 and admonition hath drawn thee1 but thou hast strained against it2 and warnings have been manifest to thee1 but thou hast made thyself blind2 and truth hath been established to thee1 but thou hast disputed it2 and death hath bid thee remember1 but thou hast sought to forget2 and it hath been in thy power to impart of good1 but thou hast not imparted4 ,thou preferrest money which thou mayest hoard before piety which thou mayest keep in mind3 thou choosest a castle thou mayest rear rather than bounty thou mayest confer4 ,thou inclinest from the guide from whom thou mightest get guidance1 to the pelf thou mayest gain as a gift2 thou lettest the love of the raiment thou covetest overcome the recompense thou mightest earn4 ,the rubies of gifts cling to thy heart more than the seasons of prayer2 and the heightening of dowries is preferred with thee to continuance in almsgivings4 ,the dishes of many meats are more desired to thee than the leaves of doctrines2 the jesting of comrades is more cheerful to thee than the reading of the ,koran4 ,thou commandest to righteousness1 but violatest its sanctuary2 thou forbiddest from deceit1 but refrainest not thyself3 thou turnest men from oppression1 and then thou drawest near to it2 thou fearest mankind1 but ,god is more worthy that thou shouldest fear him4 ,then he recited3 ,woe to him who seeks the world1 and turns to it his careering3 ,and recovers not from his greediness for it1 and the excess of his love4 ,oh1 if he were wise1 but a drop of what he seeks would content him4 ,then he laid his dust1 and let his spittle subside2 and put his bottle on his arm1 and his staff under his armpit4 ,and when the company gazed on his uprising1 and saw that he equipped himself to move away from the midst1 each of them put his hand into his bosom1 and filled for him a bucket from his stream3 and said1 ,use this for thy spending1 or divide it among thy friends4 ,and he received it with half-closed eyes1 and turned away from them1 giving thanks2 and began to take leave of whoever would escort him1 that his road might be hidden from them2 and to dismiss whoever would follow him1 that his dwelling might be unknown4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now ,i went after him1 concealing from him my person2 and followed on his track from where he could not see me2 until he came to a cave1 and slipped into it suddenly4 ,so ,i waited for him till he put off his sandals and washed his feet1 and then ,i ran in upon him2 and found him sitting opposite an attendant1 at some white bread and a roast kid1 and over against them was a jar of date-wine4 ,and ,i said to him1 ,sirrah1 was that thy story1 and is this thy reality8 ,but he puffed the puff of heat and went near to burst with rage2 and ceased not to stare at me till ,i thought he would leap upon me4 ,but when his fire was allayed1 and his flame hid itself1 he recited3 ,i don the black robe to seek my meal1 and ,i fix my hook in the hardest prey3 ,and of my preaching ,i make a noose1 and steal with it against the chaser and the chased4 ,fortune has forced me to make way even to the lion of the thicket by the subtlety of my beguiling4 ,yet do ,i not fear its change1 nor does my loin quiver at it3 ,nor does a covetous mind lead me to water at any well that will soil my honor4 ,now if ,fortune were just in its decree it would not empower the worthless with authority4 ,then he said to me1 ,come and eat2 or1 if thou wilt1 rise and tell4 ,but ,i turned to his attendant1 and said1 ,i conjure thee1 by him through whom harm is deprecated1 that thou tell me who is this4 ,he said1 ,this is ,abu ,zayd1 of ,seruj1 the light of foreigners1 the crown of the learned4 ,then ,i turned back to whence ,i came1 and was extreme in wonder at what ,i saw4 ,,the ,,second ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,holwan7#af ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,ever since my amulets were doffed and my turbans were donned1 ,i was eager to visit learning's seat and to jade to it the camels of seeking1 that through it ,i might cleave to what would be my ornament among men1 my rain-cloud in thirst4 ,and through the excess of my longing to kindle at it1 and my desire to robe myself in its raiment1 ,i discussed with every one1 great and small1 and sought my draught both of the rain-flood and the dew1 and solaced myself with hope and desire4 ,now when ,i descended at ,holwan1 and had already tried the brethren1 and tested their values1 and proved what was worthless or fine1 ,i found there ,abu ,zayd of ,seruj1 shifting among the varieties of pedigree1 beating about in various courses of gain-getting2 for at one time he claimed to be of the race of ,sasan1 and at another he made himself kin to the princes of ,ghassan2 and now he sallied forth in the vesture of poets2 and anon he put on the pride of nobles4 ,and yet with all this diversifying of his condition1 and this display of contradiction1 he is adorned with grace and information1 and courtesy and knowledge1 and astonishing eloquence1 and obedient improvisation1 and excelling accomplishments1 and a foot that mounts the hills of the sciences4 ,now1 through his goodly attainments he is associated with in spite of his faults2 and through the largeness of his information there is a fondness for the sight of him2 and through the blandishment of his fair-speaking men are loath to oppose him2 and through the sweetness of his address he is helped to his desire4 ,then ,i clung to his skirts for the sake of his peculiar accomplishments1 and valued highly his affection by reason of his precious qualities4 ,with him ,i wiped away my cares1 and beheld my fortune displayed to me1 open of face1 gleaming with light4 ,i looked upon his nearness to me as kinship1 his abiding as wealth1 his aspect as a full draught1 his life as rain4 ,thus we remained a long season2 he produced for me daily some pleasantness1 and drove some doubt from my heart1 until the hand of want mixed for him the cup of parting1 and the lack of a meal urged him to abandon ,irak2 and the failures of supply cast him into desert regions1 and the waving of the banner of distress ranged him in the line of travelers2 and he sharpened for departure the edge of determination1 and journeyed away1 drawing my heart with his leading cord4 ,after he was gone none pleased me who kept by me1 none filled me with affection by urging me to intimacy4 ,since he strayed away none has appeared to me his like in excellence2 no friend has gotten the equal of his qualities4 ,so he was hidden from me a season3 ,i knew not his lair2 ,i found none to tell of him2 but when ,i had returned from my wandering to the place where my branch had sprouted1 ,i was once present in the town library1 which is the council-hall of scholars1 the meeting-place of residents and strangers3 ,then there entered one with a thick beard and a squalid aspect1 and he saluted those who sat1 and took seat in the last rows of the people4 ,then began he to produce what was in his wallet1 and to astonish those present by the sagacity of his judgment4 ,and he said to the man who was next him1 ,what is the book into which thou lookest8 ,he said1 ,the poems of ,abu ',obadeh2 him of whose excellence men bear witness4 ,he said1 ,in what thou hast seen hast thou hit on any fine thing which thou admirest8 ,he said1 ,yes2 the line1 ,as though she smiled from strung pearls or hailstones1 or camomile-flowers4 ,for it is original in the use of similitude which it contains4 ,he said to him1 ,here is a wonder6 here is a lack of taste1 ,sir1 thou hast taken for fat what is only swollen2 thou hast blown on that which is no fuel3 where art thou in comparison with the rare verse which unites the similitudes of the teeth8 ,my life a ransom for those teeth whose beauty charms1 and which a purity adorns sufficing thee for all other4 ,she parts her lips from fresh pearls1 and from hail-stones1 and from camomile-flowers1 and from the palm-shoot1 and from bubbles4 ,then each one approved the couplet and admired it1 and bade him repeat it and dictate it4 ,and he was asked1 ,whose is this verse1 and is its author living or dead8 ,he said1 ,by ,allah1 right is most worthy to be followed1 and truth is most fitting to be listened to3 ,know1 friends1 that it is his who talks with you to-day4 ,said ,al ,harith3 ,now it was as though the company doubted of his fathering1 and were unwilling to give credit to his claim4 ,and he perceived what had fallen into their thoughts1 and was aware of their inward unbelief2 and was afraid that blame might chance to him1 or ill-fame reach him2 so he quoted from the ,koran1 ,some suspicions are a sin4 ,then he said1 ,o ye reciters of verse1 physicians of sickly phrase6--,truly the purity of the gem is shown by the testing1 and the hand of truth rends the cloak of doubt4--,now it was said aforetime that by trial is a man honored or contemned4 ,so come6 ,i now expose my hidden store to the proving1 ,i offer my saddle-bag for comparison4 ,then hastened one who was there and said3 ,i know a verse such that there is no weaving on its beam1 such that no genius can supply one after its image4 ,now1 if thou wish to draw our hearts to thee1 compose after this style3 ,she rained pearls from the daffodil1 and watered the rose1 and bit upon the 'unnab with hail-stone4 ,and it was but the glance of an eye1 or less1 before he recited rarely3 ,i asked her when she met me to put off her crimson veil1 and to endow my hearing with the sweetest of tidings3 ,and she removed the ruddy light which covered the brightness of her moon1 and she dropped pearls from a perfumed ring4 ,then all present were astonished at his readiness1 and acknowledged his honesty4 ,and when he perceived that they approved his diction1 and were hastening into the path of honoring him1 he looked down the twinkling of an eye2 then he said1 ,here are two other verses for you2 and recited3 ,she came on the day when departure afflicted1 in black robes1 biting her fingers like one regretful1 confounded3 ,and night lowered on her morn1 and a branch supported them both1 and she bit into crystal with pearls4 ,then did the company set high his value1 and deem that his steady rain was a plenteous one2 and they made pleasant their converse with him1 and gave him goodly clothing4 ,said the teller of this story3 ,now when ,i saw the blazing of his firebrand1 and the gleam of his unveiled brightness1 ,i fixed a long look to guess at him1 and made my eye to stray over his countenance4 ,and lo6 he was our ,shaykh of ,seruj2 but now his dark night was moon-lit4 ,then ,i congratulated myself on his coming thither1 and hastened to kiss his hand3 and said to him1 ,what has changed thy appearance1 so that ,i could not recognize thee8 what has made thy beard gray1 so that ,i knew not thy countenance8 ,and he indited and said3 ,the stroke of calamities makes us hoary1 and fortune to men is a changer4 ,if it yields to-day to any1 to-morrow it overcomes him4 ,trust not the gleam of its lightning1 for it is a deceitful gleam4 ,but be patient if it hounds calamities against thee1 and drives them on4 ,for there is no disgrace on the pure gold when it is turned about in the fire4 ,then he rose and departed from his place1 and carried away our hearts with him4 ,,the ,,third ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,kaylah7#ag ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,i was set with some comrades in a company wherein he that made appeal was never bootless1 and the rubbing of the fire-shafts never failed1 and the flame of contention never blazed4 ,and while we were catching from each other the cues of recitations1 and betaking ourselves to novelties of anecdote1 behold there stood by us one on whom was a worn garment1 and in whose walk was a limp4 ,and he said1 ,o ye best of treasures1 joys of your kindred3 ,health to you this morning2 may ye enjoy your morning draught4 ,look on one who was erewhile master of guest-room and largess1 wealth and bounty1 land and villages1 dishes and feasting4 ,but the frowning of calamities ceased not from him1 and the warrings of sorrows1 and the fire-flakes of the malice of the envious1 and the succession of dark befallings1 until the court was empty1 and the yard was bare1 and the fountain sank1 and the dwelling was desolate1 and the hall was void1 and the chamber stone-strewed4 ,and fortune shifted so that the household wailed2 and the stalls were vacant1 so that the rival had compassion2 and the cattle and the goods they perished1 so that the envious and malignant pitied4 ,and to such a pass did we come1 through assailing fortune and prostrating need1 that we were shod with soreness1 and fed on choking1 and filled our bellies with ache1 and wrapped our entrails upon hunger1 and anointed our eyes with watching1 and made pits our home1 and deemed thorns a smooth bed1 and came to forget our saddles1 and thought destroying death to be sweet1 and the ordained day to be tardy4 ,and now is there any one generous to heal1 bountiful to bestow8 ,for by him who made me to spring from ,kaylah1 surely ,i am now a brother of penury1 ,i have not a night's victual4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now ,i pitied his distresses1 and inclined to the eliciting of his rhymes4 ,so ,i drew forth for him a denar1 and said to him1 to prove him1 ,if thou praise it in verse it is thine1 full surely4 ,and he betook himself to recite on the spot1 borrowing nothing3 ,how noble is that yellow one1 whose yellowness is pure1 ,which traverses the regions1 and whose journeying is afar4 ,told abroad are its fame and repute3 ,its lines are set as the secret sign of wealth2 ,its march is coupled with the success of endeavors2 ,its bright look is loved by mankind2 ,as though its ore had been molten of their hearts4 ,by its aid whoever has gotten it in his purse assails boldly1 ,though kindred be perished1 or tardy to help4 ,oh charming are its purity and brightness2 ,charming are its sufficiency and help4 ,how many a ruler is there whose rule has been perfected by it6 ,how many a sumptuous one is there whose grief1 but for it1 would be endless6 ,how many a host of cares has one charge of it put to flight6 ,how many a full moon has a sum of it brought down6 ,how many a one burning with rage1 whose coal is flaming1 ,has it been secretly whispered to1 and then his anger has softened4 ,how many a prisoner1 whom his kin had yielded1 ,has it delivered1 so that his gladness has been unmingled1 ,now by the ,truth of the ,lord whose creation brought it forth1 ,were it not for his fear1 ,i should say its power is supreme4 ,then he stretched forth his hand after his recitation1 and said1 ,the honorable man performs what he promises1 and the rain-cloud pours if it has thundered4 ,so ,i threw him the denar1 and said1 ,take it2 no grudging goes with it4 ,and he put it in his mouth and said1 ,god bless it4 ,then he girt up his skirts for departure1 after that he had paid his thanks4 ,but there arose in me1 through his pleasantry1 a giddiness of desire which made me ready to incur indebtedness4 ,so ,i bared another denar1 and said1 ,does it suit thee to blame this1 and then gather it8 ,and he recited impromptu1 and sang with speed3 ,ruin on it for a deceiver and insincere1 ,the yellow one with two faces like a hypocrite6 ,it shows forth with two qualities to the eye of him that looks on it1 ,the adornment of the loved one1 the color of the lover4 ,affection for it1 think they who judge truly1 ,tempts men to commit that which shall anger their ,maker4 ,but for it no thief's right hand were cut off2 ,nor would tyranny be displayed by the impious2 ,nor would the niggard shrink from the night-farer2 ,nor would the delayed claimant mourn the delay of him that withholds2 ,nor would men call to ,god from the envious who casts at them4 ,moreover1 the worst quality that it possesses ,is that it helps thee not in straits1 ,save by fleeing from thee like a runaway slave4 ,well done he who casts it away from a hill-top1 ,and who1 when it whispers to him with the whispering of a lover1 ,says to it in the words of the truth-speaking1 the veracious1 ,i have no mind for intimacy with thee--begone6 ,then said ,i to him1 ,how abundant is thy shower6 ,he said1 ,agreement binds strongest4 ,so ,i tossed him the second denar and said1 ,consecrate them both with the ,twice-read ,chapter4 ,he cast it into his mouth and joined it with its twin1 and turned away blessing his morning's walk1 praising the assembly and its bounty4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now my heart whispered me that he was ,abu ,zayd1 and that his going lame was for a trick2 so ,i called him back and said to him1 ,thou art recognized by thy eloquence1 so straighten thy walk4 ,he said1 ,if thou be the son of ,hammam1 be thou greeted with honor and live long among the honorable4 ,i said1 ,i am ,harith2 but what is thy condition amid all thy fortunes4 ,he said1 ,i change between two conditions1 distress and ease2 and ,i veer with two winds1 the tempest and the breeze4 ,i said1 ,and how hast thou pretended lameness8 the like of thee plays not buffoon4 ,then his cheerfulness1 which had shone forth1 waned2 but he recited as he moved away3 ,i have feigned to be lame1 not from love of lameness1 but that ,i may knock at the gate of relief4 ,for my cord is thrown on my neck1 and ,i go as one who ranges freely4 ,now if men blame me ,i say1 ,excuse me3 sure there is no guilt on the lame4 ,,the ,,fourth ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,damietta7#ah ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,i journeyed to ,damietta in a year of much coming and going1 and in those days was ,i glanced after for my affluence1 desired in friendship3 ,i trained the bordered robes of wealth and looked upon the features of joy4 ,and ,i was traveling with companions who had broken the staff of dissension1 who were suckled on the milk-flows of concord1 so that they showed like the teeth of a comb in uniformity1 and like one soul in agreement of desires2 but we coursed on withal apace1 and not one of us but had saddled a fleet she-camel2 and if we alighted at a station or went aside to a spring1 we snatched the halt and lengthened not the staying4 ,now it happened that we were urging our camels on a night youthful in prime1 raven-locked of complexion2 and we journeyed until the night-season had put off its prime1 and the morning had wiped away the dye of the dark2 but when we wearied of the march and inclined to drowsiness1 we came upon a ground with dew-moistened hillocks1 and a faint east breeze3 and we chose it as a resting-place for the white camels1 an abode for the night-halt4 ,now when the caravan had descended there1 and the groan and the roar of the beasts were still1 ,i heard a loud-voiced man say to his talk-fellow in the camp1 ,what is the rule of thy conduct with thy people and neighbors8 ,the other answered1 ,i am duteous to my neighbor though he wrong me2 and give my fellowship even to the violent2 and bear with a partner though he disorder my affairs2 and love my friend even though he drench me with a tepid draught2 and prefer my well-wisher above my brother2 and fulfil to my comrade even though he requite me not with a tenth2 and think little of much if it be of my guest2 and whelm my companion with my kindness2 and put my talk-fellow in the place of my prince2 and hold my intimate to be as my chief2 and commit my gifts to my acquaintance2 and confer my comforts on my associate2 and soften my speech to him that hates me2 and continue to ask after him that disregards me2 and am pleased with but the crumbs of my due2 and am content with but the least portion of my reward2 and complain not of wrong even when ,i am wronged2 and revenge not1 even though a viper sting me4 ,then said his companion to him1 ,alas6 my boy1 only he who clings should be clung to2 only he who is valuable should be prized4 ,as for me ,i give only to him who will requite2 ,i distinguish not the insolent by my regard2 nor will ,i be of pure affection to one who refuses me fair-dealing2 nor treat as a brother one who would undo my tethering-rope2 nor aid one who would baulk my hopes2 nor care for one who would cut my cords2 nor be courteous to him who ignores my value2 nor give my leading rope to one who breaks my covenant2 nor be free of my love to my adversaries2 nor lay aside my menace to the hostile2 nor plant my benefits on the land of my enemies2 nor be willing to impart to him who rejoices at my ills2 nor show my regard to him who will exult at my death2 nor favor with my gifts any but my friends2 nor call to the curing of my sickness any but those who love me2 nor confer my friendship on him who will not stop my breach2 nor make my purpose sincere to him who wishes my decease2 nor be earnest in prayer for him who will not fill my wallet2 nor pour out my praise on him who empties my jar4 ,for who has adjudged that ,i should be lavish and thou shouldest hoard1 that ,i should be soft and thou rough1 that ,i should melt and thou freeze1 that ,i should blaze and thou smolder8 ,no1 by ,allah1 but let us balance in speech as coin1 and match in deed as sandals1 that each to each we may be safe from fraud and free from hatred4 ,for else1 why should ,i give thee full water and thou stint me8 why should ,i hear with thee and thou contemn me8 why should ,i gain for thee and thou wound me8 why should ,i advance to thee and thou repel me8 ,for how should fair-dealing be attracted by injury8 how can the sun rise clear with cloud8 ,and when did love follow docilely after wrong8 and what man of honor consents to a state of abasement8 ,for excellently said thy father3 ,whoso attaches his affection to me1 ,i repay him as one who builds on his foundation3 ,and ,i mete to a friend as he metes to me1 according to the fulness of his meting or its defect4 ,i make him not a loser6 for the worst of men is he whose to-day falls short of his yesterday4 ,whoever seeks fruit of me gets only the fruit of his own planting4 ,i seek not to defraud1 but ,i will not come off with the bargain of one who is weak in his reason4 ,i hold not truth binding on me toward a man who holds it not binding on himself4 ,there may be some one insincere in love who fancies that ,i am true in my friendship for him1 while he is false2 ,and knows not in his ignorance that ,i pay my creditor his debt after its kind4 ,sunder1 with the sundering of hate1 from one who would make thee a fool1 and hold him as one entombed in his grave4 ,and toward him in whose intercourse there is aught doubtful put on the garb of one who shrinks from his intimacy4 ,and hope not for affection from any who sees that thou art in want of his money4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now1 when ,i had gathered what passed between them1 ,i longed to know them in person4 ,and when the sun shone forth1 and robed the sky with light1 ,i went forth before the camels had risen1 and with an earliness beyond the earliness of the crow1 and began to follow the direction of that night-voice1 and to examine the faces with a searching glance3 until ,i caught sight of ,abu ,zayd and his son talking together1 and upon them were two worn mantles4 ,then ,i knew that they were my two talkers of the night1 the authors of my recitation4 ,so ,i approached them as one enamored of their refinement1 pitying their shabbiness2 and offered them a removal to my lodging1 and the disposal of my much and my little2 and began to tell abroad their worth among the travelers1 and to shake for them the fruited branches2 until they were whelmed with gifts1 and taken as friends4 ,now we were in a night-camp1 whence we could discern the build of the villages1 and spy the fires of hospitality4 ,and when ,abu ,zayd saw that his purse was full1 and his distress removed1 he said to me1 ,truly my body is dirty1 and my filth has caked3 ,wilt thou permit me to go to a village1 and bathe1 and fulfil this urgent need8 ,i said1 ,if thou wilt2 but quick6 return6 ,he said1 ,thou shalt find me appear again to thee1 quicker than the glancing of thine eye4 ,then he coursed away1 as courses the good steed in the training-ground1 and said to his son1 ,haste6 haste6 ,and we imagined not that he was deceiving1 or seeking to escape4 ,so we stayed and watched for him as men watch for the new moons of feasts1 and made search for him by spies and scouts1 until the sunlight was weak with age1 and the wasted bank of the day had nigh crumbled in4 ,then1 when the term of waiting had been prolonged1 and the sun showed in faded garb1 ,i said to my companions1 ,we have gone to the extreme in delay1 and have been long in the setting forth2 so that we have lost time1 and it is plain that the man was lying4 ,now1 therefore1 prepare for the journey1 and turn not aside to the greenness of dung-heaps4 ,then ,i rose to equip my camel and lade for the departure2 and found that ,abu ,zayd had written on the pack-saddle3 ,oh thou1 who wast to me an arm and a helper1 above all mankind6 ,reckon not that ,i have left thee through impatience or ingratitude3 ,for since ,i was born ,i have been of those who when they have eaten separate4 ,said ,al ,harith3 ,then ,i made the company read the words of the ,koran that were on the pack-saddle1 so that he who had blamed him might excuse him4 ,and they admired his witticism1 but commanded themselves from his mischief4 ,then we set forth1 nor could we learn whose company he had gotten in our place4 ,,the ,,fifth ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,kufa7#ai ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,i was conversing at ,kufa1 in a night whose complexion was of a two-fold hue1 whose moon was as an amulet of silver1 with companions who had been nourished on the milk of eloquence1 who might draw the train of oblivion over ,sahban4 ,each was a man to remember from1 and not to guard against2 each was one whom his friend would incline to1 and not avoid4 ,and the night talk fascinated us until the moon had set1 and the watching overcame us4 ,now when night's unmingled dark had spread its awning1 and there was naught but nodding among us1 we heard from the gate the faint sound of a wayfarer1 rousing the dogs2 then followed the knock of one bidding to open4 ,we said1 ,who is it that comes in the dark night8 ,then the traveler answered3 ,o people of the mansion1 be ye guarded from ill6 ,meet not harm as long as ye live6 ,lo6 the night which glooms has driven ,to your abode one disheveled1 dust-laden1 ,a brother of journeying1 that has been lengthened1 extended1 ,till he has become bent and yellow ,like the new moon of the horizon when it smiles4 ,and now he approaches your courtyard1 begging boldly1 ,and repairs to you before all people else1 ,to seek from you food and a lodging4 ,ye have in him a guest contented1 ingenuous1 ,one pleased with all1 whether sweet or bitter1 ,one who will withdraw from you1 publishing your bounty4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now when we were caught by the sweetness of his utterance1 and knew what was behind his lightning1 we hastened to open the gate1 and met him with welcome2 and said to the boy ,quick1 quick6 bring what is ready6 ,then said our guest1 ,now1 by him who has set me down at your abode1 ,i will not roll my tongue over your food1 unless ye pledge me that ye will not make me a burden1 that ye will not1 for my sake1 task yourselves with a meal4 ,for sometimes a morsel aches the eater1 and forbids him his repasts4 ,and the worst of guests is he who imposes trouble and annoys his host1 and especially with a harm that affects the body and tends to sickness4 ,for1 by that proverb1 which is widely current1 ',the best ,slippers are those that are clearly seen1' is only meant that supper-time should be hastened1 and eating by night1 which dims the sight1 avoided4 ,unless1 by ,allah1 the fire of hunger kindle and stand in the way of sleep4 ,said ,al ,harith3 ,now it was as though he had got sight of our desire1 and so had shot with the bow of our conviction4 ,accordingly we gratified him by agreeing to the condition1 and commended him for his easy temper4 ,and when the boy brought what was to be had1 and lighted the candle in the midst of us1 ,i looked close at him1 and lo6 it was ,abu ,zayd4 ,so ,i said to my company1 ,joy to you of the guest who has come6 ,nay1 but the spoil is lightly won6 ,for if the moon of ,sirius has gone down1 truly the moon of poetry has risen3 ,or if the full moon of the ,lion has waned1 the full moon of eloquence shines forth4 ,then ran through them the wine-glow of joy1 and sleep flew away from their eye-corners4 ,and they refused the rest which they had purposed1 and returned to the spreading out of pleasantry1 after they had folded it4 ,but ,abu ,zayd kept intent upon plying his hands2 however1 when what was before him might be removed1 ,i said to him1 ,present us with one of the rare stories from thy night talkings1 or some wonder from among the wonders of thy journeys4 ,he said1 ,of wonders ,i have met with such as no seers have seen1 no tellers have told4 ,but among the most wondrous was that which ,i beheld to-night1 a little before my visit to you and my coming to your gate4 ,then we bade him tell us of this new thing which he had seen in the field of his night-faring4 ,he said1 ,truly the hurlings of exile have thrown me to this land3 ,and ,i was in hunger and distress1 with a scrip like the heart of the mother of ,moses4 ,now1 as soon as the dark had settled1 ,i arose1 in spite of all my footsoreness1 to seek a host or to gain a loaf4 ,then the driver hunger1 and ,fate1 which is by-named the ,father of ,wonders1 urged me on1 till ,i stood at the door of a house1 and spoke1 improvising3 ,hail people of this dwelling1 ,may ye live in the ease of a plenteous life6 ,what have ye for a son of the road1 one crushed to the sand1 ,worn with journeys1 stumbling in the night-dark night1 ,aching in entrails1 which enclose naught but hunger8 ,for two days he has not tasted the savor of a meal3 ,in your land there is no refuge for him4 ,and already the van of the drooping darkness has gloomed2 ,and through bewilderment he is in restlessness4 ,now in this abode is there any one1 sweet of spring1 ,who will say to me1 ,throw away thy staff and enter3 ,rejoice in a cheerful welcome and a ready meal8 ,then came forth to me a lad in a tunic1 and answered3 ,now by the sanctity of the ,shaykh who ordained hospitality1 ,and founded the ,house of ,pilgrimage in the ,mother of cities1 ,we have naught for the night-farer when he visits us ,but conversation and a lodging in our hall4 ,for how should he entertain whom hinders from sleepfulness ,hunger which peels his bones when it assails him8 ,now what thinkest thou of my tale8 what thinkest thou8 ,i said1 ,what shall ,i do with an empty house1 and a host the ally of penury8 ,but tell me1 youth1 what is thy name1 for thy understanding has charmed me4 ,he said1 ,my name is ,zayd1 and my birth-place ,fayd3 and ,i came to this city yesterday with my mother's kindred of the ,benu ',abs4 ,i said to him1 ,show me further1 so mayest thou live and be raised when thou fallest6 ,he said1 ,my mother ,barrah told me 7and she is like her name1 'pious'7 that she married in the year of the foray on ,mawan a man of the nobles of ,seruj and ,ghassan2 but when he was aware of her pregnancy 7for he was a crafty bird1 it is said7 he made off from her by stealth1 and away he has stayed1 nor is it known whether he is alive and to be looked for1 or whether he has been laid in the lonely tomb4 ,said ,abu ,zayd1 ,now ,i knew by sure signs that he was my child2 but the emptiness of my hand turned me from making known to him1 so ,i parted from him with heart crushed and tears unsealed4 ,and now1 ye men of understanding1 have ye heard aught more wondrous than this wonder8 ,we said1 ,no1 by him who has knowledge of the ,book4 ,he said1 ,record it among the wonders of chance2 bid it abide forever in the hearts of scrolls2 for nothing like it has been told abroad in the world4 ,then he bade bring the ink-flask1 and its snake-like reeds1 and we wrote the story elegantly as he worded it2 after which we sought to draw from him his wish about receiving his boy4 ,he said1 ,if my purse were heavy1 then to take charge of my son would be light4 ,we said1 ,if a nisab of money would suffice thee1 we will collect it for thee at once4 ,he said1 ,and how should a nisab not content me8 would any but a madman despise such a sum8 ,said the narrator1 ,then each of us undertook a share of it1 and wrote for him an order for it4 ,whereupon he gave thanks for the kindness1 and exhausted the plenteousness of praise2 until we thought his speech long1 or our merit little4 ,and then he spread out such a bright mantle of talk as might shame the stuffs of ,yemen1 until the dawn appeared and the light-bearing morn went forth4 ,so we spent a night of which the mixed hues had departed1 until its hind-locks grew gray in the dawn2 and whose lucky stars were sovereign until its branch budded into light4 ,but when the limb of the sun peeped forth1 he leaped up as leaps the gazelle1 and said1 ,rise up1 that we may take hold on the gifts and draw payment of the checks3 for the clefts of my heart are widening through yearning after my child4 ,so ,i went with him1 hand in hand1 to make easy his success4 ,but as soon as he had secured the coin in his purse the marks of his joy flashed forth1 and he said1 ,be thou rewarded for the steps of thy feet6 be ,god my substitute toward thee6 ,i said1 ,i wish to follow thee that ,i may behold thy noble child1 and speak with him that he may answer eloquently4 ,then looked he at me as looks the deceiver on the deceived1 and laughed till his eyeballs gushed with tears2 and he recited3 ,o thou who didst fancy the mirage to be water when ,i quoted to thee what ,i quoted6 ,i thought not that my guile would be hidden1 or that it would be doubtful what ,i meant4 ,by ,allah1 ,i have no ,barrah for a spouse2 ,i have no son from whom to take a by-name4 ,nothing is mine but divers kinds of magic1 in which ,i am original and copy no one3 ,they are such as ,al ,asma'i tells not of in what he has told2 such as ,al ,komayt never wove4 ,these ,i use when ,i will to reach whatever my hand would pluck3 ,and were ,i to abandon them1 changed would be my state1 nor should ,i gain what ,i now gain4 ,so allow my excuse2 nay1 pardon me1 if ,i have done wrong or crime4 ,then he took leave of me and passed away1 and set coals of the ghada in my breast4 ,,the ,,sixth ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,meraghah1 ,,or ,,the ,,diversified7#bj ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,i was present in the ,court of ,supervision at ,meraghah when the talk ran of eloquence4 ,then agreed all who were there of the knights of the pen1 and the lords of genius1 that there remained no one who could select his diction1 or use himself freely in it as he willed3 and that since the men of old were gone1 there was none now left who could originate a brilliant method1 or open a virgin style4 ,and that even one marvelous among the writers of this age1 and holding in his grasp the cords of eloquence1 is but a dependent on the ancients1 even though he possess the fluency of ,sahban ,wa'il4 ,now there was in the assembly an elderly man1 sitting on the outskirts1 in the places of the attendants3 and as often as the company overran in their career1 and scattered fruit1 good and bad1 from their store1 the side-glance of his eye and the up-turning of his nose showed that he was one silent to spring1 one crouching who would extend his stride3 that he was a twanger of the bow who shapes his arrows1 one who sits in wait desiring the conflict4 ,but when the quivers were empty1 and quiet returned2 when the storms had fallen1 and the disputer was stayed1 he turned to the company and said1 ,ye have uttered a grievous thing2 ye have wandered much from the way3 for ye have magnified moldering bones2 ye have been excessive in your leaning to those who are gone2 ye have contemned your generation1 among whom ye were born1 and with whom your friendships are established4 ,have ye forgotten1 ye skilful in testing1 ye sages of loosing and binding1 how much new springs have given forth2 how the colt has surpassed the full-grown steed2 in refined expressions1 and delightful metaphors1 and ornate addresses1 and admired cadences8 ,and1 if any one here will look diligently1 is there in the ancients aught but ideas whose paths are worn1 whose ranges are restricted2 which have been handed down from them through the priority of their birth1 not from any superiority in him who draws first at the well over him who comes after8 ,now truly know ,i one who1 when he composes1 colors richly2 and when he expresses1 embellishes2 and when he is lengthy1 finds golden thoughts2 and when he is brief1 baffles his imitator2 and when he improvises1 astonishes2 and when he creates1 cuts the envious4 ,then said to him the ,president of the ,court1 the ,eye of those ,eyes3 ,who is it that strikes on this rock1 that is the hero of these qualities8 ,he said1 ,it is the adversary of this thy skirmish1 the partner of thy disputation3 ,now1 if thou wilt1 rein a good steed1 call forth one who will answer1 so shalt thou see a wonder4 ,he said to him1 ,stranger1 the chough in our land is not taken for an eagle1 and with us it is easy to discern between silver and shingle4 ,rare is he who exposes himself to the conflict1 and then escapes the mortal hurt2 or who stirs up the dust of trial1 and then catches not the mote of contempt4 ,so offer not thy honor to shame1 turn not from the counsel of the counselor4 ,he answered1 ,each man knows best the mark of his arrow1 and be sure the night shall disclose its morn4 ,then whispered the company as to how his well should be fathomed1 and his proving undertaken4 ,said one of them1 ,leave him to my share1 that ,i may pelt him with the stone of my story2 for it is the tightest of knots1 the touchstone of testing4 ,then they invested him with the command in this business as the ,rebels invested ,abu ,na'ameh4 ,whereupon he turned to the elder and said1 ,know that ,i am attached to this ,governor and maintain my condition by ornamental eloquence4 ,now1 in my country1 ,i could rely for the straightening of my crookedness on the sufficiency of my means1 coupled with the smallness of my family4 ,but when my back was weighted1 and my thin rain failed1 ,i repaired to him from my home with hope1 and besought him to restore my comeliness and my competence4 ,and he looked pleasantly on my coming1 and was gracious1 and served me morn and even4 ,but when ,i sought permission from him to depart to my abode1 on the shoulder of cheerfulness1 he said1 ,i have determined that ,i will not provide thee with supplies1 ,i will bring together for thee no scattered means1 unless1 before thy departure1 thou compose an address1 setting in it an exposition of thy state2 such1 that the letters of one of every two words shall all have dots1 while the letters of the other shall not be pointed at all4 ,and now have ,i waited for my eloquence a twelvemonth1 but it has returned me not a word2 and ,i have roused my wit for a year1 but only my sluggishness has increased4 ,and ,i have sought aid among the gathering of the scribes1 but each of them has frowned and drawn back4 ,now1 if thou hast disclosed thy character with accuracy1 ,come with a sign if thou be of the truthful4 ,then answered the elder1 ,thou hast put a good steed to the pace2 thou hast sought water at a full stream2 thou hast given the bow to him who fashioned it2 thou hast lodged in the house him who built it4 ,and he thought a while till he had let his flow of wit collect1 his milch-camel fill her udder3 and then he said3 ,wool thy ink-flask1 and take thy implements and write3 ,generosity 7may ,god establish the host of thy successes7 adorns2 but meanness 7may fortune cast down the eyelid of thy enviers7 dishonors2 the noble rewards1 but the base disappoints2 the princely entertains1 but the niggard frights away2 the liberal nourishes1 but the churl pains2 giving relieves1 but deferring torments2 blessing protects1 and praise purifies2 the honorable repays1 for repudiation abases2 the rejection of him who should be respected is error2 a denial to the sons of hope is outrage2 and none is miserly but the fool1 and none is foolish but the miser2 and none hoards but the wretched2 for the pious clenches not his palms4 ,but thy promise ceases not to fulfil2 thy sentiments cease not to relieve2 nor thy clemency to indulge2 nor thy new moon to illumine2 nor thy bounty to enrich2 nor thy enemies to praise thee2 nor thy blade to destroy2 nor thy princeship to build up2 nor thy suitor to gain2 nor thy praiser to win2 nor thy kindness to succor2 nor thy heaven to rain2 nor thy milk-flow to abound2 nor thy refusal to be rare4 ,now he who hopes in thee is an old man like a shadow1 one to whom nothing remains4 ,he seeks thee with a persuasion whose eagerness leaps onward2 he praises thee in choice phrases1 which merit their dowries4 ,his demand is a light one1 his claims are clear2 his praise is striven for1 his blame is shunned4 ,and behind him is a household whom misery has touched1 whom wrong has stripped1 whom squalor involves4 ,and he is ever in tears that come at call1 and trouble that melts him1 and care that is as a guest1 and growing sadness3 on account of hope that has disappointed him1 and loss that has made him hoary1 and the enemy that has fixed tooth in him1 and the quiet that is gone4 ,and yet his love has not swerved1 that there should be anger at him2 nor is his wood rotten1 that he should be lopped away2 nor has his breast spit foulness that he should be shaken off2 nor has his intercourse been froward that he should be hated4 ,now thy honor admits not the rejection of his claim1 so whiten his hope by the lightening of his distress3 then will he publish thy praise throughout the world4 ,so mayest thou live to avert misfortune1 and to bestow wealth2 to heal grief and to care for the aged3 attended by affluence and fresh joyousness2 as long as the hall of the rich is visited1 or the delusion of the selfish is feared4 ,and so ,peace4 ,now when he had ceased from the dictation of his address1 and showed forth his prowess in the strife of eloquence1 the company gratified him both by word and deed1 and made large to him their courtesy and their bounty4 ,then was he asked from what tribe was his origin1 and in what valley was his lair2 and he answered3 ,ghassan is my noble kindred1 and ,seruj my ancient land3 ,there my home was like the sun in splendor and mighty rank2 ,and my dwelling was as paradise in sweetness and pleasantness and worth4 ,oh1 excellent were the life ,i led there and the plenteous delights1 ,in the day that ,i drew my broidered robe in its meadow1 sharp of purpose1 ,i walked proudly in the mantle of youth and looked upon goodly pleasures2 ,fearing not the visitations of time and its evil haps4 ,now if grief could kill1 surely ,i should perish from my abiding griefs2 ,or if past life could be redeemed my good heart's blood should redeem it4 ,for death is better for a man than to live the life of a beast4 ,when the ring of subjection leads him to mighty trouble and outrage1 ,and he sees lions whom the paws of assailing hyenas seize4 ,but the fault is in the time3 but for its ill luck character would not miss its place3 ,if the time were upright1 then would the conditions of men be upright in it4 ,after this his story reached the ,governor1 who filled his mouth with pearls1 and bade him join himself to his followers1 and preside over his court of public writing4 ,but the gifts sufficed him1 and unwillingness restrained him from office4 ,said the narrator3 ,now ,i had recognized the wood of his tree before the ripening of his fruit3 ,and ,i had nigh roused the people to the loftiness of his worth before that his full moon shone forth4 ,but he hinted to me by a twinkle of his eyelid that ,i should not bare his sword from its sheath4 ,and when he was going forth1 full of purse1 and parting from us1 having gotten victory1 ,i escorted him1 performing the duty of respect1 and chiding him for his refusal of office4 ,but he turned away with a smile and recited with a chant3 ,sure to traverse the lands in poverty is dearer to me than rank3 ,for in rulers there is caprice and fault-finding1 oh what fault-finding6 ,there is none of them who completes his good work1 or who builds up where has laid foundation4 ,so let not the glare of the mirage beguile thee2 undertake not that which is doubtful3 ,for how many a dreamer has his dream made joyful2 but fear has come upon him when he waked4 ,,the ,,seventh ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,barak',,id7#ba ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,i had determined on journeying from ,barak'id2 but now ,i noted the signs of the coming feast1 and ,i disliked to set forth from the city until ,i had witnessed there the day of adornment4 ,so when it came on with its rites1 bounden or of free will1 and brought up its horsemen and footmen1 ,i followed the tradition in new apparel1 and went forth with the people to keep festival4 ,now when the congregation of the prayer-court was gathered and ranged1 and the crowding took men's breath1 there appeared an old man in a pair of cloaks1 and his eyes were closed3 and he bore on his arm what was like a horse-bag1 and had for a guide an old woman like a goblin4 ,then he stopped1 as stops one tottering to sink1 and greeted with the greeting of him whose voice is feeble4 ,and when he had made an end of his salutation he circled his five fingers in his wallet1 and brought forth scraps of paper that had been written on with colors of dyes in the season of leisure1 and gave them to his old beldame1 bidding her to detect each simple one4 ,so whenever she perceived of any that his hand was moist in bounty1 she cast one of the papers before him4 ,said ,al ,harith3 ,now cursed fate allotted to me a scrap whereon was written3 ,sure ,i have become crushed with pains and fears2 ,tried by the proud one1 the crafty1 the assailer1 ,by the traitor among my brethren1 who hates me for my need1 ,by jading from those who work to undo my toils4 ,how oft do ,i burn through spites and penury and wandering2 ,how oft do ,i tramp in shabby garb1 thought of by none4 ,oh1 would that fortune when it wronged me had slain my babes6 ,for were not my cubs torments to me and ills1 ,i would not have addressed my hopes to kin or lord3 ,nor would ,i draw my skirts along the track of abasement4 ,for my garret would be more seemly for me1 and my rags more honorable4 ,now is there a generous man who will see that the lightening of my loads must be by a denar2 ,or will quench the heat of my anxiety by a shirt and trousers8 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now when ,i had looked on the garb of the verses1 ,i longed for a knowledge of him who wove it1 the broiderer of its pattern4 ,and my thought whispered to me that the way to him was through the old woman1 and advised me that a fee to an informer is lawful4 ,so ,i watched her1 and she was wending through the rows1 row by row1 begging a dole of the hands1 hand by hand4 ,but not at all did the trouble prosper her2 no purse shed aught upon her palm4 ,wherefore when her soliciting was baffled1 and her circuit wearied her1 she commended herself to ,god with the ,return1 and addressed herself to collect the scraps of paper4 ,but the devil made her forget the scrap that ,i held1 and she turned not aside to my spot3 but went back to the old man weeping at the denial1 complaining of the oppression of the time4 ,and he said1 ,in ,god's hands ,i am1 to ,god ,i commit my case2 there is no strength or power but by ,god1 then he recited3 ,there remains not any pure1 not any sincere2 not a spring1 not a helper3 ,but of baseness there is one level2 not any is trusty1 not any of worth4 ,then said he to her1 ,cheer thy soul and promise it good2 collect the papers and count them4 ,she said1 ,truly ,i counted them when ,i asked them back1 and ,i found that one of them the hand of loss had seized4 ,he said1 ,perdition on thee1 wretch2 shall we be hindered1 alas1 both of the prey and the net1 both of the brand and the wick8 ,surely this is a new handful to the load4 ,then did the old woman hasten back1 retracing her path to seek her scroll2 and when she drew near to me ,i put with the paper a dirhem and a mite1 and said to her1 ,if thou hast a fondness for the polished1 the engraved 7and ,i pointed to the dirhem71 show me the secret1 the obscure2 but if thou willest not to explain1 take then the mite and begone4 ,then she inclined to the getting of that whole full moon1 the bright-faced1 the large4 ,so she said1 ,quit contention and ask what thou wilt4 ,whereupon ,i asked her of the old man and his country1 of the poem1 and of him who wove its mantle4 ,she said1 ,truly1 the old man is of the people of ,seruj1 and he it was who broidered that woven poem4 ,then she snatched the dirhem with the snatch of a hawk1 and shot away as shoots the darting arrow4 ,but it troubled my heart that perchance it was ,abu ,zayd who was indicated1 and my grief kindled at his mishap with his eyes4 ,and ,i should have preferred to have gone suddenly on him and talked to him1 that ,i might test the quality of my discernment upon him4 ,but ,i was unable to come to him save by treading on the necks of the congregation1 a thing forbidden in the law2 and1 moreover1 ,i was unwilling that people should be annoyed by me1 or that blame should arrive to me4 ,so ,i cleaved to my place1 but made his form the fetter of my sight1 until the sermon was ended1 and to leap to him was lawful4 ,then ,i went briskly to him and examined him in spite of the closing of his eyelids4 ,and1 lo6 my shrewdness was as the shrewdness of ,ibn ',abbas1 and my discernment as the discernment of ,iyas4 ,so at once ,i made myself known1 and presented him with one of my tunics1 and bade him to my bread4 ,and he was joyful at my bounty and recognition1 and acceded to the call to my loaves2 and he set forth1 and my hand was his leading cord1 my shadow his conductor2 and the old woman was the third prop of the pot2 yes1 by the ,watcher from whom no secret is hidden6 ,now1 when he had taken seat in my nest1 and ,i had set before him what hasty meal was in my power1 he said1 ,harith1 is there with us a third8 ,i said1 ,there is none but the old woman4 ,he said1 ,from her no secret is withheld4 ,then he opened his eyes and stared round with the twin balls1 and1 lo6 the two lights of his face kindled like the ,farkadan4 ,and ,i was joyful at the safety of his sight1 but marveled at the strangeness of his ways4 ,nor did quiet possess me1 nor did patience fit with me1 until ,i asked him1 ,what led thee to feign blindness2 thou1 with thy journeying in desolate places1 and thy traversing of wildernesses1 and thy pushing into far lands8 ,but he made show as if his mouth were full1 and kept as though busied with his meal1 until1 when he had fulfilled his need1 he sharpened his look upon me and recited3 ,since ,time 7and he is the father of mankind7 makes himself blind to the right in his purposes and aims1 ,i too have assumed blindness1 so as to be called a brother of it4 ,what wonder that one should match himself with his father6 ,then said he to me1 ,rise1 and go to the closet1 and fetch me alkali that may clear the eye1 and clean the hand1 and soften the skin1 and perfume the breath1 and brace the gums1 and strengthen the stomach3 and let it be clean of box1 fragrant of odor1 new of pounding1 delicate of powdering2 so that one touching it shall count it to be eye-paint1 and one smelling it shall fancy it to be camphor4 ,and join with it a toothpick choice in material1 delightful in use1 goodly in shape1 that invites to the repast3 and let it have the slimness of a lover1 and the polish of a sword1 and the sharpness of the lance of war1 and the pliancy of a green bough4 ,said ,al ,harith3 ,then ,i rose to do what he bade that ,i might rid him of the trace of his food2 and thought not that he purposed to deceive by sending me into the closet2 nor suspected that he was mocking of his messenger when he called for the alkali and toothpick4 ,but when ,i returned with what was asked for1 in less than the drawing of a breath1 ,i found that the hall was empty1 and that the old man and woman had sped away4 ,then was ,i extreme in anger at his deceit1 and ,i pressed on his track in search of him2 but he was as one who is sunk in the sea1 or has been borne aloft to the clouds of heaven4 ,,the ,,eighth ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,ma',,akrah7#bb ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,among the wonders of time1 ,i saw that two suitors came before the ,kadi of ,ma'arrat an ,no'man4 ,from the one of them the two excellencies of life had departed1 while the other was as a bough of the ben tree4 ,and the old man said3 ,god strengthen the judge1 as by him he strengthens whoever seeks judgment4 ,behold ,i had a slave girl1 elegant of shape1 smooth of cheek1 patient to labor2 at one time she ambled like a good steed1 at another she slept quietly in her bed3 even in ,july thou wouldst feel her touch to be cool4 ,she had understanding and discretion1 sharpness and wit1 a hand with fingers1 but a mouth without teeth3 yet did she pique as with tongue of snake1 and saunter in training robe2 and she was displayed in blackness and whiteness2 and she drank1 but not from cisterns4 ,she was now truth-telling1 now beguiling2 now hiding1 now peeping forth2 yet fitted for employment1 obedient in poverty and in wealth3 if thou didst spurn she showed affection1 but if thou didst put her from thee1 she remained quietly apart4 ,generally would she serve thee1 and be courteous to thee1 though sometimes she might be froward to thee and pain thee1 and trouble thee4 ,now this youth asked her service of me for a purpose of his own1 and ,i made her his servant1 without reward1 on the condition that he should enjoy the use of her1 but not burden her with more than she could bear4 ,but he forced on her too hard a work1 and exacted of her long labor2 then returned her to me broken in health1 offering a compensation which ,i accept not4 ,then said the youth3 ,sure the old man is more truthful than the ,kata3 but as for my hurting her it fell out by mistake4 ,and now have ,i pledged to him in payment of his damage1 a slave#bc of mine1 of equal birth as regards either kin1 tracing his lineage to ,al ,kayn1 free from stain and disgrace1 whose place was the apple of his master's eye4 ,he showed forth kindness1 and called up admiration2 he nourished mankind1 and set guard on his tongue4 ,if he was placed in power he was generous1 if he marked aught for his own he was noble with it2 if he was supplied he gave of his supply1 and when he was asked for more he added4 ,he stayed not in the house1 and rarely visited his wives1 save two by two4 ,he was generous with his possession1 he was lofty in his bounty2 he kept with his spouse although she was not of his own clay2 and there was pleasure in his comeliness1 although he was not desired for his effeminacy4 ,then said to them the ,kadi1 ,now either explain or depart4 ,then pressed forward the lad1 and said3 ,he lent me a needle to darn my rags1 which use has worn and blackened2 ,and its eye broke in my hand by chance1 as ,i drew the thread through it4 ,but the old man would not forgive me the paying for it when he saw that it was spoiled2 ,but said1 ,give me a needle like it1 or a price1 after thou hast mended it4 ,and he keeps my kohl-pencil by him as a pledge3 oh1 the shame that he has gotten by so doing3 ,for my eye is dry through giving him this pledge2 my hand fails to ransom its anointer4 ,now by this statement fathom the depth of my misery and pity one unused to bear it4 ,then turned the ,kadi to the old man1 and said1 ,come1 speak without glozing1 and he said3 ,i swear by the holy place of sacrifice1 and the devout whom the slope of ,mina brings together2 ,if the time had been my helper1 thou wouldst not have seen me taking in pledge the pencil which he has pledged to me4 ,nor would ,i bring myself to seek a substitute for a needle that he had spoiled2 no1 nor the price of it4 ,but the bow of calamities shoots at me with deadly arrows from here and there3 ,and to know my condition is to know his2 misery1 and distress1 and exile1 and sickness4 ,fortune has put us on a level3 ,i am his like in misery1 and he is as ,i4 ,he can not ransom his pencil now that it lies pledged in my hand3 ,and1 through the narrowness of my own means1 it is not within my bounds to forgive him for his offending4 ,now this is my tale and his3 so look upon us1 and judge between us1 and pity us4 ,now when the ,kadi had learned their stories1 and was aware of their penury and their distinction1 he took out for them a denar from under his prayer-cushion1 and said1 ,with this end and decide your contention4 ,but the old man caught it before the youth1 and claimed the whole of it in earnest1 not in jest1 saying to the youth1 ,half is mine as my share of the bounty1 and thy share is mine1 in payment for my needle3 nor do ,i swerve from justice1 so come and take thy pencil4 ,now there fell on the youth1 at the words of the old man1 a sadness at which the heart of the ,kadi grew sullen1 stirring its sorrow for the lost denar4 ,yet did he cheer the concern of the youth and his anguish by a few dirhems which he doled to him4 ,then he said to the two1 ,avoid transactions1 and put away disputes1 and come not before me with wranglings1 for ,i have no purse of fine-money for you4 ,and they rose to go out from him1 rejoicing at his gift1 fluent in his praise4 ,but as for the ,kadi1 his ill-humor subsided not after his stone had dripped2 his sad look cleared not away after his rock had oozed4 ,but when he recovered from his fit he turned to his attendants1 and said1 ,my perception is imbued with the thought1 and my guess announces to me1 that these are practisers of craft1 not suitors in a claim3 but what is the way to fathom them1 and to draw forth their secret8 ,then said to him the ,knowing ,one of his assemblage1 the ,light of his following3 ,surely the discovery of what they hide must be through themselves4 ,so he bade an attendant follow them and bring them back2 and when they stood before him he said to them1 ,tell me truly your camel's age3 so shall ye be secure from the consequence of your deceit4 ,then did the lad shrink back and ask for pardon2 but the old man stepped forward and said3 ,i am the ,seruji and this is my son2 and the cub at the proving is like the lion4 ,now never has his hand nor mine done wrong in matter of needle or pencil3 ,but only fortune1 the harming1 the hostile1 has brought us to this1 that we came forth to beg ,of each one whose palm is moist1 whose spring is sweet2 of each whose palm is close1 whose hand is fettered2 ,by every art1 and with every aim3 by earnest1 if it prosper1 and if not1 by jest4 ,that we may draw forth a drop for our thirsty lot1 and consume our life in wretched victual4 ,and afterward ,death is on the watch for us3 if he fall not on us to-day he will fall to-morrow4 ,then said the ,kadi to him1 ,oh rare6 how admirable are the breathings of thy mouth2 well done6 should ,i say of thee1 were it not for the guile that is in thee4 ,now know that ,i am of those that warn thee1 and will beware of thee4 ,so act not again deceitfully with judges1 but fear the might of those who bear rule4 ,for not every minister will excuse1 and not at every season will speech be listened to4 ,then the old man promised to follow his counsel1 and to abstain from disguising his character4 ,and he departed from the ,kadi's presence1 while the guile beamed from his forehead4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now ,i never saw aught more wonderful than these things in the changes of my journeys1 nor read aught like them in the records of books4 ,,the ,,ninth ,,assembly1 7,,called ,,of ,,alexandria7#bd ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,the liveliness of youth and the desire of gain sped me on until ,i had traversed all that is between ,farghanah and ,ghanah4 ,and ,i dived into depths to gather fruits1 and plunged into perils to reach my needs4 ,now ,i had caught from the lips of the learned1 and understood from the commandments of the wise1 that it behooves the well-bred1 the sagacious1 when he enters a strange city1 to conciliate its ,kadi and possess himself of his favor3 that his back may be strengthened in litigation1 that he may be secure in a strange land from the wrong of the powerful4 ,so ,i took this doctrine as my guide and made it the leading-cord to my advantages4 ,and ,i entered not a city1 ,i went not into a lair1 but ,i mingled myself with its judge as water is mingled with wine1 and strengthened myself by his patronage as bodies are strengthened by souls4 ,now while ,i was in presence of the judge of ,alexandria one cold evening1 and he had brought out the alms-money to divide it among the needy1 behold there entered an ill-looking old man whom a young matron dragged along4 ,and she said3 ,god strengthen the ,kadi and through him make concord to be lasting3 know that ,i am a woman of stock the most noble1 of root the most pure1 of mother's and father's kin the most honorable3 my character is moderation1 my disposition is contentment2 my nature is to be a goodly help-meet2 between me and my neighbors is a wide difference4 ,now whenever there wooed me any who had built up honor or were lords of wealth my father silenced and chid them and misliked their suit and their gift3 making plea that he had covenanted with ,god ,most ,high that he would not ally himself save with the master of a handicraft4 ,then did ,providence destine for my calamity and pain that this deceiver should present himself in my father's hall2 and swear among his people that he fulfilled his condition3 asserting that long time he had strung pearl to pearl and sold them for great price4 ,then was my father deceived by the gilding of his falsehood1 and married me to him before proving his condition4 ,and when he had drawn me forth from my covert1 and carried me away from my people1 and removed me to his habitation1 and brought me under his bond1 ,i found him slothful1 a sluggard2 ,i discovered him to be a lie-a-bed1 a slumberer4 ,now ,i had come to him with apparel and goodly show1 with furniture and affluence4 ,but he ceased not to sell it in a losing market and to squander the price in greedy feeding1 until he had altogether destroyed whatever was mine1 and spent my property on his need4 ,so when he had made to me to forget the taste of rest and left my house cleaner than my hand's palm1 ,i said to him1 ,sir1 know that there is no concealment after distress1 no perfume after the wedding4 ,rise up then to gain something by thy trade1 to gather the fruit of thy skill4 ,but he declared that his trade had been struck with slackness through the violence that was abroad in the earth4 ,also ,i have a boy by him1 thin as a toothpick3 neither of us gets a fill by him1 and through hunger our weeping to him ceases not4 ,so ,i have brought him to thee and set him before thee1 that thou mayest test the substance of his assertion1 and decide between us as ,god shall show thee4 ,then turned the ,kadi to him and said3 ,thou hast heard thy wife's story2 now testify of thyself3 else will ,i discover thy deceit and bid thy imprisonment4 ,but he looked down as looks the serpent2 then girt up his garment for a long strife1 and said3 ,hear my story1 for it is a wonder2 there is laughter in its tale1 and there is wailing4 ,i am a man on whose qualities there is no blame1 neither is there suspicion on his glory4 ,seruj is my home where ,i was born1 and my stock is ,ghassan when ,i trace my lineage3 ,and study is my business2 to dive deep in learning is my pursuit2 and1 oh6 how excellent a seeking4 ,and my capital is the magic of speech1 out of which are molded both verse and prose4 ,i dive into the deep of eloquence1 and from it ,i choose the pearls and select them3 ,i cull of speech the ripe fruit and the new2 while another gathers but firing of the wood3 ,i take the phrase of silver1 and when ,i have molded it men say that it is gold4 ,now formerly ,i drew forth wealth by the learning ,i had gotten2 ,i milked by it3 ,and my foot's sole in its dignity mounted to ranges above which were no higher steps4 ,oft were the presents brought in pomp to my dwelling1 but ,i accepted not every one who gave4 ,but to-day learning is the chattel of slackest sale in the market of him on whom hope depends4 ,the honor of its sons is not respected2 neither are relationship and alliance with them regarded4 ,it is as though they were corpses in their courtyards1 from whose stench men withdraw and turn aside4 ,now my heart is confounded through my trial by the times2 strange is their changing4 ,the stretch of my arm is straitened through the straitness of my hand's means2 cares and grief assail me4 ,and my fortune1 the blameworthy1 has led me to the paths of that which honor deems base4 ,for ,i sold until there remained to me not a mat nor household goods to which ,i might turn4 ,so ,i indebted myself until ,i had burdened my neck by the carrying of a debt such that ruin had been lighter4 ,then five days ,i wrapped my entrails upon hunger2 but when the hunger scorched me1 ,i could see no goods except her outfit1 in the selling of which ,i might go about and bestir myself4 ,so ,i went about with it2 but my soul was loathing1 and my eye tearful1 and my heart saddened4 ,but when ,i made free with it1 ,i passed not the bound of her consent1 that her wrath should rise against me4 ,and if what angers her be her fancying that it was my fingers that should make gain by stringing2 ,or that when ,i purposed to woo her ,i tinseled my speech that my need might prosper3 ,i swear by him to whose ,ka'beh the companies journey when the fleet camels speed them onward1 ,that deceit toward chaste ladies is not of my nature1 nor are glozing and lying my badge4 ,since ,i was reared naught has attached to my hand save the swiftly moving reeds and the books3 ,for it is my wit that strings necklaces1 not my hand2 what is strung is my poetry1 and not chaplets4 ,and this is the craft ,i meant as that by which ,i gathered and gained4 ,so give ear to my explaining1 as thou hast given ear to her2 and show respect to neither1 but judge as is due4 ,now when he had completed the structure of his story and perfected his recitation1 the ,kadi turned to the young woman1 being heart-struck at the verses1 and said1 now that it is settled among all judges and those who bear authority that the race of the generous is perished1 and that the times incline to the niggardly4 ,now ,i imagine that thy husband is truthful in his speech1 free from blame4 ,for lo6 he has acknowledged the debt to thee1 and spoken the clear truth2 he has given proof that he can string verses1 and it is plain that he is bared to the bone4 ,now to vex him who shows excuse is baseness1 to imprison the destitute is a sin3 to conceal poverty is self-denial1 to await relief with patience is devotion4 ,so return to thy chamber and pardon the master of thy virginity3 refrain from thy sharpness of tongue and submit to the will of thy ,lord4 ,then in the almsgiving he assigned them a portion1 and of the dirhems he gave them a pinch2 and said to them1 ,beguile yourselves with this drop1 moisten yourselves with this driblet3 and endure against the fraud and the trouble of the time1 for 'it may be that ,god will bring victory or some ordinance from himself4' ,then they arose to go1 and on the old man was the joy of one loosed from the bond1 and the exulting of one who is in affluence after need4 ,said the narrator3 ,now ,i knew that he was ,abu ,zayd in the hour that his son peeped forth and his spouse reviled him3 and ,i went near to declare his versatility and the fruiting of his divers branches4 ,but then ,i was afraid that the ,kadi would hit on his falsehood and the lacking of his tongue1 and not see fit1 when he knew him1 to train him to his bounty4 ,so ,i forebore from speech with the forbearing of one who doubts1 and ,i folded up mention of him as the roll is folded over the writing3 save that when he had departed and had come whither he was to come1 ,i said1 ,if there were one who would set out on his track1 he might bring us the kernel of his story1 and what tissues he is spreading forth4 ,then the ,kadi sent one of his trusty ones after him and bade him to spy out of his tidings4 ,but he delayed not to return bounding in1 and to come back loudly laughing4 ,said the ,kadi to him1 ,well1 ,abu ,maryam6 ,he said1 ,i have seen a wonder2 ,i have heard what gives me a thrill4 ,said the ,kadi to him1 ,what hast thou seen1 and what is it thou hast learned8 ,he said1 ,since the old man went forth he has not ceased to clap with his hands and to caper with his feet and to sing with the full of his cheeks3 ,i was near falling into trouble through an impudent jade2 ,and should have gone to prison but for the ,kadi of ,alexandria4 ,then the ,kadi laughed till his hat fell off1 and his composure was lost3 but when he returned to gravity and had followed excess by prayer for pardon1 he said1 ,o ,god1 by the sanctity of thy most honored servants1 forbid that ,i should imprison men of letters4 ,then said he to that trusty one1 ,hither with him6 and he set forth earnest in the search2 but returned after a while1 telling that the man was gone4 ,then said the ,kadi1 ,know that if he had been here he should have had no cause to fear1 for ,i would have imparted to him as he deserves2 ,i would have shown him that the latter state is better for him than the former4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 ,now1 when ,i saw the leaning of the ,kadi toward him1 and that yet the fruit of the ,kadi's notice was lost to him1 there came on me the repentance of ,al ,farazdak when he put away ,nawar1 or of ,al ,kosa'i when the daylight appeared4 ,,the ,,tenth ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,rahbah7#be ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,the summoning of desire called me to ,rahbah1 the city of ,malik1 son of ,towk1 and ,i obeyed it1 mounted on a fleet camel1 and unsheathing an active purpose4 ,now when ,i had cast my anchors there1 and fastened my ropes1 and had gone forth from the bath after shaving my head1 ,i saw a boy cast in the mold of comeliness1 and clothed by beauty in the garb of perfection2 and an old man was holding on to his sleeve1 asserting that he had slain his son2 but the boy denied knowledge of him and was horror-struck at his suspicion2 and the contention between them scattered its sparks1 and the crowding upon them was made up of good and bad4 ,now after their quarreling had been excessive1 they agreed to refer to the ,governor of the town2 so they hastened to his court with the speed of ,sulayk in his career2 and when they were there the old man renewed his charge and claimed help4 ,so the ,governor made the boy speak1 for the boy had already fascinated him by the graces of his bright brow1 and cloven his understanding by the disposition of his forelocks4 ,and the boy said1 ,it is the lie of a great liar against one who is no blood-shedder1 and the slander of a knave against one who is not an assassin4 ,then said the ,governor to the old man1 ,if two just ,moslems testify for thee1 well2 if not1 demand of him the oath4 ,said the old man1 ,surely he struck him down remote from men1 and shed his blood when alone2 and how can ,i have a witness1 when on the spot there was no beholder8 ,but empower me to dictate an oath that it may appear to thee whether he speaks true or lies4 ,he said to him1 ,thou hast authority for that2 thou with thy vehement grief for thy slain son4 ,then said the old man to the boy3 ,say1 ,i swear by him who hath adorned foreheads with forelocks1 and eyes with their black and white1 and eyebrows with separation1 and smiling teeth with regularity1 and eyelids with languor1 and noses with straightness1 and cheeks with flame1 and mouths with purity1 and fingers with softness1 and waists with slenderness1 that ,i have not killed thy son by negligence1 nor of wilfulness1 nor made his head a sheath to my sword2 if it be otherwise1 may ,god strike my eyelid with soreness1 and my cheek with freckles1 and my forelocks with dropping1 and my palm-shoot with greenness1 and my rose with the ox-eye1 and my musk with a foul steam1 and my full moon with waning1 and my silver with tarnishing1 and my rays with the dark4 ,then said the boy1 ,the scorching of affliction be my lot rather than to take such an oath6 let me yield to vengeance rather than swear as no one has ever sworn6 ,but the old man would naught but make him swallow the oath which he had framed for him1 and the draughts which he had bittered4 ,and the dispute ceased not to blaze between them1 and the road of concord to be rugged4 ,now the boy1 while thus resisting1 captivated the ,governor by his motions1 and made him covet that he should belong to him2 until love subdued his heart and fixed in his breast2 and the passion which enslaved him1 and the desire which he had imagined tempted him to liberate the boy and then get possession of him1 to free him from the noose of the old man1 and then catch him himself4 ,so he said to the old man1 ,hast thou a mind for that which is more seemly in the stronger and nearer to god-fearing8 ,he said1 ,whither art thou pointing that ,i should follow and not delay8 ,he said1 ,i think it well that thou cease from altercation and be content with a hundred denars1 on condition that ,i take on myself part of it1 and collect the rest as may be4 ,said the old man1 ,i refuse not2 but let there be no failure to thy promise4 ,then the ,governor paid him down twenty and assigned among his attendants the making up of fifty4 ,but the robe of evening grew dim1 and from this cause the rain of collection was cut short4 ,then he said1 ,take what is ready and leave disputing2 and on me be it to-morrow to accomplish that the rest be doled to thee and reach thee4 ,said the old man1 ,i will do this on the condition that ,i keep close to him to-night1 that the pupil of my eye guard him1 until when on the dawning of the morn he has made up what remains of the sum of reconciliation1 shell may get clear of chick1 and he may go guiltless as the wolf went guiltless of the blood of the son of ,jacob4 ,then said to him the ,governor1 ,i think that thou dost not impose what is immoderate or ask what is excessive4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,now when ,i perceived that the pleadings of the old man were as the pleadings of ,ibn ,surayj1 ,i knew him to be the ,glory of the ,serujis3 and ,i delayed until the stars of the darkness glittered1 and the knots of the crowd dispersed3 and then ,i sought the ,governor's courtyard2 and lo6 the old man guarding the youth4 ,and ,i adjured him by ,god to say whether he was ,abu ,zayd3 he said1 ,yes1 by him who hath permitted the chase4 ,i said1 ,who is this boy1 after whom the understanding darts8 ,he said1 ,in kin he is my chick1 and in making gain my springe4 ,i said1 ,wilt thou not be satisfied with the graces of his make1 and spare the ,governor temptation by his forelock8 ,he said1 ,were it not that his forehead put forth its ringlets1 ,i should not have snatched the fifty4 ,then he said1 ,pass the night near me that we may quench the fire of grief1 and give enjoyment its turn after separation4 ,for ,i have resolved to slip away at dawn1 and to burn the ,governor's heart with the flame of regret4 ,said ,al ,harith1 ,then ,i spent the night with him in conversation more pleasant than a garden of flowers1 or a woodland of trees3 until when the ,wolf's ,tail lighted the horizon1 and the brightening of the daybreak came on in its time1 he mounted the back of the highway1 and left the ,governor to taste burning torment4 ,and he committed to me1 in the hour of his departure a paper firmly closed1 and said1 ,hand it to the ,governor when he has been bereft of composure1 when he has convinced himself of our flight4 ,but ,i broke the seal as one who would free himself from a letter of ,mutelemmis1 and behold there was written in it3 ,tell the ,governor whom ,i have left1 after my departure1 repenting1 grieving1 biting his hands1 ,that the old man has stolen his money and the young one his heart2 and he is scorched in the flame of a double regret4 ,he was generous with his coin when love blinded his eye1 and he has ended with losing either4 ,calm thy grief1 ,o afflicted1 for it profits not to seek the traces after the substance is gone4 ,but if what has befallen thee is terrible to thee as the ill-fate of ,al ,hosayn is terrible to the ,moslems2 ,yet hast thou gotten in exchange for it understanding and caution2 and the wise man1 the prudent1 wishes for these4 ,so henceforth resist desires1 and know that the chasing of gazelles is not easy2 ,no1 nor does every bird enter the springe1 even though it be surrounded by silver4 ,and how many a one who seeks to make a prey becomes a prey himself1 and meets with naught but the shoes of ,honayn6 ,now consider well1 and forecast not every thundercloud3 many a thundercloud may have in it the bolts of death3 ,and cast down thine eye1 that thou mayest rest from a passion by which thou wouldest clothe thyself with the garment of infamy and disgrace4 ,for the trouble of man is the following of the soul's desire2 and the seed of desire is the longing look of the eye4 ,said the narrator1 ,but ,i tore the paper piecemeal1 and cared not whether he blamed or pardoned me4 ,,the ,,eleventh ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,saweh7#bf ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,i was aware of hardness of heart while ,i sojourned at ,saweh4 ,so ,i betook myself to the ,tradition handed down1 that its cure is by visiting the tombs4 ,and when ,i had reached the mansion of the dead1 the storehouse of moldering remains1 ,i saw an assemblage over a grave that had been dug1 and a corpse that was being buried4 ,so ,i drew aside to them1 meditating on the end of man1 and calling to mind those of my people who were gone4 ,and when they had sepulchered the dead1 and the crying of ,alas6 was over1 an old man stood forth on high1 from a hillock1 leaning on a staff4 ,and he had veiled his face with his cloak1 and disguised his form for craftiness4 ,and he said3 ,let those who work1 work for an end like this4 ,now take thought1 ,o yet negligent and gird yourselves1 ye slothful1 and look well1 ye observers4 ,how is it with you that the burying of your fellows grieves you not1 and that the pouring in of the mold frightens you not2 that ye heed not the visitations of misfortune2 that ye prepare not for the going down to your graves2 that ye are not moved to tears at the eye that weeps2 that ye take not warning at the death-message when it is heard2 that ye are not affrighted when an intimate is lost2 that ye are not saddened when the mourning assembly is gathered8 ,one of you follows home the dead man's bier1 but his heart is set toward his house2 and he is present at the burying of his kinsman1 but his thought is of securing his portion4 ,he leaves his loved friend with the worms1 then retires alone with his pipes and lutes4 ,ye have sorrowed over your riches1 if but a grain were notched away1 yet have ye been forgetful of the cutting off of your friends3 and ye have been cast down at the befalling of adversity1 but have made little of the perishing of your kindred4 ,ye have laughed at a funeral as ye laughed not in the hour of dancing2 ye have walked wantonly behind biers1 as ye walked not in the day that ye grasped gifts4 ,ye have turned from the recital of the mourning women to the preparing of banquets2 and from the anguish of the bereaved to daintiness in feastings4 ,ye care not for him who molders1 and ye move not the thought of death in your mind4 ,so that it is as if ye were joined to ,death by clientship1 or had gotten security from ,time1 or were confident of your own safety1 or had made sure of a peace with the ,destroyer of delights4 ,no6 it is an ill thing that ye imagine4 ,again1 no6 surely ye shall learn4 ,then he recited3 ,o thou who claimest understanding2 how long1 ,o brother of delusion1 wilt thou marshal sin and blame1 and err exceeding error8 ,is not the shame plain to thee8 doth not hoariness warn thee8 7and in its counsel there is no doubtfulness72 nor hath thy hearing become deaf4 ,is not ,death calling thee8 doth he not make thee hear his voice8 dost thou not fear thy passing away1 so as to be wary and anxious8 ,how long wilt thou be bewildered in carelessness1 and walk proudly in vanity1 and go eagerly to diversion1 as if death were not for all8 ,till when will last thy swerving1 and thy delaying to mend habits that unite in thee vices whose every sort shall be collected in thee8 ,if thou anger thy ,master thou art not disquieted at it2 but if thy scheme be bootless thou burnest with vexation4 ,if the graving of the yellow one gleam to thee thou art joyful2 but if the bier pass by thee thou feignest grief1 and there is no grief4 ,thou resistest him who counseleth righteousness2 thou art hard in understanding2 thou swervest aside3 but thou followest the guiding of him who deceiveth1 who lieth1 who defameth4 ,thou walkest in the desire of thy soul2 thou schemest after money2 but thou forgettest the darkness of the grave1 and rememberest not what is there4 ,but if true happiness had looked upon thee1 thy own look would not have led thee amiss2 nor wouldest thou be saddened when the preaching wipeth away griefs4 ,thou shalt weep blood1 not tears1 when thou perceivest that no company can protect thee in the ,court of ,assembling2 no kinsman of mother or father4 ,it is as though ,i could see thee when thou goest down to the vault and divest deep2 when thy kinsmen have committed thee to a place narrower than a needle's eye4 ,there is the body stretched out that the worms may devour it1 until the coffin-wood is bored through and the bones molder4 ,and afterward there is no escape from that review of souls3 since ,sirat is prepared2 its bridge is stretched over the fire to every one who cometh thither4 ,and how many a guide shall go astray6 and how many a great one shall be vile6 and how many a learned one shall slip and say1 ,the business surpasseth4 ,therefore hasten1 ,o simple one1 to that by which the bitter is made sweet2 for thy life is now near to decay and thou hast not withdrawn thyself from blame4 ,and rely not on fortune though it be soft1 though it be gay3 for so wilt thou be found like one deceived by a viper that spitteth venom4 ,and lower thyself from thy loftiness2 for death is meeting thee and reaching at thy collar2 and he is one who shrinketh not back when he hath purposed4 ,and avoid proud turning away of the cheek if fortune have prospered thee3 bridle thy speech if it would run astray2 for how happy is he who bridleth it6 ,and relieve the brother of sorrow1 and believe him when he speaketh and mend thy ragged conduct2 for he hath prospered who mendeth it4 ,and plume him whose plumage hath fallen in calamity great or small2 and sorrow not at the loss1 and be not covetous in amassing4 ,and resist thy base nature1 and accustom thy hand to liberality1 and listen not to blame for it1 and keep thy hand from hoarding4 ,and make provision of good for thy soul1 and leave that which will bring on ill1 and prepare the ship for thy journey1 and dread the deep of the sea4 ,thus have ,i given my precepts1 friends1 and shown as one who showeth clearly3 and happy the man who walketh by my doctrines and maketh them his example4 ,then he drew back his sleeve from an arm strong of sinew1 on which he had fastened the splints of deceit not of fracture2 presenting himself to beg in the garb of impudence3 and by it he beguiled those people until his sleeve was brimmed and full2 then he came down from the hillock merry at the gift4 ,said the narrator3 ,but ,i pulled him from behind by the hem of his cloak2 and he turned to me submissively1 and faced me1 saluting me3 and lo6 it was our old ,abu ,zayd1 in his very self1 and in all his deceit3 and ,i said to him1 ,how many1 ,abu ,zayd1 will be the varieties of thy cunning to drive the prey to thy net8 and wilt thou not care who censures8 ,and he answered without shame and without hesitation3 ,look well1 and leave thy blaming2 for1 tell me1 hast thou ever known a time when a man would not win of the world when the game was in his hands8 ,then ,i said to him3 ,away with thee1 ,old ,shaykh of ,hell1 laden with infamy6 ,for there is nothing like thee for the fairness of thy seeming and the foulness of thy purpose2 except silvered dung or a whited sewer4 ,then we parted2 and ,i went away to the right1 and he went away to the left2 and ,i set myself to the quarter of the south1 and he set himself to the quarter of the north4 ,,the ,,twelfth ,,assembly 7,,called ,,of ,,damascus7#bg ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam1 related3 ,i journeyed from ,irak to the ,ghutah2 and then was ,i master of haltered steeds and envied wealth4 ,freedom of arm called me to diversion1 fulness of store led me to pride4 ,and when ,i had reached the place after toil of soul1 after making lean my camel1 ,i found it such as tongues describe it2 and in it was whatever souls long for or eyes delight in4 ,so ,i thanked the bounty of travel and ran a heat with pleasure3 and began there to break the seals of desires and gather the clusters of delights1 until some travelers were making ready for the journey to ,irak1 and ,i had so recovered from my drowning1 that regret visited me in calling to mind my home and longing after my fold4 ,then ,i struck the tents of exile and saddled the steeds of return4 ,and when the company had equipped themselves and agreement was completed1 we shrank from setting forth without taking with us a guard4 ,and we sought one from every tribe and used a thousand devices to obtain him4 ,but to find him in the clans failed1 so that we thought he was not among the living4 ,and for the want of such a one the resolves of the travelers were bewildered1 and they assembled at the gate of ,jayrun to take counsel4 ,and they ceased not tying and untying1 and plaiting and twining1 until suggestion was exhausted and the hoper despaired4 ,but opposite them was a person whose demeanor was as the demeanor of the youthful1 and his garb as the garb of monks1 and in his hand was the rosary of women1 and in his eyes the mark of giddiness from watchings4 ,and he had fastened his gaze on the assemblage and sharpened his ear to steal a hearing4 ,and when it was the time of their turning homeward and their secret was manifest to him1 he said to them1 ,o people1 let your care relieve itself1 let your mind be tranquil2 for ,i will guard you with that which shall put off your fear and show itself in accord with you4 ,said the narrator3 ,then we asked him to show us concerning his safe conduct1 and promised him a higher wage for it than for an embassy4 ,and he declared it to be some words which he had been taught in a dream1 whereby to guard himself from the malice of mankind4 ,then began one to steal a look at another1 and to move his eyes between glances sideward and downward4 ,so that it was plain to him that we thought meanly of his story1 and conceived it to be futile4 ,whereupon he said1 ,how is it that ye take my earnest for jest1 and treat my gold as dross8 ,now1 by ,allah1 oft have ,i gone through fearful tracts and entered among deadly dangers3 and with this ,i have needed not the companying of a guard or to take with me a quiver4 ,besides1 ,i will remove what gives you doubt1 ,i will draw away the distrust that has come on you1 in that ,i will consent with you in the desert and accompany you on the ,semaweh4 ,then1 if my promise has spoken you true1 do ye renew my weal and prosper my fortune3 but if my mouth has lied to you1 then rend my skin and pour out my blood4 ,said ,al ,harith1 son of ,hammam3 ,then we were inspired to believe his vision and take as true what he had related2 so we ceased from disputing with him and cast lots for carrying him4 ,and at his word we cut the loops of hindrance1 and put away fear of harm or stay2 and when the pack-saddles were fastened on and the setting forth was near1 we sought to learn from him the magic words that we might make them a lasting safeguard4 ,he said3 ,let each of you repeat the ,mother of the ,koran as often as day or night comes on2 then let him say with lowly tongue and humble voice3 ,o ,god6 ,o thou who givest life to the moldering dead6 ,o thou who avertest harms6 ,o thou who guardest from terrors6 ,o thou generous in rewarding6 ,o thou the refuge of suppliants6 ,o thou the ,lord of pardon and protection6 ,send thy blessing on ,mohammed1 the ,seal of thy prophets1 the ,bringer of thy messages1 and on the ,lights of his kindred1 the ,keys of his victory2 and give me refuge1 ,o ,god1 from the mischiefs of devils and the assaults of princes2 from the vexing of the wrongers1 and from suffering through the tyrannous2 from the enmity of transgressors1 and from the transgression of enemies2 from the conquest of conquerors1 from the spoiling of spoilers1 from the crafts of the crafty1 from the treacheries of the treacherous2 and deliver me1 ,o ,god1 from the wrongfulness of neighbors and the neighborhood of the wrongful2 and keep from me the hands of the harmful2 bring me forth from the darkness of the oppressors2 place me by thy mercy among thy servants who do aright4 ,o ,god1 keep me in my own land and in my journeying1 in my exile and my coming homeward1 in my foraging and my return from it1 in my trafficking and my success from it1 in my adventuring and my withdrawing from it4 ,and guard me in myself and my property1 in my honor and my goods1 in my family and my means1 in my household and my dwelling1 in my strength and my fortune1 in my riches and my death4 ,bring not on me reverse2 make not the invader lord over me1 but give me from thyself helping power4 ,o ,god1 watch over me with thy eye and thy aid1 distinguish me by thy safeguard and thy bounty1 befriend me with thy election and thy good1 and consign me not to the keeping of any but thee4 ,but grant to me health that weareth not away1 and allot to me comfort that perisheth not2 and free me from the terrors of misfortune1 and shelter me with the coverings of thy boons2 make not the talons of enemies to prevail against me1 for thou art he that heareth prayer4 ,then he looked down1 and he turned not a glance1 he answered not a word3 so that we said1 ,a fear has confounded him or a stupor struck him dumb4 ,then he raised his head and drew his breath1 and said1 ,i swear by the heaven with its constellations1 and the earth with its plains1 and the pouring flood1 and the blazing sun1 and the sounding sea1 and the wind and the dust-storm1 that this is the most sure of charms1 one that will best suffice you for the wearers of the helmet4 ,he who repeats it at the smiling of the dawn has no alarm of danger to the red of eve2 and he who whispers it to the vanguard of the dark is safe the night long from plunder4 ,said the narrator3 ,so we learned it till we knew it thoroughly1 and rehearsed it together that we might not forget it4 ,then we set forth1 urging the beasts by prayers1 not by the song of drivers2 and guarding the loads by words1 not by warriors4 ,and our companion frequented us evening and morning1 but required not of us our promises3 till when we spied the house-tops of ',anah1 he said to us1 ,now1 your help1 your help6 ,then we set before him the exposed and the hidden1 and showed him the corded and the sealed1 and said to him1 ,decide as thou wilt1 for thou wilt find among us none but will consent4 ,but nothing enlivened him but the light1 the adorning2 nothing was comely in his eye but the coin4 ,so of those he loaded on his burden1 and rose up with enough to repair his poverty4 ,then he dodged us as dodges the cut-purse1 and slipped away from us as slips quicksilver4 ,and his departure saddened us1 his shooting away astonished us3 and we ceased not to seek him in every assembly1 and to ask news of him from each that might mislead or guide4 ,until it was said1 ,since he entered ',anah he has not quitted the tavern4 ,then the foulness of this report set me on to test it1 and to walk in a path to which ,i belonged not4 ,so ,i went by night to the wine-hall in disguised habit2 and there was the old man in a gay-colored dress amid casks and wine-vats2 and about him were cup-bearers surpassing in beauty1 and lights that glittered1 and the myrtle and the jasmine1 and the pipe and the lute4 ,and at one time he bade broach the wine-casks1 and at another he called the lutes to give utterance2 and now he inhaled the perfumes1 and now he courted the gazelles4 ,but when ,i had thus stumbled on his hypocrisy1 and the differing of his to-day from his yesterday1 ,i said to him1 ,woe to thee1 accursed6 hast thou forgotten the day at the ,jayrun8 ,but he laughed heartily1 and then indited charmingly3 ,i cling to journeying1 ,i cross deserts1 ,i loathe pride that ,i may cull joy3 ,and ,i plunge into floods1 and tame steeds that ,i may draw the trains of pleasure and delight4 ,and ,i throw away staidness1 and sell my land1 for the sipping of wine1 for the quaffing of cups4 ,and were it not for longing after the drinking of wine my mouth would not utter its elegancies2 ,nor would my craft have lured the travelers to the land of ,irak1 through my carrying of rosaries4 ,now be not angry1 nor cry aloud1 nor chide1 for my excuse is plain3 ,and wonder not at an old man who settles himself in a well-filled house by a wine-cask that is brimming4 ,for truly wine strengthens the bones and heals sickness and drives away grief4 ,and the purest of joy is when the grave man throws off the veils of shame and flings them aside3 ,and the sweetest of passion is when the love-crazed ceases from the concealing of his love1 and shows it openly4 ,then avow thy love and cool thy heart3 or else the fire-staff of thy grief will rub a spark on it2 ,and heal thy wounds1 and draw out thy cares by the daughter of the vine1 her the desired3 ,and assign to thy evening draught a cup-bearer who will stir the torment of desire when she gazes2 ,and a singer who will raise such a voice that the mountains of iron shall thrill at it when she chants4 ,and rebel against the adviser who will not permit thee to approach a beauty when she consents4 ,and range in thy cunning even to perverseness2 and care not what is said of thee1 and catch what suits thee3 ,and leave thy father if he refuse thee1 and spread thy nets and hunt who comes by thee4 ,but be sincere with thy friend1 and avoid the niggardly1 and bestow kindness1 and be constant in gifts2 ,and take refuge in repentance before thy departure2 for whoso knocks at the door of the ,merciful causes it to open4 ,then ,i said to him1 ,o rare thy recitation1 but fie on thy misconduct6 ,now1 by ,allah1 tell me from what thicket is thy root1 for thy puzzle vexes me4 ,he said ,i love not to disclose myself2 yet ,i will intimate it3 ,i am the novelty of the time1 the wonder of nations2 ,i am the wily one1 who plays his wiles among ,arabs and foreigners2 ,but not the less a brother of need1 whom fortune vexes and wrongs1 ,and the father of children who lie out like meat on the tray3 ,now the brother of want1 who has a household1 is not blamed if he be wily4 ,said the narrator3 ,then ,i knew that it was ,abu ,zayd1 the man of ill-fame and disgrace1 he that blackens the face of his hoariness4 ,and the greatness of his contumacy offended me1 and the foulness of the path of his resorting3 so ,i said to him with the tongue of indignation and the confidence of acquaintance3 ,is it not time1 old man1 that thou withdraw from debauchery8 ,but he was angry1 and growled1 and his countenance changed1 and he thought a while3 and then he said1 ,it is a night for merriment1 not for rebuke1 an occasion for drinking wine1 not for contention2 so leave speaking thy thought until we meet to-morrow4 ,then ,i left him1 through fear of his drunken humor1 not through dependence on his promise2 and ,i passed my night clothed in the mourning of repentance1 at having advanced the steps of my foot to the daughter of the vine1 not of grace4 ,and ,i made a vow to ,god ,almighty that ,i would never again enter the tavern of a liquor-seller1 even that ,i might be endowed with the dominion of ,bagdad2 and that ,i would not look upon the vats of wine1 even that the season of youth might be restored to me4 ,then we saddled the white camels in the last darkness of night1 and left together ,abu ,zayd and ,iblis4 ,,arabic ,,literature ,,the ,,poets ,,of ,,arabia ,mortal joys1 however pure1 ,soon their turbid source betray2 ,mortal bliss1 however sure1 ,soon must totter and decay4 ,,the ,,caliph ,,rahdi4 ,,the ,,poets ,,of ,,arabia 7,,introduction7 ,arabic poetry1 as explained in introducing the ,assemblies of ,al ,hariri1 is based largely on harmonies of sound and striking turns of phrasing4 ,hence most of the poems are brief2 and a poet's fame depended upon a few brilliant couplets rather than on any sustained melody or long-continued flight of noble thought4 ,one distinguished philosophical poem of some length is the well-known ,lament of the ,vizier ,abu ,ismael4 ,this we give in full at the conclusion of this section2 but mainly we must illustrate the finest flowering of ,arabic verse by selecting specimens of characteristic brevity4 ,many of the ,arab caliphs inclined to the gaieties of life rather than to their religious duties1 and kept many poets around them4 ,indeed some of the caliphs themselves were poets3 ,the ,caliph ,walid composed music as well as verse2 and was hailed by his immediate companions as a great artist4 ,his neglect of religion1 however1 was so reckless as to rouse the resentment of his people1 and he lost his throne and life4 ,most noted of all the ,arab poets was ,mutanabbi 7#ije-ife74 ,his fantastic imagery and extravagant refinements of language were held by his admirers to be the very perfection of literature4 ,more than forty commentaries were written to explain the subtleties of his verse4 ,such1 indeed1 was the intensity of ,mutanabbi's poetic ecstasy that he fancied himself a prophet and began to preach a new religion1 until a term in prison persuaded him to cling to the accepted form of ,mohammedanism4 ,in one well-known passage ridiculed by the great ,french critic1 ,huart1 ,mutanabbi says of an advancing army that it was so vast ,the warriors marched hidden in their dust2 ,they saw only with their ears4 ,the commentators explain1 perhaps unnecessarily1 that this means that the warriors' senses were confused by all the tumult1 so that while they thought they saw1 in reality they only heard the clamor of the marchers around them4 ,in translation1 ,mutanabbi's verses lose all value4 ,deprived of their ,arabic melody they seem mere bombast and absurdity4 ,this1 in fact1 is the general charge which must be made against the later ,arabic poetry4 ,it too often degenerated into empty sound4 ,,the ,,poets ,,of ,,arabia ,,the ,,song ,,of ,,maisuna#bh 7,,wife ,,of ,,the ,,caliph ,,mowiah7 ,the russet suit of camel's hair1 ,with spirits light1 and eye serene1 ,is dearer to my bosom far ,than all the trappings of a queen4 ,the humble tent and murmuring breeze ,that whistles thro' its fluttering wall1 ,my unaspiring fancy please ,better than towers and splendid halls4 ,th' attendant colts that bounding fly ,and frolic by the litter's side1 ,are dearer in ,maisuna's eye ,than gorgeous mules in all their pride4 ,the watch-dog's voice that bays whene'er ,a stranger seeks his master's cot1 ,sounds sweeter in ,maisuna's ear ,than yonder trumpet's long-drawn note4 ,the rustic youth unspoilt by art1 ,son of my kindred1 poor but free1 ,will ever to ,maisuna's heart ,be dearer1 pamper'd fool1 than thee4 ,,to ,,my ,,father#bi 7,,by ,,the ,,caliph ,,yazid7 ,must then my failings from the shaft ,of anger ne'er escape8 ,and dost thou storm because ,i've quaff'd ,the water of the grape8 ,that ,i can thus from wine be driv'n ,thou surely ne'er canst think-- ,another reason thou hast giv'n ,why ,i resolve to drink4 ',twas sweet the flowing cup to seize1 ',tis sweet thy rage to see2 ,and first ,i drink myself to please2 ,and next--to anger thee4 ,,on ,,fatalism#cj 7,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,iman ,,shafay7 ,not always wealth1 not always force ,a splendid destiny commands2 ,the lordly vulture gnaws the corse ,that rots upon yon barren sands4 ,nor want1 nor weakness still conspires ,to bind us to a sordid state2 ,the fly that with a touch expires ,sips honey from the royal plate4 ,,to ,,the ,,caliph ,,haroun ,,al ,,rashid#ca 7,,by ,,prince ,,ibrahim ,,ben ,,adham7 ,religion's gems can ne'er adorn ,the flimsy robe by pleasure worn2 ,its feeble texture soon would tear1 ,and give those jewels to the air4 ,thrice happy they who seek th' abode ,of peace and pleasure in their ,god6 ,who spurn the world1 its joys despise1 ,and grasp at bliss beyond the skies4 ,,lines ,,to ,,haroun ,,and ,,yahia#cb 7,,by ,,the ,,musician1 ,,isaac ,,al ,,mouseli7 ,th' affrighted sun ere while he fled1 ,and hid his radiant face in night2 ,a cheerless gloom the world o'erspread-- ,but ,haroun came and all was bright4 ,again the sun shoots forth his rays1 ,nature is decked in beauty's robe-- ,for mighty ,haroun's scepter sways1 ,and ,yahia's arm sustains the globe4 ,,the ,,ruin ,,of ,,the ,,barmecides#cc ,no1 ,barmec ,time hath never shown ,so sad a change of wayward fate2 ,nor sorrowing mortals ever known ,a grief so true1 a loss so great4 ,spouse of the world6 ,thy soothing breast ,did balm to every woe afford2 ,and now no more by thee caressed1 ,the widowed world bewails her lord4 ,,to ,,taher ,,ben ,,hosien#cd ,a pair of right hands and a single dim eye ,must form not a man1 but a monster1 they cry3 ,change a hand to an eye1 good ,taher1 if you can1 ,and a monster perhaps may be chang'd to man4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,song ,,of ,,abu ,,al ,,salam4 ,think not that we will take the cup ,from any hand but thine4 ,,to ,,my ,,mistress#ce 7,,by ,,abu ,,tammam ,,habib7 ,ungenerous and mistaken maid1 ,to scorn me thus because ,i'm poor6 ,canst thou a liberal hand upbraid ,for dealing round some worthless ore8 ,to spare 's the wish of little souls1 ,the great but gather to bestow2 ,yon current down the mountain rolls1 ,and stagnates in the swamp below4 ,,to ,a ,,female ,,cup-,,bearer#cf 7,,by ,,abu ,,al ,,salam7 ,come1 ,leila1 fill the goblet up1 ,beach round the rosy wine1 ,think not that we will take the cup ,from any hand but thine4 ,a draught like this 'twere vain to seek1 ,no grape can such supply2 ,it steals its tint from ,leila's cheek1 ,its brightness from her eye4 ,,mashdud ,,on ,,the ,,monks ,,of ,,khabbet#cg ,tenants of yon hallowed fane6 ,let me your devotions share1 ,there increasing raptures reign-- ,none are ever sober there4 ,crowded gardens1 festive bowers ,ne'er shall claim a thought of mine2 ,you can give in ,khabbet's towers-- ,purer joys and brighter wine4 ,though your pallid faces prove ,how you nightly vigils keep1 ',tis but that you ever love ,flowing goblets more than sleep4 ,though your eye-balls dim and sunk ,stream in penitential guise1 ',tis but that the wine you've drunk ,bubbles over from your eyes4 ,,rakeek ,,to ,,his ,,female ,,companions ,though the peevish tongues upbraid1 ,though the brows of wisdom scowl1 ,fair ones here on roses laid1 ,careless will we quaff the bowl4 ,let the cup1 with nectar crowned1 ,through the grove its beams display1 ,it can shed a luster round1 ,brighter than the torch of day4 ,let it pass from hand to hand1 ,circling still with ceaseless flight1 ,till the streaks of gray expand ,o'er the fleeting robe of night4 ,as night flits1 she does but cry1 ,seize the moments that remain-- ,thus our joys with yours shall vie1 ,tenants of yon hallowed fane6 ,,dialogue ,,by ,,rais ,rais ,maid of sorrow1 tell us why ,sad and drooping hangs thy head8 ,is it grief that bids thee sigh8 ,is it sleep that flies thy bed8 ,lady ,ah6 ,i mourn no fancied wound1 ,pangs too true this heart have wrung1 ,since the snakes which curl around ,selim's brows my bosom stung4 ,destined now to keener woes1 ,i must see the youth depart1 ,he must go1 and as he goes ,bend at once my bursting heart4 ,slumber may desert my bed1 ',tis not slumber's charms ,i seek-- ',tis the robe of beauty spread ,o'er my ,selim's rosy cheek4 ,,to ,a ,,lady ,,weeping#ch 7,,by ,,ebn ,,alrumi7 ,when ,i beheld thy blue eyes shine ,through the bright drop that pity drew1 ,i saw beneath those tears of thine ,a blue-ey'd violet bathed in dew4 ,the violet ever scents the gale1 ,its hues adorn the fairest wreath1 ,but sweetest through a dewy veil ,its colors glow1 its odors breathe4 ,and thus thy charms in brightness rise-- ,when wit and pleasure round thee play1 ,when mirth sits smiling in thine eyes1 ,who but admires their sprightly ray8 ,but when through pity's flood they gleam1 ,who but must love their softened beam8 ,,on ,a ,,valetudinarian 7,,by ,,ebn ,,alrumi7 ,so careful is ,isa1 and anxious to last1 ,so afraid of himself is he grown1 ,he swears through two nostrils the breath goes too fast1 ,and he's trying to breathe through but one4 ,,on ,a ,,miser 7,,by ,,ebn ,,alrumi7 ,hang her1 a thoughtless1 wasteful fool1 ,she scatters corn where'er she goes-- ,quoth ,hassan1 angry at his mule1 ,that dropped a dinner to the crows4 ,,to ,,cassim ,,obio ,,allah#ci 7,,by ,,ali ,,ibn ,,ahmed7 ,poor ,cassim6 thou art doomed to mourn ,by destiny's decree2 ,whatever happens it must turn ,to misery for thee4 ,two sons hadst thou1 the one thy pride1 ,the other was thy pest2 ,ah1 why did cruel death decide ,to snatch away the best8 ,no wonder thou shouldst droop with woe1 ,of such a child bereft2 ,but now thy tears must doubly flow1 ,for1 ah6 the other's left4 ,a ,,friend',s ,,birthday#dj ,when born1 in tears we saw thee drowned1 ,while thine assembled friends around1 ,with smiles their joy confessed2 ,so live1 that at thy parting hour1 ,they may the flood of sorrow pour1 ,and thou in smiles be dressed6 ,,to ,a ,,cat 7,,by ,,ibn ,,alalaf ,,alnaharwany7 ,poor puss is gone6 ',tis fate's decree-- ,yet ,i must still her loss deplore1 ,for dearer than a child was she1 ,and ne'er shall ,i behold her more4 ,with many a sad presaging tear ,this morn ,i saw her steal away1 ,while she went on without a fear ,except that she should miss her prey4 ,i saw her to the dove-house climb1 ,with cautious feet and slow she stept ,resolved to balance loss of time ,by eating faster than she crept4 ,her subtle foes were on the watch1 ,and marked her course1 with fury fraught1 ,and while she hoped the birds to catch1 ,an arrow's point the huntress caught4 ,in fancy she had got them all1 ,and drunk their blood and sucked their breath2 ,alas6 she only got a fall1 ,and only drank the draught of death4 ,why1 why was pigeons' flesh so nice1 ,that thoughtless cats should love it thus8 ,hadst thou but lived on rats and mice1 ,thou hadst been living still1 poor puss4 ,curst be the taste1 howe'er refined1 ,that prompts us for such joys to wish1 ,and curst the dainty where we find ,destruction lurking in the dish4 ,,fire ,a ,riddle ,the loftiest cedars ,i can eat1 ,yet neither paunch nor mouth have ,i1 ,i storm whene'er you give me meat1 ,whene'er you give me drink ,i die4 ,,to ,a ,,lady ,,blushing#da 7,,by ,,the ,,caliph ,,radhi ,,billah7 ,leila1 whene'er ,i gaze on thee ,my altered cheek turns pale1 ,while upon thine1 sweet maid1 ,i see ,a deep'ning blush prevail4 ,leila1 shall ,i the cause impart ,why such a change takes place8 ,the crimson stream deserts my heart1 ,to mantle on thy face4 ,,on ,,the ,,vicissitudes ,,of ,,life 7,,by ,,the ,,caliph ,,radhi ,,billah7 ,mortal joys1 however pure1 ,soon their turbid source betray2 ,mortal bliss1 however sure1 ,soon must totter and decay4 ,ye who now1 with footsteps keen1 ,range through hope's delusive field1 ,tell us what the smiling scene ,to your ardent grasp can yield8 ,other youths have oft before ,deemed their joys would never fade1 ,till themselves were seen no more ,swept into oblivion's shade4 ,who1 with health and pleasure gay1 ,e'er his fragile state could know1 ,were not age and pain to say ,man is but the child of woe8 ,,to ,a ,,dove 7,,by ,,serage ,,alwarak7 ,the dove to ease an aching breast1 ,in piteous murmurs vents her cares2 ,like me she sorrows1 for opprest1 ,like me1 a load of grief she bears4 ,her plaints are heard in every wood1 ,while ,i would fain conceal my woes2 ,but vain's my wish1 the briny flood1 ,the more ,i strive1 the faster flows4 ,sure1 gentle bird1 my drooping heart ,divides the pangs of love with thine1 ,and plaintive murm'rings are thy part1 ,and silent grief and tears are mine4 ,,on ,a ,,thunder-,,storm 7,,by ,,ibrahim ,,ben ,,khiret ,,abou ,,isaac7 ,bright smiled the morn1 till o'er its head ,the clouds in thicken'd foldings spread ,a robe of sable hue2 ,then1 gathering round day's golden king1 ,they stretched their wide o'ershadowing wing1 ,and hid him from our view4 ,the rain his absent beams deplored1 ,and1 soften'd into weeping1 poured ,its tears in many a flood2 ,the lightning laughed with horrid glare2 ,the thunder growled1 in rage2 the air ,in silent sorrow stood4 ,,to ,,my ,,favorite ,,mistress 7,,by ,,saif ,,addaulet1 ,,sultan ,,of ,,aleppo7 ,i saw their jealous eyeballs roll1 ,i saw them mark each glance of mine1 ,i saw thy terrors1 and my soul ,shared ev'ry pang that tortured thine4 ,in vain to wean my constant heart1 ,or quench my glowing flame1 they strove2 ,each deep-laid scheme1 each envious art1 ,but waked my fears for her ,i love4 ',twas this compelled the stern decree1 ,that forced thee to those distant towers1 ,and left me naught but love for thee1 ,to cheer my solitary hours4 ,yet let not ,abla sink deprest1 ,nor separation's pangs deplore2 ,we meet not--'tis to meet more blest2 ,we parted--'tis to part no more4 ,,crucifixion ,,of ,,ebn ,,bakiah 7,,by ,,abu ,,hassan ,,alanbary7 ,whate'er thy fate1 in life and death1 hou'rt doomed above us still to rise1 ,whilst at a distance far beneath ,we view thee with admiring eyes4 ,the gazing crowds still round thee throng1 ,still to thy well-known voice repair1 ,as when erewhile thy hallow'd tongue ,poured in the mosque the solemn prayer4 ,still1 generous ,vizier1 we survey ,thine arms extended o'er our head1 ,as lately1 in the festive day1 ,when they were stretched thy gifts to shed4 ,earth's narrow boundaries strove in vain ,to limit thy aspiring mind1 ,and now we see thy dust disdain ,within her breast to be confin'd4 ,the earth's too small for one so great1 ,another mansion thou shalt have-- ,the clouds shall be thy winding sheet1 ,the spacious vault of heaven thy grave4 ,,caprices ,,of ,,fortune#db 7,,by ,,shems ,,almaali ,,cabus7 ,why should ,i blush that ,fortune's frown ,dooms me life's humble paths to tread8 ,to live unheeded1 and unknown8 ,to sink forgotten to the dead8 ',tis not the good1 the wise1 the brave1 ,that surest shine1 or highest rise2 ,the feather sports upon the wave1 ,the pearl in ocean's cavern lies4 ,each lesser star that studs the sphere ,sparkles with undiminish'd light2 ,dark and eclipsed alone appear ,the lord of day1 the queen of night4 ,,on ,,life ,like sheep1 we're doomed to travel o'er ,the fated track to all assigned1 ,these follow those that went before1 ,and leave the world to those behind4 ,as the flock seeks the pasturing shade1 ,man presses to the future day1 ,while death1 amidst the tufted glade1 ,like the dun robber1#dc waits his prey4 ,,extempore ,,verses#dd 7,,by ,,ebn ,,alramacram7 ,lowering as ,barkaidy's face ,the wintry night came in1 ,cold as the music of his bass1 ,and lengthened as his chin4 ,sleep from my aching eyes had fled1 ,and kept as far apart1 ,as sense from ,ebn ,fahdi's head1 ,or virtue from his heart4 ,the dubious paths my footsteps balked1 ,i slipp'd along the sod1 ,as if on ,jaber's faith ,i'd walked1 ,or on his truth had trod4 ,at length the rising ,king of day ,burst on the gloomy wood1 ,like ,carawash's eye1 whose ray ,dispenses every good4 ,,on ,,the ,,death ,,of ,a ,,son#de 7,,by ,,ali ,,ben ,,mohammed ,,altahmany7 ,tyrant of man6 ,imperious ,fate6 ,i bow before thy dread decree1 ,nor hope in this uncertain state ,to find a seat secure from thee4 ,life is a dark1 tumultuous stream1 ,with many a care and sorrow foul1 ,yet thoughtless mortals vainly deem ,that it can yield a limpid bowl4 ,think not that stream will backward flow1 ,or cease its destined course to keep2 ,as soon the blazing spark shall glow ,beneath the surface of the deep4 ,believe not ,fate at thy command ,will grant a meed she never gave2 ,as soon the airy tower shall stand1 ,that's built upon a passing wave4 ,life is a sleep of threescore years1 ,death bids us wake and hail the light1 ,and man1 with all his hopes and fears1 ,is but a phantom of the night4 ,,on ,,moderation ,,in ,,our ,,pleasures#df 7,,by ,,abu ,,alcassim ,,ebn ,,tabataba7 ,how oft does passion's grasp destroy ,the pleasure that it strives to gain8 ,how soon the thoughtless course of joy ,is doomed to terminate in pain8 ,when prudence would thy steps delay1 ,she but restrains to make thee blest2 ,whate'er from joy she lops away1 ,but heightens and secures the rest4 ,wouldst thou a trembling flame expand1 ,that hastens in the lamp to die8 ,with careful touch1 with sparing hand1 ,the feeding stream of life supply4 ,but if thy flask profusely sheds ,a rushing torrent o'er the blaze1 ,swift round the sinking flame it spreads1 ,and kills the fire it fain would raise4 ,,the ,,vale ,,of ,,bozaa#dg 7,,by ,,ahmed ,,ben ,,yusef ,,almenazy7 ,the intertwining boughs for thee ,have wove1 sweet dell1 a verdant vest1 ,and thou in turn shalt give to me ,a verdant couch upon thy breast4 ,to shield me from day's fervid glare ,thine oaks their fostering arms extend1 ,as anxious o'er her infant care ,i've seen a watchful mother bend4 ,a brighter cup1 a sweeter draught1 ,i gather from that rill of thine1 ,than maddening drunkards ever quaff'd1 ,than all the treasures of the vine4 ,so smooth the pebbles on its shore1 ,that not a maid can thither stray1 ,but counts her strings of jewels o'er1 ,and thinks the pearls have slipped away4 ,,to ,,adversity#dh 7,,by ,,abu ,,menbaa ,,carawash7 ,hail1 chastening friend ,adversity6 ',tis thine ,the mental ore to temper and refine1 ,to cast in virtue's mold the yielding heart1 ,and honor's polish to the mind impart4 ,without thy wakening touch1 thy plastic aid1 ,i'd lain the shapeless mass that nature made2 ,but formed1 great artist1 by thy magic hand1 ,i gleam a sword to conquer and command4 ,,on ,,the ,,incompatibility ,,of ,,pride ,,and ,,true ,,glory#di 7,,by ,,abu ,,alola7 ,think not1 ,abdallah1 pride and fame ,can ever travel hand in hand2 ,with breast opposed1 and adverse aim1 ,on the same narrow path they stand4 ,thus youth and age together meet1 ,and life's divided moments share2 ,this can't advance till that retreat1 ,what's here increased is lessened there4 ,and thus the falling shades of night ,still struggle with the lucid ray1 ,and e'er they stretch their gloomy flight ,must win the lengthened space from day4 ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,nedham ,,almolk 7,,by ,,shebal ,,addaulet7 ,thy virtues famed through every land1 ,thy spotless life1 in age and youth1 ,prove thee a pearl1 by nature's hand1 ,formed out of purity and truth4 ,too long its beams of ,orient light ,upon a thankless world were shed2 ,allah has now revenged the slight1 ,and called it to its native bed4 ,,to ,a ,,lady ,no1 ,abla1 no--when ,selim tells ,of many an unknown grace that dwells ,in ,abla's face and mien1 ,when he describes the sense refined1 ,that lights thine eye and fills thy mind1 ,by thee alone unseen4 ',tis not that drunk with love he sees ,ideal charms1 which only please ,through passion's partial veil1 ',tis not that flattery's glozing tongue ,hath basely framed an idle song1 ,but truth that breathed the tale4 ,thine eyes unaided ne'er could trace ,each opening charm1 each varied grace1 ,that round thy person plays2 ,some must remain concealed from thee1 ,for ,selim's watchful eye to see1 ,for ,selim's tongue to praise4 ,one polished mirror can declare ,that eye so bright1 that face so fair1 ,that cheek which shames the rose2 ,but how thy mantle waves behind1 ,how float thy tresses on the wind1 ,another only shows4 ,,an ,,epigram#ej ,whoever has recourse to thee ,can hope for health no more1 ,he's launched into perdition's sea1 ,a sea without a shore4 ,where'er admission thou canst gain1 ,where'er thy phiz can pierce1 ,at once the ,doctor they retain1 ,the mourners and the hearse4 ,,on ,a ,,little ,,man ,,with ,a ,,very ,,large ,,beard 7,,by ,,isaac ,,ben ,,khalif7 ,how can thy chin that burden bear8 ,is it all gravity to shock8 ,is it to make the people stare8 ,and be thyself a laughing stock8 ,when ,i behold thy little feet ,after thy beard obsequious run1 ,i always fancy that ,i meet ,some father followed by his son4 ,a man like thee scarce e'er appeared-- ,a beard like thine--where shall we find it8 ,surely thou cherishest thy beard ,in hopes to hide thyself behind it4 ,,the ,,lament ,,of ,,the ,,vizier ,,abu ,,ismael#ea ,no kind supporting hand ,i meet1 ,but ,fortitude shall stay my feet2 ,no borrowed splendors round me shine1 ,but ,virtue's luster all is mine2 ,a ,fame unsullied still ,i boast1 ,obscured1 concealed1 but never lost-- ,the same bright orb that led the day ,pours from the ,west his mellowed ray4 ,zaura1 farewell6 ,no more ,i see ,within thy walls1 a home for me2 ,deserted1 spurned1 aside ,i'm tossed1 ,as an old sword whose scabbard's lost3 ,around thy walls ,i seek in vain ,some bosom that will soothe my pain-- ,no friend is near to breathe relief1 ,or brother to partake my grief4 ,for many a melancholy day ,through desert vales ,i've wound my way2 ,the faithful beast1 whose back ,i press1 ,in groans laments her lord's distress2 ,in every quivering of my spear ,a sympathetic sigh ,i hear2 ,the camel bending with his load1 ,and struggling through the thorny road1 ',midst the fatigues that bear him down1 ,in ,hassan's woes forgets his own2 ,yet cruel friends my wand'rings chide1 ,my sufferings slight1 my toils deride4 ,once wealth1 ,i own1 engrossed each thought1 ,there was a moment when ,i sought ,the glitt'ring stores ,ambition claims ,to feed the wants his fancy frames2 ,but now 'tis past--the changing day ,has snatched my high-built hopes away1 ,and bade this wish my labors close-- ,give me not riches1 but repose4 ',tis he--that mien my friend declares1 ,that stature1 like the lance he bears2 ,i see that breast which ne'er contained ,a thought by fear or folly stained1 ,whose powers can every change obey1 ,in business grave1 in trifles gay1 ,and1 formed each varying taste to please1 ,can mingle dignity with ease4 ,what1 though with magic influence1 sleep1 ,o'er every closing eyelid creep3 ,though drunk with its oblivious wine ,our comrades on their bales recline1 ,my ,selim's trance ,i sure can break-- ,selim1 'tis ,i1 'tis ,i who speak4 ,dangers on every side impend1 ,and sleep'st thou1 careless of thy friend8 ,thou sleep'st while every star on high1 ,beholds me with a wakeful eye-- ,thou changest1 ere the changeful night ,hath streak'd her fleeting robe with white4 ',tis love that hurries me along-- ,i'm deaf to fear's repressive song-- ,the rocks of ,idham ,i'll ascend1 ,though adverse darts each path defend1 ,and hostile sabers glitter there1 ,to guard the tresses of the fair4 ,come1 ,selim1 let us pierce the grove1 ,while night befriends1 to seek my love4 ,the clouds of fragrance as they rise ,shall mark the place where ,abla lies4 ,around her tent my jealous foes1 ,like lions1 spread their watchful rows2 ,amidst their bands1 her bow'r appears ,embosomed in a wood of spears-- ,a wood still nourished by the dews1 ,which smiles1 and softest looks diffuse4 ,thrice happy youths6 who midst yon shades ,sweet converse hold with ,idham's maids1 ,what bliss1 to view them gild the hours1 ,and brighten wit and fancy's powers1 ,while every foible they disclose ,new transport gives1 new graces shows4 ',tis theirs to raise with conscious art ,the flames of love in every heart2 ',tis yours to raise with festive glee ,the flames of hospitality3 ,smit by their glances lovers lie1 ,and helpless sink and hopeless die2 ,while slain by you the stately steed ,to crown the feast1 is doomed to bleed1 ,to crown the feast1 where copious flows ,the sparkling juice that soothes your woes1 ,that lulls each care and heals each wound1 ,as the enliv'ning bowl goes round4 ,amidst those vales my eager feet ,shall trace my ,abla's dear retreat1 ,a gale of health may hover there1 ,to breathe some solace to my care4 ,i fear not love--,i bless the dart ,sent in a glance to pierce the heart3 ,with willing breast the sword ,i hail ,that wounds me through an half-closed veil3 ,though lions howling round the shade1 ,my footsteps haunt1 my walks invade1 ,no fears shall drive me from the grove1 ,if ,abla listen to my love4 ,ah1 ,selim6 shall the spells of ease ,thy friendship chain1 thine ardor freeze6 ,wilt thou enchanted thus1 decline ,each gen'rous thought1 each bold design8 ,then far from men some cell prepare2 ,or build a mansion in the air-- ,but yield to us1 ambition's tide1 ,who fearless on its waves can ride2 ,enough for thee if thou receive ,the scattered spray the billows leave4 ,contempt and want the wretch await ,who slumbers in an abject state-- ',midst rushing crowds1 by toil and pain ,the meed of ,honor we must gain2 ,at ,honor's call1 the camel hastes ,through trackless wilds and dreary wastes1 ,till in the glorious race she find ,the fleetest coursers left behind3 ,by toils like these alone1 he cries1 ,th' adventurous youths to greatness rise2 ,if bloated indolence were fame1 ,and pompous ease our noblest aim1 ,the orb that regulates the day ,would ne'er from ,aries' mansion stray4 ,i've bent at ,fortune's shrine too long-- ,too oft she heard my suppliant tongue-- ,too oft has mocked my idle prayers1 ,while fools and knaves engrossed her cares1 ,awake for them1 asleep to me1 ,heedless of worth she scorned each plea4 ,ah6 had her eyes more just surveyed ,the diff'rent claims which each displayed1 ,those eyes from partial fondness free ,had slept to them1 and waked for me4 ,but1 'midst my sorrows and my toils1 ,hope ever soothed my breast with smiles2 ,the hand removed each gathering ill1 ,and oped life's closing prospects still4 ,yet spite of all her friendly art ,the specious scene ne'er gained my heart2 ,i loved it not although the day ,met my approach1 and cheered my way2 ,i loath it now the hours retreat1 ,and fly me with reverted feet4 ,my soul from every tarnish free ,may boldly vaunt her purity1 ,but ah1 how keen1 however bright1 ,the saber glitter to the sight1 ,its splendor's lost1 its polish vain1 ,till some bold hand the steel sustain4 ,why have my days been stretched by fate1 ,to see the vile and vicious great-- ,while ,i1 who led the race so long1 ,am last and meanest of the throng8 ,ah1 why has death so long delayed ,to wrap me in his friendly shade1 ,left me to wander thus alone1 ,when all my heart held dear is gone6 ,but let me check these fretful sighs-- ,well may the base above me rise1 ,when yonder planets as they run ,mount in the sky above the sun4 ,resigned ,i bow to ,fate's decree1 ,nor hope his laws will change for me2 ,each shifting scene1 each varying hour1 ,but proves the ruthless tyrant's power4 ,but though with ills unnumbered curst1 ,we owe to faithless man the worst2 ,for man can smile with specious art1 ,and plant a dagger in the heart4 ,he only's fitted for the strife ,which fills the boist'rous paths of life1 ,who1 as he treads the crowded scenes1 ,upon no kindred bosom leans4 ,too long my foolish heart had deemed ,mankind as virtuous as they seemed2 ,the spell is broke1 their faults are bare1 ,and now ,i see them as they are2 ,truth from each tainted breast has flown1 ,and falsehood marks them all her own4 ,incredulous ,i listen now ,to every tongue1 and every vow1 ,for still there yawns a gulf between ,those honeyed words1 and what they mean2 ,with honest pride elate1 ,i see ,the sons of falsehood shrink from me1 ,as from the right line's even way ,the biassed curves deflecting stray-- ,but what avails it to complain8 ,with souls like theirs reproof is vain2 ,if honor e'er such bosoms share ,the saber's point must fix it there4 ,but why exhaust life's rapid bowl1 ,and suck the dregs with sorrow foul1 ,when long ere this my mouth has drained ,whatever zest the cup contained8 ,why should we mount upon the wave1 ,and ocean's yawning horrows brave1 ,when we may swallow from the flask ,whate'er the wants of mortals ask8 ,contentment's realms no fears invade1 ,no cares annoy1 no sorrows shade1 ,there placed secure1 in peace we rest1 ,nor aught demand to make us blest4 ,while pleasure's gay fantastic bower1 ,the splendid pageant of an hour1 ,like yonder meteor in the skies1 ,flits with a breath no more to rise4 ,as through life's various walks we're led1 ,may prudence hover o'er our head6 ,may she our words1 our actions guide1 ,our faults correct1 our secrets hide6 ,may she1 where'er our footsteps stray1 ,direct our paths1 and clear the way6 ,till1 every scene of tumult past1 ,she bring us to repose at last1 ,teach us to love that peaceful shore1 ,and roam through folly's wilds no more6 ,,moorish ,,literature ,,science ,,and ,,history ,,among ,,the ,,moors ,the religion sacred to philosophers is to study that which is1 for the most sublime worship one can render to ,god is the recognition and knowledge of his works4 --,,averroes4 ,,moorish ,,literature ,,science ,,and ,,history 7,,introduction7 ,the name ,moor is used loosely to describe all those peoples who sprang from the mingling of the ,berber1 or ,hamitic1 stock of ,north ,africa1 with the ,arabs or ,semitic stock who swept over the region in the ,mohammedan conquest4 ,the chief achievement of this mixed or ,moorish race was the establishment of their brilliant kingdom and independent caliphate in ,spain4 ,under the most powerful of these ,spanish caliphs1 ,ahderrahman ,,iii4 7,a4,d4 #iab-ifa71 their capital ,cordova had six hundred mosques1 including its still celebrated chief mosque1 the most beautiful building of that age in ,europe4 ,the ,moorish kingdom of ,spain had then seventeen universities and over seventy large libraries4 ,it was the most cultured land of ,europe1 the goal of scholars from less peaceful and less learned ,christendom4 ,the ,moorish kingdom in the course of the twelfth century broke up into many tiny ,states4 ,these soon fought among themselves and plunged each other into a common ruin4 ,african ,moors1 of far more ignorant and fanatic type1 came to aid their ,spanish brethren2 and under the pressure of these barbarians1 culture rapidly declined4 ,the universities were broken up4 ,the great scholar ,averroes1 who had been the pride of his nation1 was accused of heresy4 ,his teachings were found not sufficiently subservient to the ,koran2 and finally1 in #aaie1 he was driven into exile4 ,this event1 or ,averroes' death soon afterward1 may be reckoned as marking the downfall of the ,moorish leadership in science and philosophy4 ,in our volume we give some of ,averroes' most celebrated commentaries1 as typifying the culmination of ,moorish culture4 ,we give also1 as its opening note1 the speech with which ,tarik1 the first conqueror of ,spain1 in the year ,a4,d4 #gaa led his army to cross the ,straits of ,gibraltar and began the attack upon the earlier ,christian inhabitants4 ,this speech does not1 however1 preserve the actual words of ,tarik2 it only presents the tradition of them as preserved by the ,moorish historian ,al ,maggari1 who wrote in ,africa long after the last of the ,moors had been driven out of ,spain4 ,in ,al ,maggari's day the older ,arabic traditions of exact service had quite faded4 ,the ,moors had become poets and dreamers instead of scientists and critical historians4 ,the very name of ,al ,maggari's history may be accepted as typifying its character4 ,he called it ,breath of ,perfumes4 ,,science ,,and ,,history ,,philosophic ,,thoughts 7,,by ,,averroes7 ,the first to preach the resurrection were the prophets of ,israel after ,moses1 then the ,evangelical ,christians1 then the ,sabians1 whose religion has been called by ,ibn-,hazm the oldest in the world4 ,the reason so many founders of religion established this dogma was because they supposed this belief would moralize men and induce them to be virtuous in their own interests4 ,i do not quarrel with ,al ,ghazali or ,motecallemin for saying that the soul is immortal1 but ,i object to the idea that the soul is a mere accident1 and that a man can take again the body which has fallen into decay4 ,no1 he may take another1 similar to the first1 but that which has been dead can not return to life4 ,these two bodies are only one1 viewed as a species1 but they are two in number4 ,aristotle has said in the last lines of his ,generation and ,corruption3 ,a body once corrupted can never become the same again2 it can never return as an individual whole1 but it can return to the specific variety of which it is a part4 ,when air separates from water or water separates from air1 each of these substances can not become again the thing it was1 but must return to its own species4 99 99 99 99 99 ,how have we come to adopt these tales of the creation8 ,through habit4 ,just as a man inured to poison can take it with impunity1 so a man used to them from childhood can accept the most unbelievable opinions4 ,therefore the opinions of the masses are only formed through habit4 ,the people believe that which they hear incessantly repeated4 ,and that is why the power of religion is so much stronger than that of philosophy1 for it is not accustomed to hearing the opposite of its belief1 a thing which happens very often to philosophy3 ,so one sees frequently1 nowadays1 men who1 having entered suddenly into the study of the speculative sciences1 lose the religious beliefs which they have only held through habit1 and become zendihs 7infidels74 ,the religion sacred to philosophers is to study that which is1 for the most sublime worship one can render to ,god is the recognition and knowledge of his works1 which leads us to know him1 himself1 in all his reality4 ,in the eyes of ,god that is the noblest action1 while the vilest action is to tax with error and presumption those who practise this worship1 higher than any other1 who adore him by this religion1 the best of all religions4 ,among the most dangerous of these fictions concerning a future life are those which counsel virtue as a means of arriving at happiness4 ,in that case virtue is no longer worth anything1 since one only abstains from voluptuousness in the hope of being doubly repaid in the future4 ,the brave will only seek death to evade a worse evil4 ,the good will only respect the belongings of others in order to acquire twice as much4 ,wine is forbidden because it excites wickedness and quarrels2 but ,i am preserved from those excesses by wisdom3 ,i take it only to sharpen my wits4#eb ,that renegade philosopher1 ,al ,ghazali1 has gathered up all he learned from the writings of the philosophers1 and has turned against them the arms he borrowed from them4 ,as for us1 the philosophers1 at the risk of exposing ourselves to the rage of the persecutors of philosophy1 which was our mother1 we will1 when the time is ripe1 uncover the poison hidden in ,al ,ghazali's book4 99 99 99 99 99 ,our social state does not bring out all the resources and possibilities there are in women2 it would seem that they are only destined to bear and rear children1 and this state of servitude has destroyed in them the capability for larger things4 ,that is why one never sees1 with us1 a woman possessed of the moral virtues--their lives pass like those of flowers1 and they are a burden upon their husbands4 ,from this comes also the misery which devours our cities1 for there are twice as many women there as men1 but the former are not permitted to work for their own support4 99 99 99 99 99 ,my father aided in rescuing from prison ,ibn ,badja1 who was accused of heresy4 ,my father does not understand that his own son will one day be regarded as a far worse heretic4 ,god alone knows if ,i am one2 but it is absolutely certain that it was only the intrigues of my enemies which led to my condemnation4 ,i thought only of editing ,aristotle and establishing accord between religion and philosophy4 ,,tarik',s ,,address ,,to ,,his ,,soldiers 7,,from ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,al ,,maggari7 ,when ,tarik had been informed of the approach of the enemy1 he rose in the midst of his companions and1 after having glorified ,god in the highest1 he spoke to his soldiers thus3 ,oh my warriors1 whither would you flee8 ,behind you is the sea1 before you1 the enemy4 ,you have left now only the hope of your courage and your constancy4 ,remember that in this country you are more unfortunate than the orphan seated at the table of the avaricious master4 ,your enemy is before you1 protected by an innumerable army2 he has men in abundance1 but you1 as your only aid1 have your own swords1 and1 as your only chance for life1 such chance as you can snatch from the hands of your enemy4 ,if the absolute want to which you are reduced is prolonged ever so little1 if you delay to seize immediate success1 your good fortune will vanish1 and your enemies1 whom your very presence has filled with fear1 will take courage4 ,put far from you the disgrace from which you flee in dreams1 and attack this monarch who has left his strongly fortified city to meet you4 ,here is a splendid opportunity to defeat him1 if you will consent to expose yourselves freely to death4 ,do not believe that ,i desire to incite you to face dangers which ,i shall refuse to share with you4 ,in the attack ,i myself will be in the fore1 where the chance of life is always least4 ,remember that if you suffer a few moments in patience1 you will afterward enjoy supreme delight4 ,do not imagine that your fate can be separated from mine1 and rest assured that if you fall1 ,i shall perish with you1 or avenge you4 ,you have heard that in this country there are a large number of ravishingly beautiful ,greek maidens1 their graceful forms are draped in sumptuous gowns on which gleam pearls1 coral1 and purest gold1 and they live in the palaces of royal kings4 ,the ,commander of ,true ,believers1 ,alwalid1 son of ,abdalmelik1 has chosen you for this attack from among all his ,arab warriors2 and he promises that you shall become his comrades and shall hold the rank of kings in this country4 ,such is his confidence in your intrepidity4 ,the one fruit which he desires to obtain from your bravery is that the word of ,god shall be exalted in this country1 and that the true religion shall be established here4 ,the spoils will belong to yourselves4 ,remember that ,i place myself in the front of this glorious charge which ,i exhort you to make4 ,at the moment when the two armies meet hand to hand1 you will see me1 never doubt it1 seeking out this ,roderick1 tyrant of his people1 challenging him to combat1 if ,god is willing4 ,if ,i perish after this1 ,i will have had at least the satisfaction of delivering you1 and you will easily find among you an experienced hero1 to whom you can confidently give the task of directing you4 ,but should ,i fall before ,i reach to ,roderick1 redouble your ardor1 force yourselves to the attack and achieve the conquest of this country1 in depriving him of life4 ,with him dead1 his soldiers will no longer defy you4 ,,moorish ,,literature ,,poetry ,,of ,,the ,,spanish ,,moors ,fortune1 that whilom owned my sway1 ,and bowed obsequious to my nod1 ,now sees me destined to obey1 ,and bend beneath oppression's rod4 ,,prince ,,mohammed ,,ben ,,abad4 ,,poetry ,,of ,,the ,,spanish ,,moors 7,,introduction7 ,while the scientific leadership of the ,moors faded with the breaking of their military unity in the twelfth century1 they still retained in some of their smaller kingdoms1 and especially in that of ,granada1 a high degree of culture4 ,the love of beauty and the spirit of romance were strong among all the ,spanish ,moors2 and so their poetry continued long after science failed them4 ,poetry indeed became their main expression4 ,granada1 the last of all their ,spanish kingdoms1 did not fall before the advancing ,christians until #adib4 ,then1 as our histories have so often told1 ,ferdinand and ,isabella1 the ,christian rulers of ,spain1 conducted a holy war for the destruction of ,granada4 ,its last fortress surrendered1 and its people withdrew to ,africa4 ,there1 according to a characteristically dreamy legend1 they still retain the keys of their mansions in ,granada1 treasuring them up for the day of their triumphant return4 ,of the ,moorish poetry which survived the fall of ,granada1 much was preserved by the ,spaniards themselves and in the ,spanish language4 ,the victors knew how to value the spirit of the vanquished2 and ballads of ,moorish origin1 telling of ,moorish loves1 long remained popular in ,spain4 ,the authors of most of these have been forgotten4 ,the text of some of the best known of them is given here4 ,,moorish ,,poetry ,,verses ,,to ,,my ,,daughters#ec 7,,by ,,prince ,,mohammed ,,ben ,,abad7 ,with jocund heart and cheerful brow ,i used to hail the festal morn-- ,how must ,mohammed greet it now8-- ,a prisoner helpless and forlorn4 ,while these dear maids in beauty's bloom1 ,with want opprest1 with rags o'erspread1 ,by sordid labors at the loom ,must earn a poor1 precarious bread4 ,those feet that never touched the ground1 ,till musk or camphor strewed the way1 ,now bare and swoll'n with many a wound1 ,must struggle through the miry clay4 ,those radiant cheeks are veiled in woe1 ,a shower descends from every eye1 ,and not a starting tear can flow1 ,that wakes not an attending sigh4 ,fortune1 that whilom owned my sway1 ,and bowed obsequious to my nod1 ,now sees me destined to obey1 ,and bend beneath oppression's rod4 ,ye mortals with success elate1 ,who bask in hope's delusive beam1 ,attentive view ,mohammed's fate1 ,and own that bliss is but a dream4 ,,serenade ,,to ,,my ,,sleeping ,,mistress#ed 7,,by ,,ali ,,ben ,,abad7 ,sure ,harut's#ee potent spells were breathed ,upon that magic sword1 thine eye2 ,for if it wounds us thus while sheathed1 ,when drawn1 'tis vain its edge to fly4 ,how canst thou doom me1 cruel fair1 ,plunged in the hell#ef of scorn to groan8 ,no idol e'er this heart could share1 ,this heart has worshiped thee alone4 ,,the ,,inconsistent#eg ,when ,i sent you my melons1 you cried out with scorn1 ,they ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow2 ,when ,i offered myself1 whom those graces adorn1 ,you flouted1 and called me an ugly old fellow4 ,,the ,,bullfight ,,of ,,gazul#eh ,king ,almanzor of ,granada1 he hath bid the trumpet sound1 ,he hath summoned all the ,moorish lords1 from the hills and plains around2 ,from vega and sierra1 from ,betis and ,xenil1 ,they have come with helm and cuirass of gold and twisted steel4 ',tis the holy ,baptist's feast they hold in royalty and state1 ,and they have closed the spacious lists beside the ,alhambra's gate2 ,in gowns of black and silver laced1 within the tented ring1 ,eight ,moors to fight the bull are placed in presence of the ,king4 ,eight ,moorish lords of valor tried1 with stalwart arm and true1 ,the onset of the beasts abide1 as they come rushing through2 ,the deeds they've done1 the spoils they've won1 fill all with hope and trust1 ,yet ere high in heaven appears the sun they all have bit the dust4 ,then sounds the trumpet clearly1 then clangs the loud tambour1 ,make room1 make room for ,gazul--throw wide1 throw wide the door2 ,blow1 blow the trumpet clearer still1 more loudly strike the drum1 ,the ,alcayd of ,algava to fight the bull doth come4 ,and first before the ,king he passed1 with reverence stooping low1 ,and next he bowed him to the ,queen1 and the ,infantas all a-row2 ,then to his lady's grace he turned1 and she to him did throw ,a scarf from out her balcony1 'twas whiter than the snow4 ,with the life-blood of the slaughtered lords all slippery is the sand1 ,yet proudly in the center hath ,gazul ta'en his stand2 ,and ladies look with heaving breast1 and lords with anxious eye1 ,but firmly he extends his arm--his look is calm and high4 ,three bulls against the knight are loosed1 and two come roaring on1 ,he rises high in stirrup1 forth stretching his rejn2 ,each furious beast upon the breast he deals him such a blow ,he blindly totters and gives back1 across the sand to go4 ,turn1 ,gazul1 turn6 the people cry--the third comes up behind1 ,low to the sand his head holds he1 his nostrils snuff the wind2 ,the mountaineers that lead the steers1 without stand whispering low1 ,now thinks this proud alcayd to stun ,harpado so8 ,from ,guadiana comes he not1 he comes not from ,xenil1 ,from ,gaudalarif of the plain1 or ,barves of the hill2 ,but where from out the forest burst ,xarama's waters clear1 ,beneath the oak-trees was he nursed1 this proud and stately steer4 ,dark is his hide on either side1 but the blood within doth boil1 ,and the dun hide glows1 as if on fire1 as he paws to the turmoil4 ,his eyes are jet1 and they are set in crystal rings of snow2 ,but now they stare with one red glare of brass upon the foe4 ,upon the forehead of the bull the horns stand close and near1 ,from out the broad and wrinkled skull1 like daggers they appear2 ,his neck is massy1 like the trunk of some old knotted tree1 ,whereon the monster's shaggy mane1 like billows curled1 ye see4 ,his legs are short1 his hams are thick1 his hoofs are black as night1 ,like a strong flail he holds his tail in fierceness of his might2 ,like something molten out of iron1 or hewn from forth the rock1 ,harpado of ,xarama stands1 to bide the alcayd's shock4 ,now stops the drum--close1 close they come--thrice meet1 and thrice give back2 ,the white foam of ,harpado lies on the charger's breast of black-- ,the white foam of the charger on ,harpado's front of dun-- ,once more advance upon his lance--once more1 thou fearless one6 ,once more1 once more2--in dust and gore to ruin must thou reel-- ,in vain1 in vain thou tearest the sand with furious heel-- ,in vain1 in vain1 thou noble beast1 ,i see1 ,i see thee stagger1 ,now keen and cold thy neck must hold the stern alcayd's dagger6 ,they have slipped a noose around his feet1 six horses are brought in1 ,and away they drag ,harpado with a loud and joyful din4 ,now stoop thee1 lady1 from thy stand1 and the ring of price bestow ,upon ,gazul of ,algava1 that hath laid ,harpado low4 ,,the ,,zegri',s ,,bride#ei ,of all the blood of ,zegri1 the chief is ,lisaro1 ,to wield rejn like him is none1 or javelin to throw2 ,from the place of his dominion1 he ere the dawn doth go1 ,from ,alcala de ,henares1 he rides in weed of woe4 ,he rides not now as he was wont1 when ye have seen him speed ,to the field of gay ,toledo1 to fling his lusty reed2 ,no gambeson of silk is on1 nor rich embroidery ,of gold-wrought robe or turban--nor jeweled tahali4 ,no amethyst nor garnet is shining on his brow1 ,no crimson sleeve1 which damsels weave at ,tunis1 decks him now2 ,the belt is black1 the hilt is dim1 but the sheathed blade is bright2 ,they have housened his barb in a murky garb1 but yet her hoofs are light4 ,four horsemen good1 of the ,zegri blood1 with ,lisaro go out2 ,no flashing spear may tell them near1 but yet their shafts are stout2 ,in darkness and in swiftness rides every armed knight-- ,the foam on the rein ye may see it plain1 but nothing else is white4 ,young ,lisaro1 as on they go1 his bonnet doffeth he1 ,between its folds a sprig it holds of a dark and glossy tree2 ,that sprig of bay1 were it away1 right heavy heart had he-- ,fair ,zayda to her ,zegri gave that token privily4 ,and ever as they rode1 he looked upon his lady's boon4 ,god knows1 quoth he1 what fate may be--,i may be slaughtered soon2 ,thou still art mine1 though scarce the sign of hope that bloomed whilere1 ,but in my grave ,i yet shall have my ,zayda's token dear4 ,young ,lisaro was musing so1 when onward on the path1 ,he well could see them riding slow2 then pricked he in his wrath4 ,the raging sire1 the kinsmen of ,zayda's hateful house1 ,fought well that day1 yet in the fray the ,zegri won his spouse4 ,,zara',s ,,earrings ,my earrings6 my earrings6 they've dropped into the well1 ,and what to say to ,mua1 ,i can not1 can not tell4 ',twas thus1 ,granada's fountain by1 spoke ,albuharez' daughter ,the well is deep1 far down they lie1 beneath the cold blue water-- ,to me did ,mua give them1 when he spake his sad farewell1 ,and what to say when he comes back1 alas6 ,i can not tell4 ,my earrings6 my earrings6 they were pearls in silver set1 ,that when my ,moor was far away1 ,i ne'er should him forget1 ,that ,i ne'er to other tongue should list1 nor smile on other's tale1 ,but remember he my lips had kissed1 pure as those earrings pale-- ,when he comes back1 and hears that ,i have dropped them in the well1 ,oh1 what will ,mua think of me1 ,i can not1 can not tell4 ,my earrings6 my earrings6 he'll say they should have been1 ,not of pearl and of silver1 but of gold and glittering sheen1 ,of jasper and of onyx1 and of diamond shining clear1 ,changing to the changing light1 with radiance insincere-- ,that changeful mind unchanging gems are not befitting well-- ,thus will he think--and what to say1 alas6 ,i can not tell4 ,he'll think when ,i to market went1 ,i loitered by the way2 ,he'll think a willing ear ,i lent to all the lads might say2 ,he'll think some other lover's hand1 among my tresses noosed1 ,from the ears where he had placed them1 my rings of pearl unloosed2 ,he'll think1 when ,i was sporting so beside this marble well1 ,my pearls fell in--and what to say1 alas6 ,i can not tell4 ,he'll say1 ,i am a woman1 and we are all the same2 ,he'll say ,i loved when he was here to whisper of his flame-- ,but when he went to ,tunis my virgin troth had broken1 ,and thought no more of ,mua1 and care not for his token4 ,my earrings6 my earrings6 ,o luckless1 luckless well1 ,for what to say to ,mua1 alas6 ,i can not tell4 ,i'll tell the truth to ,mua1 and ,i hope he will believe-- ,that ,i thought of him at morning1 and thought of him at eve2 ,that1 musing on my lover1 when down the sun was gone1 ,his earrings in my hand ,i held1 by the fountain all alone2 ,and that my mind was o'er the sea1 when from my hand they fell1 ,and that deep his love lies in my heart1 as they lie in the well4 ,,the ,,lamentation ,,for ,,celin ,at the gate of old ,granada1 when all its bolts are barred1 ,at twilight at the ,vega gate there is a trampling heard2 ,there is a trampling heard1 as of horses treading slow1 ,and a weeping voice of women1 and a heavy sound of woe4 ,what tower is fallen1 what star is set1 what chief come these bewailing8 ,a tower is fallen1 a star is set4 ,alas6 alas for ,celin6 ,three times they knock1 three times they cry1 and wide the doors they throw2 ,dejectedly they enter1 and mournfully they go2 ,in gloomy lines they mustering stand beneath the hollow porch1 ,each horseman grasping in his hand a black and flaming torch2 ,wet is each eye as they go by1 and all around is wailing1 ,for all have heard the misery4 ,alas6 alas for ,celin6-- ,him yesterday a ,moor did slay1 of ,bencerraje's blood1 ',twas at the solemn jousting1 around the nobles stood2 ,the nobles of the land were by1 and ladies bright and fair ,looked from their latticed windows1 the haughty sight to share2 ,but now the nobles all lament1 the ladies are bewailing1 ,for he was ,granada's darling knight4 ,alas6 alas for ,celin6 ,before him ride his vassals1 in order two by two1 ,with ashes on their turbans spread1 most pitiful to view2 ,behind him his four sisters1 each wrapped in sable veil1 ,between the tambour's dismal strokes take up their doleful tale2 ,when stops the muffled drum1 ye hear their brotherless bewailing1 ,and all the people1 far and near1 cry--,alas6 alas for ,celin6 ,oh6 lovely lies he on the bier1 above the purple pall1 ,the flower of all ,granada's youth1 the loveliest of them all2 ,his dark1 dark eyes are closed1 his rosy lip is pale1 ,the crust of blood lies black and dim upon his burnished mail1 ,and evermore the hoarse tambour breaks in upon their wailing1 ,its sound is like no earthly sound--,alas6 alas for ,celin6 ,the ,moorish maid at the lattice stands1 the ,moor stands at his door1 ,one maid is wringing of her hands1 and one is weeping sore-- ,down to the dust men bow their heads1 and ashes black they strew ,upon their broidered garments of crimson1 green1 and blue-- ,before each gate the bier stands still1 then bursts the loud bewailing1 ,from door and lattice1 high and low--,alas6 alas for ,celin6 ,an old1 old woman cometh forth1 when she hears the people cry2 ,her hair is white as silver1 like horn her glazed eye4 ',twas she that nursed him at her breast1 that nursed him long ago2 ,she knows not whom they all lament1 but soon she well shall know4 ,with one deep shriek she through doth break1 when her ears receive their wailing-- ,let me kiss my ,celin ere ,i die--,alas6 alas for ,celin6 ,,turkish ,,literature ,,legend ,,and ,,poetry ,,among ,,the ,,turks ,once upon a time4 ,,the ,,old1 ,,old ,,beginning4 ,while still ,i live1 'tis well that ,i should mirth and glee enjoy4 ,,sultan ,,murad ,,ii4 ,,legend ,,and ,,poetry ,,among ,,the ,,turks 7,,introduction7 ,turkish literature1 as pointed out in our general introduction1 is of a less advanced character than that of most of the ,semitic literatures from which it is sprung4 ,an epigrammatic summary of the ,turkish character has said that every fourth word of ,turkish is ,arabic1 every third idea ,persian1 and every second impulse ,mohammedan4 ,this1 while not seeming to leave much of the original ,turk1 is perhaps not an unfair estimate of the extent of the ,turks' indebtedness to the earlier races and religion upon which their civilization is built4 ,the ,ottoman ,turks1 that is1 the ,turks who founded the present ,turkish ,empire1 were a ,tartar or ,turanian tribe from ,central ,asia who adopted the ,mohammedan faith and began their conquest of the ,mohammedan world about the year #acjj4 ,they then possessed legends or childish tales of their own which still survive2 and these are still told among the mass of the people with simple faith4 ,one or two of these are given here1 to show the natural human character of the race4 ,the ,turks next turned1 in literature1 to poetry4 ,persian ,mohammedan poetry was then at its best2 and the ,turks imitated1 but scarcely improved upon1 its forms4 ,so great1 indeed1 became the ,turkish admiration for poetry that almost every ,turkish ,sultan1 from the year fourteen hundred down to the present1 has written poetry4 ,our book gives a series1 by themselves1 of the best of these royal poems4 ,turkish poetry has chiefly followed the ,arabic fashion of expending itself upon language rather than upon thought4 ,we are told that when the first ,turkish epic poet ,ahmedi presented to ,sultan ,bajazet's son his long epic history of ,alexander the ,great1 the prince rebuked the poet's years of labor1 saying that one tiny1 perfectly polished poem would have been worth more than all the epic4 ,hence it is chiefly to the polishing of tiny poems that the poetic genius of the ,turks has been applied4 ,they have a favorite form called the gazel1 which might be likened to our ,english sonnet1 except that the gazel is by far more intricate4 ,it is1 in fact1 compared by the ,turks to a flower with its petals constantly overlapping1 forming a circle1 and ending at the point where they began4 ,in rhyme1 for instance1 the gazel opens with a rhyming couplet1 and then through the whole poem the second line of each couplet repeats this opening rhyme4 ,we have tried to give the chief ,turkish poets in somewhat chronological order1 beginning with their first poet ,ashiq1 who died in #accb and whose very name is forgotten1 since ashiq means merely the lover4 ,in other words1 ,turkish poetry begins with the passion of an unknown lover1 not apparently for woman1 but for life and ,god4 ,the collected poems of ,ashiq are called a divan1 the usual ,persian and ,turkish word for such collections2 but very little of the divan of ,ashiq has survived4 ,among ,turkish epic poets1 the earliest is ,ahmedi 7died #adab71 who wrote the ,book of ,alexander the ,great4 ,the first romantic song is that of ,sheykhi 7#adbf7 on the loves of the maiden ,shirin4 ,the first religious epic is that of ,yaziji-,oglu 7#addi71 called the ,book of ,mohammed4 ,these1 then1 were the early singers4 ,of poets accounted of the highest rank1 the earliest was ,nejati 7#aejh74 ,lamii was the scholar poet1 a dervish or monk who delved into the older ,persian literature and drew his themes perhaps from ancient ,zoroastrian tales4 ,he is usually named as the second greatest of ,turkish poets4 ,gazali1 ,fuzuli1 and ,nabi were also noted singers of the sixteenth century1 which was the great age of the ,turkish ,empire1 both in literature and in military glory4 ,of the two poetesses on our list1 ,mihri has been called the ,turkish ,sappho4 ,yet as the life of a ,turkish woman of rank is carefully secluded1 no scandal ever attached to her personal life4 ,her poems are mere dreams of fancy4 ,zeyneb was equally honored1 a lady of high rank and a student of the ,persian and ,arabic poets4 ,all other singers1 however1 are accounted by the ,turks inferior to the great lyric poet ,baqi 7#aebf-afjj74 ,baqi was at first a saddler1 but he studied law and rose to the highest legal position of the empire4 ,poetry was the avocation of the great lawyer's leisure1 and it won him the admiring friendship of the four successive ,sultans who reigned during his life4 ,the very name ,baqi means that which lasts1 or the enduring1 so it has been frequently punned upon4 ,the poet himself used a seal with a ,persian couplet1 ,fleeting is the world1 and without faith ,god alone endures 7or1 ,baqi alone is god72 all else is fleeting ,,old ,,turkish ,,tales ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,night ,once upon a time there was an old man who had three daughters4 ,all of them were beautiful1 but the youngest1 whose name was ,rosa1 was not only more lovely1 but also more amiable and more intelligent than the others4 ,jealous and envious exceedingly were the two sisters when they found that the fame of ,rosa's beauty was greater than the fame of theirs4 ,they1 however1 refused to believe that ,rosa was really more lovely than they were1 and they resolved to ask the ,sun's opinion on the subject4 ,so1 one day at dawn1 the sisters stood at their open window and cried1 ,sun1 shining ,sun1 who wanderest all over the world1 say who is the most beautiful among our father's daughters8 ,the ,sun replied1 ,i am beautiful1 and you are both beautiful2 but your youngest sister is the most beautiful of all4 ,when the two girls heard this1 they were beside themselves with anger and spite1 and determined to get rid of the sister who so outshone them4 ,saying nothing to her of what the ,sun had told them1 they on the following day invited ,rosa to accompany them to the wood to gather a salad of wild herbs for their father's dinner4 ,the unsuspecting ,rosa at once complied1 took her basket1 and set out with her sisters1 who led her to a spot she had never before visited1 a long way from her father's house1 and surrounded on all sides by forest4 ,when they were arrived1 the eldest sister said1 ,do thou1 ,rosa1 gather all the herbs that are here2 we will go a little farther on1 and when we have filled our baskets we will return4 ,the wicked girls1 however1 went straight home1 abandoning ,rosa to her fate4 ,when some hours had passed1 and she found that they did not return1 she feared that she might1 while seeking for the herbs1 have wandered from the spot where her sisters had left her4 ,too innocent to suspect them of the wicked treachery of which they had been guilty1 she only blamed herself for her carelessness1 and wept bitterly at the thought of remaining all night alone in the wild and lonely wood4 ,after a time the sun set1 the twilight came and passed1 and darkness fell4 ,the birds ceased their songs1 and the silence of the forest was broken only by the flutter of a bat or great gray moth1 the melancholy hoot of an owl1 and the faint little rustle made by the other flying and creeping things that come forth with the stars4 ,seated on a great tree-trunk1 ,rosa wept more and more bitterly as the darkness deepened1 and no one came to her aid4 ,hours passed1 the air grew chilly2 and faint with hunger and cold1 she was about to lay herself down to die1 when suddenly a brilliant light1 like the sparkling of many stars1 shot through the wood and advanced toward the spot where she sat4 ,it was the ,queen of ,night1 who1 attended by all her court1 was returning to her palace after her usual journey1 for it was now near dawn4 ,rosa1 dazzled and frightened1 covered her face with her hands1 and wept more bitterly than ever4 ,attracted by the sound of her sobbing1 the ,radiant ,lady approached the weeping girl1 and in a kind and gentle voice asked how she came to be there4 ,rosa looked up1 and1 reassured by the benign countenance of the ,queen of ,night1 told her story4 ,come then and live with me1 dear girl2 ,i will be your mother1 and you shall be my daughter1 said the ,queen1 who knew perfectly well how it had all happened4 ,gladly the poor girl accompanied the ,queen to her palace1 and being1 as we know1 as amiable and intelligent as she was beautiful1 her protectress soon became very fond of her1 and did everything in her power to make her adopted daughter happy4 ,she gave ,rosa the keys of all her treasures1 made her the mistress of her palace1 and let her do whatever she pleased4 ,but let us now leave this lucky girl with the ,queen of ,night for a little while1 and return to her sisters4 ,though they fully believed she must either have perished of hunger or been devoured by wild beasts1 they after a time1 to make quite certain1 went again to their window and cried1 ,sun1 shining ,sun1 who wanderest all over the world1 tell us who is the most beautiful of our father's daughters8 ,the ,sun replied as before1 ,i am beautiful1 and you are both beautiful2 but your youngest sister is the most beautiful of all4 ,but ,rosa has long been dead6 ,no1 replied the ,sun1 ,rosa still lives1 and she is in the palace of the ,queen of ,night4 ,when the sisters heard this1 their rage and spite knew no bounds4 ,long they consulted together as to the best means of bringing about her death2 and finally these wicked girls decided to obtain from a witch of their acquaintance an enchanted kerchief which would make the person wearing it appear to be dead4 ,well1 they set out1 and presently arrived at the palace at an hour when they knew that the ,queen of ,night would be absent and they might find their sister alone4 ,rosa was delighted to see them1 for though they had often been unkind to her1 she loved her sisters very dearly1 and welcoming them warmly1 she offered them everything she had1 and pressed them to remain4 ,they1 on their part1 pretended to be overjoyed at finding again the sister they had mourned as lost1 and congratulated her on her good fortune4 ,when they had eaten and drunk of the good things she set before them1 and were about to take their departure1 the eldest sister produced from her basket the enchanted kerchief4 ,here1 dear ,rosa1 said she1 is a little present which we should like you to wear for our sakes4 ,let me pin it round your shoulders4 ,good-bye1 dear6 she added1 kissing her affectionately on both cheeks1 we will come and see you again before long and bring our father with us4 ,do1 dear sisters1 and tell my dear father that ,i will go to see him as soon as my kind protectress may give me leave4 ,rosa watched her sisters from the window till they were out of sight1 and then turned to the embroidery-frame which she had laid aside on their arrival4 ,she had not1 however1 made many stitches1 before a feeling of faintness came over her2 and letting her work slip from her hands1 she fell back on the sofa and lost consciousness4 ,when the ,queen of ,night came home1 she went first1 as was her wont1 to the chamber of her dear adopted daughter1 and finding her thus1 she said1 as she bent over the maiden and kissed her beautiful mouth1 ,she has tired herself1 poor child1 over that embroidery-frame2 she is so industrious4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,the ,,night4 ,but the beautiful lips were cold and white1 and the maiden neither breathed nor stirred4 ,distracted with grief1 the ,queen of ,night began to unfasten ,rosa's dress in order to ascertain whether her death had been caused by the bite of some poisonous reptile1 and while doing so1 she observed that the kerchief on her shoulders was not one that her daughter was in the habit of wearing4 ,when she had unpinned and taken it off1 ,rosa heaved a deep sigh1 opened her eyes1 and seeing the ,queen bending over her1 smiled and stretched out her arms to her dear mother1 saying1 ,i must have slept a long time6 ,oh1 ,i remember6 she added1 ,i was feeling faint and giddy and lay down1 and1 ,i suppose1 fell asleep immediately1 for ,i don't recollect anything else4 ,but where did you get this8 asked the ,queen1 picking up the kerchief from the floor4 ,i don't remember having given it to you4 ,oh1 ,i have not told you that ,i had a great pleasure yesterday4 ,my sisters1 who had thought me forever lost1 found out where ,i was and came to see me1 bringing this kerchief as a present4 ,is it not pretty8 ,these words told the ,queen of ,night the secret of the whole matter2 but1 not wishing to distress her daughter by acquainting her with her sisters' cruel perfidy1 she only replied1 ,yes1 very pretty4 ,will you give it to me1 ,rosa8 ,i should like to have it for myself4 ,rosa was naturally only too pleased to be able to give her kind protectress something in return for all her favors2 and she also promised her1 though not without tears1 never again to receive any visitors1 not even her sisters1 when she was left by herself in the palace4 ,these wicked creatures in a little while again stood at their window and cried1 ,sun1 shining ,sun1 who wanderest the world over1 say1 is there now any one more beautiful than we are8 ,but the ,sun only replied as before1 ,i am beautiful2 you1 too1 are beautiful2 but ,rosa is the most beautiful of all6 ,the sisters looked at each other in dismay4 ,the kerchief has then failed1 said the elder to the younger4 ,we must try some other method of getting rid of her4 ,so the wretches went to the same old witch who had given them the magic kerchief1 and got from her an enchanted sugar-plum4 ,when at nightfall they again knocked at the door of the palace1 the porter informed them that his mistress was absent1 and had given orders that the palace-gates were not to be opened until her return4 ,they1 however1 saw ,rosa at her window1 and pretending to be greatly distressed at their exclusion1 asked her at least to accept from them the delicious sugar-plum which they had brought for her4 ,let down a basket1 said the eldest2 ,i will put the sugar-plum inside1 and you can draw it up4 ,rosa did so1 and drew up the sweetmeat4 ,taste it at once1 cried the second sister1 and if you like it1 we will bring you more of the same kind4 ,the poor girl1 suspecting no evil1 put the sugar-plum into her mouth2 but scarcely had she tasted it1 than she fell back as if dead2 and her sisters1 seeing this1 hurried away home4 ,when the ,queen returned and again found her favorite lifeless1 she was both grieved and angry4 ,all her servants1 however1 when questioned1 assured her that no one had entered the palace during her absence1 and that ,rosa's sisters had only been allowed to speak to her from a distance as she stood at her high window4 ,in the hope of bringing her to life again1 as on the previous occasion1 the ,queen of ,night searched every fold of the maiden's dress1 but in vain2 she could not discover the fatal charm4 ,perhaps1 said she to herself1 as she sat and gazed on the lifeless features of her adopted daughter1 what ,i can not discover1 chance may1 and ,i could never bring myself to bury her1 dead though she seems to be4 ,so the grieving ,queen sent for a cunning workman1 who made at her orders a coffer of silver2 and after dressing ,rosa in her most beautiful clothes and jewels1 she laid her in it1 closed the lid1 fastened the coffer on the back of a splendid horse1 and let him loose to wander at will4 ,the horse1 following his fancy1 carried his fair burden in a few hours' time into a neighboring country1 the ruler of which was the handsomest man of his time2 and this ,king1 being that day out hunting with his court1 happened to catch sight of the horse4 ,attracted by its beauty and fleetness1 and by the strange shining burden it bore on its saddle1 he approached1 and seeing the animal to be masterless1 he bade his people seize and lead it to the palace4 ,the silver coffer the ,king caused to be carried into his bed-chamber1 and there he opened it4 ,imagine1 if you can1 his surprise on seeing within the form of a beautiful maiden4 ,though apparently lifeless1 she was more lovely than any living woman he had ever beheld1 and his heart became filled with such ardent love for her that he would sit for hours together gazing upon her beautiful features1 neglecting duties and pleasures alike2 and when his ministers came and prayed him to accompany them to the council chamber1 he only said1 ,go1 ,i pray you1 and do justice in my name4 ,days passed1 his gentlemen tried to tempt him out hunting1 but again he only replied1 ,do you go without me4 ,the royal cooks vied with one another in preparing the most delicious dishes for his table2 but these he hardly tasted1 nor did he even appear to notice what he was eating4 ,when this state of things had continued for some days the ministers became alarmed1 and sent a messenger to inform the ,queen-,mother1 who was away at her country palace4 ,she came with all speed1 and was much distressed to find her son so dispirited and melancholy4 ,to all her anxious inquiries1 however1 he only replied that he was quite well1 but preferred to remain alone in his bed-chamber4 ,the ,queen had1 of course1 already heard from the courtiers the story of the riderless horse and the silver chest2 and she rightly guessed that her son had been bewitched by what he had found in it1 and determined to discover what this might be4 ,so the very next day1 while the ,king was at dinner with his vizier1 his mother went to his chamber--for she had a master-key that would open all the doors in the palace--and there1 extended on the divan1 she saw the silver chest4 ,going hastily up to it1 she raised the lid which the ,king had closed before leaving4 ,at first she could only gaze in astonishment at the wonderful beauty of the maiden lying within2 but her admiration presently changed to anger when she thought of her son2 and seizing poor ,rosa by her long hair1 she dragged her out of the coffer and shook her violently1 saying1 ,you wicked dead thing6 ,why are you not decently buried instead of wandering about casting spells on ,princes8 ,but as the ,queen shook her the enchanted sugar-plum was jerked out of ,rosa's mouth1 and she immediately came to life again1 and gazed around her in bewilderment4 ,and as she opened her large1 lovely eyes1 the ,queen's anger passed away1 and she embraced and kissed ,rosa tenderly1 weeping with delight the while4 ,the poor girl was so astonished by the strangeness of everything around her1 that it was some minutes before she could ask3 ,where am ,i1 noble lady1 and where is my dear mother8 ,i know not1 my child1 but ,i will be your mother4 ,for you shall marry my son1 the ,king1 who is dying for love of you4 ,as she spoke1 footsteps were heard at the door1 and the ,king entered4 ,imagine1 if you can1 his amazement and joy at finding1 seated on the divan by his mother's side1 the maiden he loved so dearly1 restored to life1 and twenty times lovelier than before4 ,not to make too long a story of it1 the ,king took her by the hand1 and asked her to be his wife4 ,and when ,rosa heard of his love for her1 and saw how handsome and noble he was1 she could not but love him in return4 ,so they were married with great splendor1 and there were feasts for the poor1 and fountains running honey and wine1 and rejoicings for everybody4 ,well1 the ,king and ,rosa lived very happily together for some time2 but her troubles were not over1 for her wicked sisters had not yet done their worst to her4 ,they had for long feared to go near the palace again1 and nearly a year passed before they learned what had been the result of their last visit4 ,one day1 however1 in order to make quite sure that ,rosa was dead1 they once more stood at their window1 and cried1 ,sun1 shining ,sun1 who wanderest all over the earth1 tell us if thou hast1 since our youngest sister died1 seen any maiden fairer than we8 ,but the ,sun only replied as before1 ,i am beautiful2 you1 too1 are both beautiful2 but your youngest sister is the fairest of all4 ,but ,rosa is dead6 ,no1 ,rosa lives1 and she is the wife of the ,king of the neighboring country4 ,well1 if these wicked women could not bear that their sister should be considered fairer than they1 still less could they allow her to be a ,queen4 ,so1 disguised as two old women1 they set off at once for ,rosa's palace4 ,when they arrived in the royal city1 great rejoicings were going on because a baby prince had just been born4 ,that is good news1 said the elder to the younger when she heard this1 for now we will be the nurses4 ,so they went to the ,queen-,mother and gave themselves out to be wonderfully clever nurses from the neighboring country who had nursed the princes there2 and the ,queen-,mother1 deceived by their story1 put them in charge of her daughter-in-law and the baby4 ,on the pretext of keeping the young ,queen and her child free from evil spells1 the make-believe nurses sent away all the other attendants from her apartments2 and when they were left alone with their sister1 they stack into her head an enchanted pin4 ,she was immediately changed into a bird1 and flew away out of the window2 and her eldest sister laid herself down on her bed in her place4 ,when the ,king came in to see his wife1 he could hardly believe his eyes4 ,this could not be his wife4 ,the false ,queen1 guessing his thoughts1 said1 ,you find me changed1 dear husband8 ,it is because ,i have been so ill4 ,the ,king1 however1 pretended not to have observed anything1 but his heart froze within him as he looked on the object of this pretended transformation4 ,it was his custom to breakfast alone every day in the garden2 and one day while he was sadly musing there1 a pretty bird flew down1 perched on a branch overhead1 and said1 ,tell me1 my lord1 have the ,king1 and the ,queen-,mother1 and the little ,prince slept well8 ,the ,king smiled and nodded1 and the bird continued1 ,may they ever sleep sweetly4 ,but may she whom they call the young ,queen sleep the sleep that knows no waking1 and may all things over which ,i fly wither away6 ,this said1 the bird spread its wings1 and wherever it passed1 the grass and flowers withered1 and the place became a desert4 ,the gardeners1 in despair1 asked the ,king if they might not kill the bird which caused the mischief2 but he forbade them1 on pain of death1 to do it any injury4 ,afterward the bird came every day while he was at breakfast in the garden2 and the kind voice of the ,prince soon made it so tame and fearless that it would perch on his knee and eat from his hand4 ,this familiarity enabled the ,prince to observe the bird's plumage more closely1 and one day he caught sight of the pin in its head4 ,surprised at this1 he ventured to withdraw it1 when the bird disappeared1 and his own dear wife stood again by his side4 ,when he had recovered a little from the joy and surprise caused by this strange event1 and had welcomed his wife back1 he asked her to tell how it had all happened4 ,and ,rosa1 whose eyes were now fully opened to the malice and wickedness of her sisters1 told him all she knew of her own adventures4 ,when the ,prince had learned the evil deeds of his sisters-in-law1 he bade his guards bring these wretches before him1 and condemned them both to a death suitable to their crimes4 ,in vain did ,rosa entreat him to pardon them4 ,the ,king was inexorable4 ,but when1 at sunset1 the criminals were being led away to execution1 the ,queen of ,night appeared on the scene1 followed by all her train2 and touched by the distress of her adopted daughter1 she prevailed upon the ,king to change the sentence he had pronounced4 ,the two evil-doers were then offered the choice of dying a violent death1 or living to witness their sister's happiness while deprived of the power of ever again being able to injure her4 ,they chose the latter fate2 and it was not long before they both died of spite and jealousy4 ,,legend ,,and ,,poetry ,,among ,,the ,,turks ,,the ,,divan ,,of ,,the ,,lover ,,the ,,earliest ,,turkish ,,poem ,all the universe1 one mighty sign1 is shown2 ,god hath myriads of creative acts unknown3 ,none hath seen them1 of the races jinn and men1 ,none hath news brought from that realm far off from ken4 ,never shall thy mind or reason reach that strand1 ,nor can tongue the ,king's name utter of that land4 ,since 'tis his each nothingness with life to vest1 ,trouble is there ne'er at all to his behest4 ,eighteen thousand worlds1 from end to end1 ,do not with him one atom's worth transcend4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,alexander ,,the ,,great 7,,by ,,ahmedi7 ,up and sing6 ,o 'anga-natured nightingale6 ,high in every business doth thy worth prevail3 ,sing6 for good the words are that from thee proceed2 ,whatsoever thou dost say is prized indeed4 ,then1 since words to utter thee so well doth suit1 ,pity were it surely if thy tongue were mute4 ,blow a blast in utt'rance that the ,trusted ,one1 ,when he hears1 ten thousand times may cry3 ,well done6 ,up and sing6 ,o bird most holy6 up and sing6 ,unto us a story fair and beauteous bring4 ,let not opportunity slip by1 silent there2 ,unto us the beauty of each word declare4 ,seldom opportunities like this with thee lie2 ,sing then1 for th' occasion now is thine1 so hie6 ,lose not opportunities that thy hand doth find1 ,for some day full suddenly ,death thy tongue shall bind4 ,of how many singers1 eloquent of words1 ,bound have ,death and ,doom the tongues fast in their cords6 ,lose not1 then1 th' occasion1 but to joy look now1 ,for one day thy station 'neath earth seek must thou4 ,while the tongue yet floweth1 now thy words collect2 ,them as ,meaning's taper 'midst the feast erect1 ,that thy words1 remaining long time after thee1 ,to the listeners' hearing shall thy record be4 ,thy mementoes lustrous biding here behind1 ,through them they'll recall thee1 ,o my soul1 to mind4 ,those who've left mementoes ne'er have died in truth2 ,those who've left no traces ne'er have lived in sooth4 ,surely with this object didst thou come to earth1 ,that to mind should ever be recalled thy worth4 ,may ,i die not6 say'st thou1 one of noble race8 ,strive1 then1 that thou leavest here a name of grace4 99 99 99 99 99 ,once unto his ,vizier quoth the crowned ,king3 ,thou1 who in my world-realm knowest everything6 ,with my sword ,i've conquered many and many a shore2 ,still ,i sigh right sorely3 ',ah6 to conquer more6' ,great desire is with me realms to overthrow2 ,through this cause ,i comfort ne'er a moment know4 ,is there yet a country whither we may wend1 ,where as yet our mighty sway doth not extend1 ,that we may it conquer1 conquer it outright8 ,ours shall be the whole earth--ours it shall be quite4 ,then1 when heard the ,vizier what the ,king did say1 ,quoth he3 ,realm-o'erthrowing ,monarch1 live for aye6 ,may the ,mighty ,ruler set thy crown on high1 ,that thy throne may ever all assaults defy6 ,may thy life's rose-garden never fade away6 ,may thy glory's orchard never see decay6 ,thou'st the ,peopled ,quarter ta'en from end to end2 ,all of its inhabitants slaves before thee bend4 ,there's on earth no city1 neither any land1 ,that is not1 ,o ,monarch1 under thy command4 ,in the ,peopled ,quarter ,seven ,climes are known1 ,and o'er all of these thy sway extends alone6 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,loves ,,of ,,shirin 7,,by ,,sheykhi7 ,the spot at which did ,king ,khusrev ,perviz light ,was e'en the ruined dwelling of that moon bright4 ,whilst wand'ring on1 he comes upon that parterre1 ,as on he strolls1 it opes before his eyes fair4 ,among the trees a night-hued courser stands bound 7,on ,heaven's charger's breast were envy's scars found74 ,as softly moved he1 sudden on his sight gleamed ,a moon that in the water shining bright beamed4 ,o what a moon6 a sun o'er earth that light rains-- ,triumphant1 happy1 blest he who her shade gains4 ,she'd made the pool a casket for her frame fair1 ,and all about that casket spread her dark hair4 ,her hand did yonder curling serpents back throw-- ,the dawn 'tis1 and thereof we never tired grow4 ,he saw the water round about her ear play2 ,in rings upon her shoulders her dark locks lay4 ,when yon heart-winning moon before the ,king beamed1 ,the ,king became the sun--in him ,love's fire gleamed4 ,the tears e'en like to water from his eyes rolled2 ,was't strange1 when did a ,watery ,sign the ,moon hold8 ,no power was left him1 neither sport nor pleasure2 ,he bit his finger1 wildered beyond measure4 ,unconscious of his gaze1 the jasmine-breasted-- ,the hyacinths o'er the narcissi rested4 ,when shone her day-face1 from that musky cloud bare1 ,her eyes oped ,shirin and beheld the ,king there4 ,within that fountain1 through dismay and shamed fright1 ,she trembled as on water doth the moonlight4 ,than this no other refuge could yon moon find ,that she should round about her her own locks bind4 ,the moon yet beameth through the hair1 the dark night1 ,with tresses how could be concealed the sun bright6 ,to hide her from him1 round her she her hair flung1 ,and thus as veil her night before her day hung4 99 99 99 99 99 ,when ,ferhad bound to fair ,shirin his heart's core1 ,from out his breast ,love many a bitter wail tore4 ,on tablet of his life graved1 shown was ,shirin2 ,of all else emptied1 filled alone with ,shirin4 ,as loathed he the companionship of mankind1 ,in wild beasts 'midst the hills did he his friends find4 ,his guide was ,pain2 his boon companion1 ,grief's throe2 ,his comrade1 ,sorrow2 and his closest friend1 ,woe4 ,thus wand'ring on1 he knew not day from dark night2 ,for many days he onward strayed in sad plight4 ,although before his face a wall of stone rise1 ,until he strikes against it1 blind his two eyes4 ,through yearning for his love he from the world fled2 ,from out his soul into his body ,death sped4 ,because he knew that when the earthly frame goes1 ,eternal1 ,everlasting ,being love shows1 ,he fervent longed to be from fleshly bonds free1 ,that then his life in very truth might ,life see4 ,in sooth1 till dies the body1 ,life is ne'er found1 ,nor with the love of life the ,loved ,one e'er found4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mohammed 7,,by ,,yaziji-,,oglu7 ,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,paradise ,hither come1 ,o seeker after ,truth6 if joy thou wouldest share1 ,enter on the ,mystic ,pathway1 follow it1 then joy thou'lt share4 ,harken now what ,god 7exalted high his name67 from naught hath formed4 ,eden's bower he hath created2 ,light1 its lamp1 he did prepare2 ,loftiest its sites1 and best and fairest are its blest abodes2 ,midst of each a hall of pearls--not ivory nor teak-wood rare4 ,each pavilion he from seventy ruddy rubies raised aloft-- ,dwellings these in which the dwellers sit secure from fear or care4 ,bound within each courtyard seventy splendid houses he hath ranged1 ,formed of emeralds green--houses these no fault of form that bear4 ,there1 within each house1 are seventy pearl and gem-incrusted thrones2 ,he upon each throne hath stretched out seventy couches broidered fair2 ,sits on every couch a maiden of the bourne of loveliness3 ,moons their foreheads1 days their faces1 each a jeweled crown doth wear2 ,wine their rubies1 soft their eyes1 their eyebrows troublous1 causing woe3 ,all-enchanting1 ,paradise pays tribute to their witching air4 ,sudden did they see the faces of those damsels dark of eye1 ,blinded sun and moon were1 and ,life's ,stream grew bitter then and there4 ,thou wouldst deem that each was formed of rubies1 corals1 and of pearls2 ,question there is none1 for ,god thus in the ,koran doth declare4 ,tables seventy1 fraught with bounties1 he in every house hath placed1 ,and on every tray hath spread out seventy sorts of varied fare4 ,all these glories1 all these honors1 all these blessings of delight1 ,all these wondrous mercies surely for his sake he did prepare3 ,through his love unto ,mohammed1 he the universe hath framed2 ,happy1 for his sake1 the naked and the hungry enter there4 ,o ,thou ,perfectness of ,potence6 ,o ,thou ,god of ,awful ,might6 ,o ,thou ,majesty of ,glory6 ,o ,thou ,king of ,perfect ,eight6 ,since he ,eden's heaven created1 all is there complete and whole1 ,so that naught is lacking2 nothing he created needs repair4 ,yonder1 for his righteous servants1 things so fair hath he devised1 ,that no eye hath e'er beheld them2 ope thy soul's eye1 on them stare4 ,never have his servants heard them1 neither can their hearts conceive2 ,reach unto their comprehension shall this understanding ne'er4 ,there that ,god a station lofty1 of the loftiest1 hath reared1 ,that unclouded station he the name ,vesila caused to bear1 ,that to his ,belovd yonder station a dear home may be1 ,thence ordained is ,heaven's order free from every grief and care4 ,in its courtyard's riven center1 planted he the ,tuba-,tree2 ,that a tree which hangeth downward1 high aloft its roots are there3 ,thus its radiance all the ,heavens lighteth up from end to end1 ,flooding every tent and palace1 every lane and every square4 ,such a tree the ,tuba1 that the ,gracious ,one hath in its sap ,hidden whatsoe'er there be of gifts and presents good and fair2 ,forth therefrom crowns1 thrones1 and jewels1 yea1 and steeds and coursers come1 ,golden leaves and clearest crystals1 wines most pure beyond compare4 ,for his sake there into being hath he called the ,tuba-,tree1 ,that from ,ebu-,qasim's hand might every one receive his share4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,poems ,,by ,,turkish ,,rulers ,,ruba',i ,cupbearer1 bring1 bring here again my yester even's wine2 ,my harp and rebec bring1 them bid address this heart of mine3 ,while still ,i live1 'tis meet that ,i should mirth and glee enjoy2 ,the day shall come when none may e'en my resting-place divine4--,sultan ,murad ,,ii4 7reigned #adba-adea74 ,,gazel ,souls are fluttered when the morning breezes through thy tresses stray2 ,waving cypresses are wildered when thy motions they survey4 ,since with witchcraft thou hast whetted keen the lancet of thy glance1 ,all my veins are bleeding inward through my longing and dismay4 ,why across thy cheek disordered float thy tresses8 asked ,i her4 ,it is ,rum-,eyli2 there high-starred heroes gallop1 did she say4 ,thought ,i1 though ,i spake not3 ,in thy quarter1 through thy tint and scent1 ,wretched and head-giddy1 wand'ring1 those who hope hope not for stray4 ,whence the anger in thy glances1 ,o sweet love8 ,i said2 then she3 ,silence6 surely if ,i shed blood1 ,i the ensigns should display4 ,even as thou sighest1 ',avni1 shower thine eyes tears fast as rain1 ,like as follow hard the thunder-roll the floods in dread array4 --,sultan ,mohammed ,,ii4 7#adea-adha74 ,,fragment ,,of ,,gazel ,torn and pierced my heart has been by thy scorn and tyranny's blade2 ,rent by the scissors of grief for thee is the robe that my patience arrayed4 ,like the mihrab of the ,kaaba1 as shrine where in worship to turn1 ,thy ward would an angel take1 if thy footprint there he surveyed4 ,they are pearls1 ,o mine eye6 thou sheddest her day-bright face before2 ,not a tear is left--these all are dried by the beams by her cheek displayed4 --,mohammed ,,ii4 ,,gazel ,to obey1 ,eight hard for ,allah1 is my aim and my desire2 ',tis but zeal for ,faith1 for ,islam1 that my ardor doth inspire4 ,through the grace of ,allah1 and th' assistance of the ,band ,unseen1 ,is my earnest hope the ,infidels to crush with ruin dire4 ,on the ,saints and on the ,prophets surely doth my trust repose2 ,through the love of ,god1 to triumph and to conquest ,i aspire4 ,what if ,i with soul and gold strive here to wage the ,holy ,war8 ,praise is ,god's6 ten thousand sighs for battle in my breast suspire4 ,o ,mohammed6 through the chosen ,ahmed ,mukhtar's glorious aid1 ,hope ,i that my might may triumph over ,islam's foes acquire6 --,mohammed ,,ii4 ,,gazel ,ah1 thine eyes lay waste the heart1 they 'gainst the soul bare daggers dread2 ,see how sanguinary gleam they--blood aye upon blood they shed4 ,come1 the picture of thy down bear unto this my scorched breast-- ,it is customary fresh greens over the broiled flesh to spread4 ,said ,i3 ,o ,life6 since thy lip is life1 to me vouchsafe a kiss4 ,smiling rose-like1 ,surely1 surely1 by my life1 she answered4 ,as ,i weep sore1 of my stained eyebrow and my tears of blood1 ',tis the rainbow o'er the shower stretched1 were by all beholders said4 ,while within my heart thine eye's shaft1 send not to my breast despair2 ,idol mine6 guest after guest must not to one same house be led4 ,through its grieving for thy hyacinth down1 thus feeble grown ,is the basil1 that the gardeners nightly o'er it water shed4 ,quoth ,i3 ,o ,life6 do not shun ,jem1 he a pilgrim here hath come2 ,though a pilgrim1 yet his life doth on a child's face hang1 she said4 --,prince ,jem 7#adha74 ,,fragment ,lo6 there the torrent1 dashing 'gainst the rocks1 doth wildly roll2 ,the whole wide realm of ,space and ,being ruth hath on my soul4 ,through bitterness of grief and woe the morn hath rent its robe2 ,see6 ,o in dawning's place1 the sky weeps blood1 without control6 ,tears shedding1 o'er the mountain-tops the clouds of heaven pass2 ,hear1 deep the bursting thunder sobs and moans through stress of dole4 --,prince ,jem4 ,,gazel ,from ,istambol's throne a mighty host to ,iran guided ,i2 ,sunken deep in blood of shame ,i made the ,golden ,heads to lie4 ,glad the ,slave1 my resolution1 lord of ,egypt's realm became3 ,thus ,i raised my royal banner e'en as the ,nine ,heavens high4 ,from the kingdom fair of ',iraq to ,hijaz these tidings sped1 ,when ,i played the harp of ,heavenly ,aid at feast of victory4 ,through my saber ,transoxania drowned was in a sea of blood2 ,emptied ,i of kuhl of ,isfahan the adversary's eye4 ,flowed adown a ,river ,amu from each foeman's every hair-- ,rolled the sweat of terror's fever--if ,i happed him to espy4 ,bishop-mated was the ,king of ,india by my ,queenly troops1 ,when ,i played the ,chess of empire on the ,board of sov'reignty4 ,o ,selimi1 in thy name was struck the coinage of the world1 ,when in crucible of ,love ,divine1 like gold1 that melted ,i4 --,sultan ,selim ,i4 7#aeab-aebj74 ,,gazel ,my pain for thee balm in my sight resembles2 ,thy face's beam the clear moonlight resembles4 ,thy black hair spread across thy cheeks1 the roses1 ,o ,liege1 the garden's basil quite resembles4 ,beside thy lip oped wide its mouth1 the rosebud2 ,for shame it blushed1 it blood outright resembles4 ,thy mouth1 a casket fair of pearls and rubies1 ,thy teeth1 pearls1 thy lip coral bright resembles4 ,their diver ,i1 each morning and each even2 ,my weeping1 ,liege1 the ocean's might resembles4 ,lest he seduce thee1 this my dread and terror1 ,that rival who ,iblis in spite resembles4 ,around the taper bright1 thy cheek1 ,muhibbi ,turns1 and the moth in his sad plight resembles4 --,sultan ,soleiman1 the ,magnificent 7#aebj-aeff74 ,,gazel ,if 'tis state thou seekest like the world-adorning sun's array1 ,lowly e'en as water rub thy face in earth's dust every day4 ,fair to see1 but short enduring is this picture bright1 the world2 ',tis a proverb3 ,fleeting like the realm of dreams is earth's display4 ,through the needle of its eyelash never hath the heart's thread past2 ,like unto the ,lord ,messiah bide ,i half-road on the way4 ,athlete of the ,universe through self-reliance grows the ,heart1 ,with the ball1 the ,sphere--,time1 ,fortune--like an apple doth it play4 ,mukhlisi1 thy frame was formed from but one drop1 yet1 wonder great6 ,when thou verses sing'st1 thy spirit like the ocean swells1 they say4 --,prince ,mustafa4 ,,gazel ,ta'en my sense and soul have those thy ,leyli locks1 thy glance's spell1 ,me1 their ,mejnun1 'midst of love's wild dreary desert they impel1 ,since mine eyes have seen the beauty of the ,joseph of thy grace1 ,sense and heart have fall'n and lingered in thy chin's sweet dimple-well4 ,heart and soul of mine are broken through my passion for thy lips2 ,from the hand of patience struck they honor's glass1 to earth it fen4 ,the mirage1 thy lips1 ,o sweetheart1 that doth like to water show2 ,for1 through longing1 making thirsty1 vainly they my life dispel4 ,since ,selimi hath the pearls1 thy teeth1 been praising1 sense and heart ,have his head and soul abandoned1 plunging 'neath love's ocean-swell4 --,sultan ,selim ,,ii4 7#aeff-aegd74 ,,gazel ,thy veil raise1 shake from cheeks those locks of thine then2 ,unclouded beauty's sun and moon bid shine then4 ,but one glance from those soft and drooping eyes throw1 ,the heart through joy to drunkenness consign then4 ,were ,i thy lip to suck1 'twould heal the sick heart2 ,be kind1 an answer give1 ,physician mine1 then4 ,beware lest evil glance thy beauty's rose smite1 ,from ill-eyed rival careful it confine then4 ,o heart1 this is ,life's ,water 'midst of darkness1 ,in night's gloom hidden1 drink the ruby wine then4 ,my love's down grows upon her rosy-hued cheek1 ,a book write on the woes it does enshrine then4 ,thy wine-hued lip1 ,o love1 grant to ,selimi-- ,and by thy parting's shaft my tears make wine then4 --,sultan ,selim ,,ii4 ,,gazel ,soon as ,i beheld thee1 mazed and wildered grew my sad heart2 ,how shall ,i my love disclose to thee who tyrant dread art8 ,how shall ,i hold straight upon my road1 when yonder ,torment ,smitten hath my breast with deadly wounds by her eyelash dart8 ,face1 a rose2 and mouth1 a rosebud2 form1 a slender sapling-- ,how shall ,i not be the slave of ,princess such as thou art8 ,ne'er hath heart a beauty seen like her of graceful figure2 ,joyous would ,i for yon charmer's eyebrow with my life part4 ,farisi1 what can ,i do but love that peerless beauty8 ,ah6 this aged ,sphere hath made me lover of yon sweetheart4 --,sultan ,osman ,,ii4 7#afag-afbc74 ,,to ,,sultan ,,murad ,,iv4 ,round us foes throng1 host to aid us here in sad plight1 is there none8 ,in the cause of ,god to combat1 chief of tried might1 is there none8 ,none who will checkmate the foe1 ,castle to ,castle1 face to face ,in the battle who will ,queen-like guide the brave ,knight1 is there none8 ,midst a fearful whirlpool we are fallen helpless1 send us aid6 ,us to rescue1 a strong swimmer in our friends' sight1 is there none8 ,midst the fight to be our comrade1 head to give or heads to take1 ,on the field of earth a hero of renown bright1 is there none8 ,know we not wherefore in turning off our woes ye thus delay2 ,day of ,reckoning1 aye1 and question of the poor's plight1 is there none8 ,with us 'midst the foeman's flaming streams of scorching fire to plunge1 ,salamander with experience of ,fate dight1 is there none8 ,this our letter1 to the court of ,sultan ,murad1 quick to bear1 ,pigeon1 rapid as the storm-wind in its swift flight1 is there none8 --,hafiz ,pacha4 ,,in ,,reply ,,to ,,the ,,preceding ,to relieve ,bagdad1 ,o ,hafiz1 man of tried might1 is there none8 ,aid from us thou seek'st1 then with thee host of fame bright1 is there none8 ,i'm the ,queen the foe who'll checkmate1 thus it was that thou didst say2 ,room for action now against him with the brave ,knight1 is there none8 ,though we know thou hast no rival in vainglorious1 empty boasts1 ,yet to take dread vengeance on thee1 say1 a ,judge right1 is there none8 ,while thou layest claim to manhood1 whence this cowardice of thine8 ,thou art frightened1 yet beside thee fearing no fight1 is there none8 ,heedless of thy duty thou1 the ,rafizis have ta'en ,bagdad2 ,shall not ,god thy foe be8 ,day of ,reckoning1 sure1 right1 is there none8 ,they have wrecked ,ebu-,hanifa's city through thy lack of care2 ,oh1 in thee of ,islam's and the ,prophet's zeal1 light1 is there none8 ,god1 who favored us1 whilst yet we knew not1 with the ,sultanate1 ,shall again accord ,bagdad1 decreed of ,god's might1 is there none8 ,thou hast brought on ,islam's army direful ruin with thy bribes2 ,have we not heard how thou say'st1 ,word of this foul blight1 is there none8 ,with the aid of ,god1 fell vengeance on the enemy to take1 ,by me skilled and aged1 vizier1 pious1 zeal-dight1 is there none8 ,now shall ,i appoint commander a vizier of high emprise1 ,will not ,khizar and the ,prophet aid him8 guide right1 is there none8 ,is it that thou dost the whole world void and empty now conceive8 ,of the ,seven ,climes1 ,muradi1 ,king of high might1 is there none8 --,sultan ,murad ,,iv4 7#afbc-afdj74 ,,lugaz ,there's an o'erhanging castle in which there flows a main1 ,and there within that castle a fish its home hath ta'en2 ,the fish within its mouth doth hold a shining gem1 ,which wastes the fish as long as it therein doth remain4 ,this puzzle to the poets is offered by ,murad2 ,let him reply who office or place desires to gain4 --,sultan ,murad ,,iv4 ,,munajat ,allah6 ,lord who liv'st for aye6 ,o ,sole6 ,o ,king of ,glory's ,bay6 ,monarch who ne'er shalt pass away6 show thou to us thy bounties fair4 ,in early morning shall our cry1 our wail1 mount to thy ,throne on high3 ,error and sin our wont1 we sigh3 show thou to us thy bounties fair4 ,if cometh not from thee thy grace1 evil shall all our works deface2 ,o ,lord of ,being and of ,space6 show thou to us thy bounties fair4 ,creator of security6 to thy ,beloved greetings be6 ,these fair words are in sincerity3 show thou to us thy bounties fair ,iqbali sinnd hath indeed1 yet unto him thy grace concede2 ,eternal1 ,answerer in need6 show thou to us thy bounties fair4 --,sultan ,mustafa ,,ii4 7#afie-agjc74 ,,turkish ,,poetesses ,a ,,gazel ,,by ,,zeyneb ,cast off thy veil1 and heaven and earth in dazzling light array6 ,as radiant ,paradise1 this poor demented world display6 ,move thou thy lips1 make play the ripples light of ,kevser's pool6 ,let loose thy scented locks1 and odors sweet through earth convey6 ,a musky warrant by thy down was traced1 and zephyr charged3 ,speed1 with this scent subdue the realms of ,china and ,cathay6 ,o heart6 should not thy portion be the ,water bright of ,life1 ,a thousand times mayst thou pursue ,iskender's darksome way4 ,o ,zeyneb1 woman's love of earthly show leave thou behind2 ,go manly forth1 with single heart1 forsake adornment gay6 ,a ,,gazel ,,by ,,mihri ,once from sleep ,i oped my eyes1 ,i raised my head1 when full in sight ,there before me stood a moon-faced beauty1 lovely1 shining1 bright4 ,thought ,i3 ,in th' ascendant's now my star1 or ,i my fate have reached1 ,for within my chamber sure is risen ,jupiter this night4 ,radiance from his beauty streaming saw ,i1 though to outward view 7,while himself a ,moslem7 he in garb of infidel is dight4 ,though ,i oped my eyes or closed them1 still the form was ever there2 ,thus ,i fancied to myself3 ,a fairy this or angel bright8 ,till the ,resurrection ne'er shall ,mihri gain the ,stream of ,life2 ,yet in ,night's deep gloom ,iskender gleamed before her wond'ring sight4 ,a ,,gazel ,,by ,,mihri ,faithful and kind a friend ,i hoped that thou wouldst prove to me2 ,who would have thought so cruel and fierce a tyrant in thee to see8 ,thou who the newly oped rose art of the ,garden of ,paradise1 ,that every thorn and thistle thou lov'st--how can it fitting be8 ,i curse thee not1 but of ,god ,most ,high1 ,our ,lord1 ,i make this prayer-- ,that thou may'st love a pitiless one in tyranny like to thee4 ,in such a plight am ,i now1 alack6 that the curser saith to his foe3 ,be thy fortune dark and thy portion black1 even as those of ,mihri6 ,,poems ,,of ,,nejati ,,from ,,his ,,spring ,,qasida ,the early springtide now hath made earth smiling bright again1 ,e'en as doth union with his mistress soothe the lover's pain4 ,they say3 ',tis now the goblet's turn1 the time of mirth 'tis now2 ,beware that to the winds thou castest not this hour in vain4 ,theriaca within their ruby pots the tulips lay3 ,see in the mead the running streamlet's glistening1 snake-like train4 ,onward1 beneath some cypress-tree's loved foot its face to rub1 ,with turn and turn1 and singing sweet1 the brook goes through the plain4 ,lord6 may this happy union of felicity and earth1 ,like turn of sun of ,love1 or ,jesu's life1 standfast remain6 ,may glee and mirth1 e'en as desired1 continuous abide ,like to a mighty ,key-,khusrev's1 or ,jemshid's1 glorious reign6 99 99 99 99 99 ,sultan ,mohammed6 ,murad's son6 the ,pride of ,princes all2 ,he1 the ,darius1 who to all earth's kings doth crowns ordain6 ,monarch of stars6 whose flag's the sun1 whose stirrup is the moon6 ,prince dread as ,doom1 and strong as ,fate1 and bounteous as main6 ,,from ,,his ,,qasida ,,on ,,the ,,accession ,,of ,,sultan ,,bayezid ,,ii4 ,one eve1 when had the ,sun before her radiant beauty bright ,let down the veil of ambergris1 the musky locks of night2 7,off had the royal hawk1 the ,sun1 flown from the ,orient's hand1 ,and lighted in the ,west2 flocked after him the crows in flight27 ,to catch the gloomy raven1 ,night1 the fowler skilled1 the ,sphere1 ,had shaped the new-moon like the claw of eagle1 sharp to smite2 ,in pity at the doleful sight of sunset's crimson blood1 ,its veil across the heaven's eye had drawn the dusky ,night4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sultan of ,rome6 ,khusrev of the ,horizons6 ,bayezid6 ,king of the ,epoch6 ,sovereign6 and ,center of all ,eight6 ,the tablet of his heart doth all th' affairs of earth disclose2 ,and eloquent as page of book the words he doth indite4 ,o ,shah6 ,i'm he who1 'midst th' assembly where thy praise is sung1 ,will1 rebec-like1 a thousand notes upon one cord recite4 ',tis meet perfection through thy name to my poor words should come1 ,as to rose-water perfume sweet is brought by sunbeam's light4 ,,gazel ,truth this3 a lasting home hath yielded ne'er earth's spreading plain2 ,scarce e'en an inn where may the caravan for rest remain4 ,though every leaf of every tree is verily a book1 ,for those who understanding lack doth earth no leaf contain4 ,e'en though the ,loved ,one be from thee as far as ,east from ,west1 ,bagdad to lovers is not far1 ,o heart1 then strive and strain4 ,one moment opened were her ebriate1 strife-causing eyne1 ,by us as scimitars1 not merely daggers1 were they ta'en4 ,yearneth ,nejati for the court of thy fair ,paradise1 ,though this a wish which he while here on earth can ne'er attain4 ,,ruba',,is ,o ,handkerchief6 ,i send thee--off to yonder maid of grace2 ,around thee ,i my eyelashes will make the fringe of lace2 ,i will the black point of my eye ruh up to paint therewith2 ,to yon coquettish beauty go--go look thou in her face4 ,o ,handkerchief6 the loved one's hand take1 kiss her lip so sweet1 ,her chin1 which mocks at apple and at orange1 kissing greet2 ,if sudden any dust should light upon her blessed heart1 ,fall down before her1 kiss her sandal's sole1 beneath her feet4 ,a sample of my tears of blood thou1 ,handkerchief1 wilt show1 ,through these within a moment would a thousand crimson grow2 ,thou'lt be in company with her1 while ,i am sad with grief2 ,to me no longer life may be1 if things continue so4 ,,poems ,,of ,,lami',i ,,on ,,autumn ,o sad heart1 come1 distraction's hour is now high1 ,the air's cool1 'midst the elds to sit the time nigh4 ,the ,sun hath to the ,balance1 ,joseph-like1 past1 ,the year's ,zuleykha hath her gold hoard wide cast4 ,by winds bronzed1 like the ,sun1 the quince's face glows2 ,its ,pleiads-clusters1 hanging forth1 the vine shows4 ,in saffron flow'rets have the meads themselves dight2 ,the trees1 all scorched1 to gold have turned1 and shine bright4 ,the gilded leaves in showers falling to earth gleam2 ,with goldfish filled doth glisten brightly each stream4 ,ablaze each tree1 and blent are all in one glare1 ,and therefore charged with glistening fire the still air4 ,amidst the yellow foliage perched the black crows-- ,as tulip1 saffron-hued1 that spotted cup shows4 ,a yellow-plumaged bird now every tree stands1 ,which shakes itself and feathers sheds on all hands4 ,each vine-leaf paints its face1 bride-like1 with gold ink2 ,the brook doth silver anklets round the vine link4 ,the plane-tree hath its hands1 with henna1 red-dyed1 ,and stands there of the parterre's court the fair bride4 ,the erst green tree now like the starry sky shows1 ,and hurling meteors at the fiend1 ,earth1 stones throws4 ,,on ,,spring ,from the pleasure1 joy1 and rapture of this hour1 ,in its frame to hold its soul earth scarce hath power4 ,pent its collar1 like the dawning1 hath the rose2 ,from its heart the nightingale sighs forth its woes4 ,dance the juniper and cypress like the sphere2 ,filled with melody through joy all lands appear4 ,gently sing the running brooks in murmurs soft2 ,while the birds with tuneful voices soar aloft4 ,play the green and tender branches with delight1 ,and they shed with one accord gold1 silver1 bright4 ,like to couriers fleet1 the zephyrs speed away1 ,resting ne'er a moment either night or day4 ,in that raid the rosebud filled with gold its hoard1 ,and the tulip with fresh musk its casket stored4 ,there the moon a purse of silver coin did seize2 ,filled with ambergris its skirt the morning breeze2 ,won the sun a golden disk of ruby dye1 ,and with glistening pearls its pocket filled the sky3 ,those who poor were fruit and foliage attained2 ,all the people of the land some trophy gained4 ,,rose ,,time ,o heart1 come1 wail1 as nightingale thy woes show2 ',tis ,pleasure's moment this1 come1 then1 as rose blow4 ,in burning notes make thou thy tuneful song rise2 ,these iron hearts soft render with thy sad sighs4 ,within thy soul place not1 like tulip1 dark brand2 ,when opportunity doth come1 then firm stand4 ,from earth take justice ere yet are these times left1 ,and ere yet from the soul's harp is breath's song reft4 ,they call thee--view the joys that sense would yield thee2 ,but1 ere thou canst say ,hie6 the bird is flown1 see4 ,give ear1 rose-like1 because in truth the night-bird ,from break of dawn its bitter wail hath made heard4 ,their chorus all around the gleeful birds raise2 ,the streamlets sing1 the nightingale the flute plays4 ,the jasmines with their fresh leaves tambourines ply2 ,the streams1 hard pressed1 raise up their glistening foam high ,of junipers and cypresses two ranks 'tween1 ,the zephyr sports and dances o'er the flower-green4 ,the streamlets 'midst the vineyard hide-and-seek play ,the flowerlets with1 among the verdant leaves gay4 ,away the morning's breeze the jasmine's crown tears1 ,as pearls most costly scatters it the plucked hairs4 ,the leader of the play's the breeze of swift pace2 ,like children1 each the other all the flowers chase4 ,with green leaves dressed1 the trees each other's hands take2 ,the flowers and nightingales each other's robes shake4 ,like pigeon1 there1 before the gale that soft blows1 ,doth turn in many a somersault the young rose4 ,as blaze up with gay flowerlets all the red plains1 ,the wind each passes1 and the vineyard next gains4 ,the clouds1 pearl-raining1 from the meteors sparks seize2 ,and flowers are all around strewn by the dawn-breeze4 ,the waters1 eddying1 in circles bright play1 ,like shining swords the green leaves toss about they4 ,with bated breath the ,judas-trees there stand by2 ,and each for other running brook and breeze sigh4 ,the gales tag with the basil play in high glee2 ,to dance with cypress gives its hand the plane-tree4 ,the soft winds have adorned the wanton bough fair1 ,the leader of the frolics 'midst the parterre4 ,the narcisse toward the almond-tree its glance throws2 ,with vineyard-love the pink upbraids the dog-rose4 ,the water's mirror clear doth as the ,sphere gleam2 ,its stars1 the flowers1 reflected1 fair and bright beam4 ,the meads are skies2 their stars1 the drops of dew1 glow2 ,the jasmine is the moon2 the stream1 the halo4 ,in short1 each spot as resurrection-plane seems2 ,none who beholds of everlasting pain dreams4 ,those who it view1 and ponder well with thought's eye1 ,it's strange1 if they be mazed and wildered thereby8 ,up6 breeze-like1 ,lami'i1 thy hermitage leave6 ,the roses' days in sooth no time for fasts give6 ,,poems ,,of ,,gazali ,,from ,,an ,,elegy ,,on ,,iskender ,,chelebi ,high honored once was the noble ,iskender2 ,o heart1 from his destiny warning obtain4 ,ah6 do thou see what at length hath befall'n him6 ,what all this glory and panoply gain6 ,drinking the poison of doom1 ne'er a remnant ,of sweetness's taste in his mouth did remain4 ,retrograde1 sank down his star1 erst ascendant1 ,from perfect conjunction1 alas1 did it wane4 ,dust on the face of his honor aye stainless ,strewn hath the blast of betrayal profane4 ,the ,lofty ,decree for his high exaltation ,did ,equity's ,court1 all unlooked for1 ordain2 ,forthwith to the ,regions of ,eden they bore him1 ,they raised him from earth's abject baseness and stain4 ,circling and soaring1 he went on his journey1 ,from the land of his exile to ,home back again4 ,neck-bounden he stood as a slave at the palace1 ,freed is he now from affliction's hard chain4 ,joyous he flew on his journey to ,heaven1 ,rescued forever from earth gross and vain4 ,in life or in death from him never1 ay1 never ,was honor most lofty1 most glorious1 ta'en6 ,,fragment ,come is the autumn of my life1 alas1 it thus should pass away6 ,i have not reached the dawn of joy1 to sorrow's night there is no day4 ,time after time the image of her cheek falls on my tear-filled eye2 ,ah6 no pretension to esteem can shadows in the water lay6 ,oh6 whither will these winds of ,fate impel the frail bark of the heart8 ,nor bound nor shore confining girds ,time's dreary ocean of dismay6 ,,poems ,,of ,,fuzuli ,,gazel ,o breeze1 thou'rt kind1 of balm to those whom pangs affright1 thou news hast brought1 ,to wounded frame of life1 to life of life's delight thou news hast brought4 ,thou'st seen the mourning nightingale's despair in sorrow's autumn drear1 ,like springtide days1 of smiling roseleaf fresh and bright1 thou news hast brought4 ,if ,i should say thy words are heaven-inspired1 in truth1 blaspheme ,i not2 ,of ,faith1 whilst unbelief doth earth hold fast and tight1 thou news hast brought4 ,they say the loved one comes to soothe the hearts of all her lovers true2 ,if that the case1 to yon fair maid of lovers' plight thou news hast brought4 ,of rebel demon thou hast cut the hope ,suleiman's throne to gain2 ,that in the sea secure doth lie his ,ring of might1 thou news hast brought4 ,fuzuli1 through the parting night1 alas1 how dark my fortune grew6 ,like zephyr of the dawn1 of shining sun's fair light thou news hast brought4 ,,gazel ,o thou ,perfect ,being1 ,source whence wisdom's mysteries arise2 ,things1 the issue of thine essence1 show wherein thy nature lies4 ,manifester of all wisdom1 thou art he whose pen of might ,hath with rays of stars illumined yonder gleaming page1 the skies4 ,that a happy star1 indeed1 the essence clear of whose bright self ,truly knoweth how the blessings from thy word that flow to prize4 ,but a jewel flawed am faulty ,i3 alas1 forever stands ,blank the page of my heart's journal from thought of thy writing wise4 ,in the journal of my actions ,evil's lines are black indeed2 ,when ,i think of ,day of ,gathering's terrors1 blood flows from my eyes4 ,gathering of my tears will form a torrent on the ,reckoning ,day1 ,if the pearls1 my tears1 rejecting1 he but view them to despise3 ,pearls my tears are1 ,o ,fuzuli1 from the ocean deep of love2 ,but they're pearls these1 oh6 most surely1 that the ,love of ,allah buys6 ,,gazel ,is't strange if beauties' hearts turn blood through envy of thy cheek most fair8 ,for that which stone to ruby turns is but the radiant sunlight's glare4 ,or strange is't if thine eyelash conquer all the stony-hearted ones8 ,for meet an ebon shaft like that a barb of adamant should bear6 ,thy cheek's sun-love hath on the hard1 hard hearts of fairy beauties fall'n1 ,and many a steely-eyed one hath received thy bright reflection fair4 ,the casket1 thy sweet mouth1 doth hold spellbound the huri-faced ones all2 ,the virtue of ,suleiman's ,ring was that fays thereto fealty sware4 ,is't strange if1 seeing thee1 they rub their faces lowly midst the dust8 ,that down to ,adam bowed the angel throng doth the ,koran declare6 ,on many and many a heart of stone have fall'n the pangs of love for thee6 ,a fire that lies in stone concealed is thy heart-burning love's dread glare6 ,within her ward1 with garments rent1 on all sides rosy-cheeked ones stray2 ,fuzuli1 through those radiant hues1 that quarter beams a garden fair4 ,,gazel ,from the turning of the ,sphere my luck hath seen reverse and woe2 ,blood ,i've drunk1 for from my banquet wine arose and forth did go4 ,with the flame1 my burning sighs1 ,i've lit the wand'ring wildered heart2 ,i'm a fire1 doth not all that which turns about me roasted glow8 ,with thy rubies wine contended--oh6 how it hath lost its wits6 ,need 'tis yon ill-mannered wretch's company that we forego4 ,yonder moon saw not my burning's flame upon the parting day-- ,how can e'er the sun about the taper all night burning know8 ,every eye that all around tears scatters1 thinking of thy shaft1 ,is an oyster-shell that causeth rain-drops into pearls to grow4 ,forms my sighing's smoke a cloud that veils the bright cheek of the moon2 ,ah6 that yon fair moon will ne'er the veil from off her beauty throw6 ,ne'er hath ceased the rival e'en within her ward to vex me sore2 ,how say they1 ,fuzuli1 ,there's in ,paradise nor grief nor woe8 ,,museddes ,a stately ,cypress yesterday her shade threw o'er my head2 ,her form was heart-ensnaring1 heart-delighting her light tread2 ,when speaking1 sudden opened she her smiling rubies red1 ,there a pistachio ,i beheld that drops of candy shed4 ,this casket can it be a mouth8 ,ah6 deign6 ,i said2 said she3 ,nay1 nay1 'tis balm to cure thy hidden smart2 aye1 truly thine6 ,down o'er her crescents she had pressed the turban she did wear1 ,by which1 from many broken hearts1 sighs raised she of despair2 ,she loosed her tresses--hid within the cloud her moon so fair1 ,and o'er her visage ,i beheld the curls of her black hair4 ,those curling locks1 say1 are they then a chain8 ,i said2 said she3 ,that round my cheek1 a noose to take thy heart2 aye1 truly thine6 ,the taper bright1 her cheek1 illumined day's lamp in the sky2 ,the rose's branch was bent before her figure1 cypress-high2 ,she1 cypress-like1 her foot set down upon the fount1 my eye1 ,but many a thorn did pierce her foot she suffered pain thereby4 ,what thorn unto the roseleaf-foot gives pain8 ,i said2 said she3 ,the lash of thy wet eye doth it impart2 aye1 truly thine6 ,promenading1 to the garden did that jasmine-cheeked one go2 ,with many a bright adornment in the early springtide's glow2 ,the hyacinths their musky locks did o'er the roses throw2 ,that ,picture had tattooed her lovely feet rose-red to show4 ,the tulip's hue whence doth the dog-rose gain8 ,i said2 said she3 ,from ,hood of thine shed 'neath my glance's dart2 aye1 truly thine6 ,to earth within her ward my tears in torrents rolled apace2 ,the accents of her ruby lips my soul crazed by their grace2 ,my heart was taken in the snare her musky locks did trace1 ,that very moment when my eyes fell on her curls and face4 ,doth ,scorpio the bright ,moon's ,house contain8 ,i said2 said she3 ,fear6 threatening this ,conjunction dread1 thy part2 aye1 truly thine6 ,her hair with ambergris perfumed was waving o'er her cheek1 ,on many grieving1 passioned souls it cruel woe did wreak2 ,her graceful form and many charms my wildered heart made weak2 ,the eye beheld her figure fair1 then heart and soul did seek4 ,ah6 what bright thing this cypress of the plain8 ,i said2 said she3 ',tis that which thy fixed gaze beholds apart2 aye1 truly thine6 ,when their veil her tulip and dog-rose had let down yesterday1 ,the morning breeze tore off that screen which o'er these flow'rets lay2 ,came forth that ,envy of the sun in garden fair to stray1 ,like lustrous pearls the dewdrops shone1 a bright and glistening spray4 ,pearls1 say1 are these1 aye pearls from ',aden's main8 ,i said2 said she3 ,tears1 these1 of poor ,fuzuli1 sad of heart2 aye1 truly thine6 ,,mukhammes ,attar within vase of crystal1 such thy fair form silken-gowned2 ,and thy breast is gleaming water1 where the bubbles clear abound2 ,thou so bright none who may gaze upon thee on the earth is found2 ,bold wert thou to cast the veil off1 standing forth with garland crowned3 ,not a doubt but woe and ruin all the wide world must confound6 ,lures the heart thy gilded palace1 points it to thy lips the way2 ,eagerly the ear doth listen for the words thy rubies say2 ,near thy hair the comb remaineth1 ,i despairing far away2 ,bites the comb1 each curling ringlet1 when it through thy locks doth stray3 ,jealous at its sight1 my heart's thread agonized goes curling round4 ,ah6 her face the rose1 her shift rose-hued1 her trousers red their shade2 ,with its flame burns us the fiery garb in which thou are arrayed4 ,ne'er was born of ,adam's children one like thee1 ,o cruel maid6 ,moon and ,sun1 in beauty's circle1 at thy fairness stand dismayed3 ,seems it thou the ,sun for mother and the ,moon for sire hast owned4 ,captive bound in thy red fillet1 grieve ,i through thy musky hair2 ,prone ,i 'neath those golden anklets which thy silvern limbs do wear2 ,think not ,i am like thy fillet1 empty of thy grace1 ,o fair6 ,rather to the golden chain1 which hangs thy cheek round1 me compare3 ,in my sad heart pangs a thousand from thy glance's shafts are found4 ,eyes with antimony darkened1 hands with henna crimson dyed2 ,through these beauties vain and wanton like to thee was ne'er a bride4 ,bows of poplar green1 thy painted brows2 thy glances shafts provide4 ,poor ,fuzuli for thine eyes and eyebrows aye hath longing cried3 ,that the bird from bow and arrow flees not1 well may all astound4 ,,from ,,leyli ,,and ,,mejnun ,yield not the soul to pang of ,love1 for ,love's the soul's fierce glow2 ,that ,love's the torment of the soul doth all the wide world know4 ,seek not for gain from fancy wild of pang of ,love at all2 ,for all that comes from fancy wild of ,love's pang is griefs throe4 ,each curving eyebrow is a blood-stained saber thee to slay2 ,each dusky curl1 a deadly venomed snake to work thee woe4 ,lovely1 indeed1 the forms of moon-like maidens are to see-- ,lovely to see1 but ah6 the end doth bitter anguish show4 ,from this ,i know full well that torment dire in love abides1 ,that all who lovers are1 engrossed with sighs1 rove to and fro4 ,call not to mind the pupils of the black-eyed damsels bright1 ,with thought1 ,i'm man2 be not deceived1 'tis blood they drink1 ,i trow4 ,e'en if ,fuzuli should declare1 ,in fair ones there is troth1 ,be not deceived--,a poet's words are falsehoods all men know4 ,,mejnun ,,addresses ,,nevfil ,quoth ,mejnun3 ,o sole friend of true plight6 ,with counsel many have tried me to guide right2 ,many with wisdom gifted have advice shown1 ,but yet this fiend hath been by no one o'erthrown2 ,much gold has on the earth been strewn round1 ,but yet this ,stone of ,alchemist by none's found4 ,collyrium ,i know that doth increase light1 ,what use though is it if the eye doth lack sight8 ,i know that greatest kindliness in thee lies1 ,what use1 though1 when my fate doth ever dark rise8 ,upon my gloomy fortune ,i no faith lay1 ,impossible my hope appeareth alway4 ,ah6 though in this thou shouldest ever hard toil1 ,the end at length will surely all thy plans foil4 ,no kindliness to me my closest friends show2 ,who is a friend to him whom he doth deem foe8 ,i know my fortune evil is and woe-fraught2 ,the search for solace is to me1 save pain1 naught4 ,there is a gazel that doth well my lot show1 ,which constant ,i repeat where'er my steps go4 ,,mejnun',s ,,gazel ,from whomsoe'er ,i've sought for troth but bitterest disdain ,i've seen2 ,whome'er within this faithless world ,i've trusted1 all most vain ,i've seen4 ,to whomsoe'er ,i've told my woes1 in hope to find some balm therefor1 ,than e'en myself o'erwhelmed and sunk in deeper1 sadder pain ,i've seen4 ,from out mine aching heart no one hath driven cruel grief away1 ,that those my friends of pleasure's hour affection did but feign ,i've seen4 ,although ,i've clutched its mantle1 life hath turned away its face from me2 ,and though ,i faith from mirror hoped1 there persecuted swain ,i've seen4 ,at gate of hope ,i set my foot1 bewilderment held forth its hand1 ,alas6 whene'er hope's thread ,i've seized1 in hand the serpent's train ,i've seen4 ,a hundred times the ,sphere hath shown to me my darksome fortune's star2 ,whene'er my horoscope ,i've cast1 but blackest1 deepest stain ,i've seen4 ,fuzuli1 blush not then1 should ,i from mankind turn my face away2 ,for why8 ,from all to whom ,i've looked1 but reason sad too plain ,i've seen4 ,,zeyd',s ,,vision ,his grief and mourning ,zeyd renewed alway1 ,from bitter wailing ceased he not1 he wept aye4 ,that faithful1 loving1 ever-constant friend dear4 ,one night1 when was the rise of the ,true ,dawn near1 ,feeling that in his wasted frame no strength stayed1 ,had gone1 and down upon that grave himself laid4 ,there1 in his sleep1 he saw a wondrous fair sight1 ,a lovely garden1 and two beauties1 moon-bright2 ,through transport rapturous1 their cheeks with light glow2 ,far distant now1 all fear of anguish1 pain1 woe2 ,with happiness and ecstasy and joy blest1 ,from rivals' persecutions these have found rest2 ,a thousand angel-forms to each fair beauty1 ,with single heart1 perform the servant's duty4 ,he1 wondering1 question made3 ,what ,moons so bright these8 ,what lofty1 honored ,sovereigns of might these8 ,what garden1 most exalted1 is this parterre8 ,what throng so bright and beautiful1 the throng there8 ,they answer gave3 ,lo6 ,eden's shining bowers these2 ,that radiant throng1 the ,heaven-born ,youths and ,houris2 ,these two resplendent forms1 bright as the fair moon1 ,these are the ever-faithful--,leyli1 ,mejnun6 ,since pure within the vale of love they sojourned1 ,and kept that purity till they to dust turned1 ,are ,eden's everlasting bowers their home now1 ,to them the ,houris and the ,youths as slaves bow3 ,since these1 while on the earth1 all woe resigned met1 ,and patience aye before them in each grief set1 ,when forth they fled from this false1 faithless world's bound1 ,from all those pangs and sorrows they release found6 ,,poems ,,of ,,nabi ,,mukhammes ,alas6 nor dew nor smiling rose within this mead is mine2 ,within this market-place nor trade nor coin for need is mine2 ,nor more nor less2 nor power nor strength for act or deed is mine2 ,nor might nor eminence2 nor balm the cure to speed is mine4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,being's the bounty of the ,lord2 and ,life1 the gift ,divine2 ,the ,breath1 the present of his love2 and ,speech his ,grace's sign2 ,the ,body is the pile of ,god2 the ,soul1 his ,breath benign2 ,the ,powers thereof1 his ,glory's trust2 the ,senses1 his design4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,no work1 no business of my own within this mart have ,i2 ,all ,being is of him alone--no life apart have ,i2 ,no choice of entering this world1 or hence of start have ,i2 ,to cry1 ,i am6 ,i am6 in truth1 no power of heart have ,i4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,the ,earth the carpet is of ,power2 the ,sphere1 the tent of ,might2 ,the ,stars1 both fixed and wandering1 are ,glory's lamps of light2 ,the ,world's the issue of the grace of ,mercy's treasures bright2 ,with forms of beings is the page of ,wisdom's volume dight4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,being is but a loan to us1 and ,life in trust we hold3 ,in slaves a claim to ,power's pretension arrogant and bold2 ,the servant's part is by submission and obedience told2 ,should ,he1 ,my slave1 address to me1 'twere favors manifold4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,i'm poor and empty-handed1 but grace free is of the ,lord2 ,nonentity's my attribute3 to ,be is of the ,lord2 ,for ,being or ,non-being's rise1 decree is of the ,lord2 ,the surging of the ,seen and ,unseen's sea is of the ,lord4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,of gifts from table of his ,bounty is my daily bread2 ,my breath is from the ,breath of ,god's benignant ,mercy fed2 ,my portion from the favors of ,almighty ,power is shed2 ,and my provision is from ,providence's kitchen spread4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,i can not1 unallotted1 take my share from wet or dry2 ,from land or from the ocean1 from earth or from the sky2 ,the silver or the gold will come1 by ,providence laid by2 ,i can not grasp aught other than my fortune doth supply4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,creation's ,pen the lines of billows of events hath traced2 ,th' illumined scroll of the ,two ,worlds1 ,creation's ,pencil graced2 ,their garments upon earth and sky1 ,creation's woof hath placed2 ,men's forms are pictures in ,creation's great ,shah-,nama traced4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,i can not make the morning eve1 or the dark night the day2 ,i can not turn the air to fire1 or dust to water's spray2 ,i can not bid the ,sphere stand still1 or mountain region stray2 ,i can not ,autumn turn by will of mine to lovely ,may4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,from out of ,nothingness his mighty ,power made me appear2 ,whilst in the womb ,i lay1 saw he to all ,i need for here2 ,with kindness concealed and manifest did he me rear2 ,with me he drew a curtain o'er ,distinction's beauty dear4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,god's ,revelation is ,discernment's ,eye1 if't oped remain2 ,the picturings of worlds are all things changing aye amain2 ,the showing of the ,hidden ,treasure is this raging main1 ,this work1 this business of the ,lord1 this ,majesty made plain4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,now void1 now full1 are ,possibility's storehouses vast2 ,this glass-lined world's the mirror where ,lights ,twain their phases cast2 ,the blinded thing--in scattering strange fruits its hours are past2 ,ruined hath this old ,vineyard been by autumn's sullen blast4 ,oh1 that ,i knew what here ,i am1 that which indeed is mine6 ,,gazel ,ne'er a corner for the plaintive bulbul's nest remaineth now2 ,ne'er a palm-tree 'neath whose kindly shade is rest remaineth now4 ,day and night some balm ,i've sought for1 to relieve my wounded heart2 ,ne'er a cure within the heavens' turquoise chest remaineth now4 ,from its source1 through every country1 searched have ,i1 but all in vain-- ,ne'er a single drop1 in mercy's fountain blest1 remaineth now4 ,empty earthen pots are reckoned one with jewels rich and rare2 ,ne'er a scale in value's mart the worth to test remaineth now4 ',neath the earth may now the needy hide themselves1 ,nabi1 away2 ,ne'er a turret on the fort of interest remaineth now4 ,,poems ,,of ,,baqi ,a ,,qaisda ,,on ,,sultan ,,suleiman ,one night when all the battlements ,heaven's castle doth display1 ,illumed and decked were1 with the shining lamps1 the stars' array1 ,amidst the host of gleaming stars the ,moon lit up his torch2 ,athwart the field of ,heaven with radiance beamed the ,milky ,way4 ,the ,secretary of the ,spheres had ta'en his meteor-pen1 ,that writer of his signature whom men and jinns obey4 ,there1 at the banquet of the sky1 had ,venus struck her lyre1 ,in mirth and happiness1 delighted1 joyed and smiling gay4 ,taking the keynote for her tune 'neath in the vaulted sphere1 ,the tambourinist ,sun her visage bright had hid away4 ,armed with a brand of gleaming gold had leapt into the plain ,the ,swordsman of the sky's expanse1 of heaven's field of fray4 ,to give direction to the weighty matters of the earth ,had ,jupiter1 the wise1 lit up reflection's taper's ray4 ,there raised aloft old ,saturn high upon the ,seventh ,sphere ,sitting like ,indian elephant-conductor on did stray4 ,what means this decking of the universe8 ,i wond'ring said2 ,when1 lo6 with meditation's gaze e'en whilst ,i it survey1 ,casting its beams on every side1 o'er all earth rose the ,sun1 ,o'er the horizons1 e'en as ,seal of ,suleiman's display4 ,the eye of understanding looked upon this wondrous sight2 ,at length the soul's ear learned the secret hid in this which lay3 ,what is it that hath decked earth's hall with splendors such as this1 ,saving the might and fortune of the ,king who earth doth sway8 ,he who sits high upon the throne above all crowned kings1 ,the ,hero of the battlefield of dread ,keyani fray1 ,jemshid of happiness and joy1 ,darius of the fight1 ,khusrev of right and clemency1 ,iskender of his day6 ,lord of the ,east and ,west6 ,king whom the kings of earth obey6 ,prince of the ,epoch6 ,sultan ,suleiman6 ,triumphant ,aye6 ,meet 'tis before the steed of yonder ,monarch of the realms ,of right and equity1 should march earth's rulers' bright array4 ,rebelled one 'gainst his word1 secure he'd bind him in his bonds1 ,e'en like the dappled pard1 the sky1 chained with the ,milky ,way4 ,lord of the land of graciousness and bounty1 on whose board ,of favors1 spread is all the wealth that sea and mine display2 ,longs the perfumer1 ,early ,spring1 for th' odor of his grace2 ,need hath the merchant1 ,autumn1 of his bounteous hand alway4 ,through tyrant's hard oppression no one groaneth in his reign1 ,and though may wail the flute and lute1 the law they disobey4 ,beside thy justice1 tyranny's the code of ,key-,qubad2 ,beside thy wrath1 but mildness ,qahraman's most deadly fray4 ,thy scimitar's the gleaming guide empires to overthrow1 ,no foe of ,islam can abide before thy saber's ray4 ,saw it thy wrath1 through dread of thee would trembling seize the pine2 ,the falling stars a chain around the heaven's neck would lay4 ,amidst thy sea-like armies vast1 thy flags and standards fair1 ,the sails are which the ship of splendid triumph doth display4 ,thrust it its beak into the ,sphere1 'twould seize it as a grain1 ,the 'anqa strong1 thy power1 to which 'twere but a seed-like prey4 ,in past eternity the hand1 thy might1 it struck with bat1 ,that time is this time1 for the ,sky's ,ball spins upon its way4 ,within the rosy garden of thy praise the bird1 the heart1 ,singeth this soul-bestowing1 smooth-as-water-running lay4 ,if yonder mouth be not the soul1 ,o heart-enslaver gay1 ,then wherefore is it like the soul1 hid from our eyes away8 ,since in the casket of our mind thy ruby's picture lies1 ,the mine is now no fitting home for gem of lustrous ray4 ,thy tresses fall across thy cheek in many a twisting curl1 ,to dance to ,hijaz have the ,shamis tucked their skirts1 we'd say4 ,let both the youthful pine and cypress view thy motions fair2 ,the gardener now to rear the willow need no more assay4 ,the dark and cloudy-brained of men thine eyebrows black depict1 ,while those of keen1 discerning wit thy glistening teeth portray4 ,before thy cheek the rose and jasmine bowed in sujud1 ,the cypress to thy figure in qiyam did homage pay4 ,the heart's throne is the seat of that great monarch1 love for thee2 ,the soul1 the secret court1 where doth thy ruby's picture stay4 ,the radiance of thy beauty bright hath filled earth like the sun1 ,the hall1 ,be6 and it is1 resounds with love of thee for aye4 ,the cries of those on plain of earth have risen to the skies1 ,the shouts of those who dwell above have found to earth their way4 ,nor can the nightingale with songs as sweet as ,baqi's sing1 ,nor happy as thy star can beam the garden's bright array4 ,the mead1 the world1 blooms through thy beauty's rose1 like ,irem's bower2 ,on every side are nightingales of sweet1 melodious lay4 ,now let us pray at ,allah's court3 ,may this for aye endure1 ,the might and glory of this prospered ,king's resplendent sway2 ,until the lamp1 the world-illuming sun1 at break of dawn1 ,a silver candelabrum on the circling skies display1 ,oh6 may the ,ruler of the world with skirt of aid and grace ,protect the taper of his life from blast of doom1 we pray6 ,glory's the comrade2 ,fortune1 the cup-bearer at our feast2 ,the beaker is the ,sphere2 the bowl1 the ,steel of gold-inlay6 ,,gazel ',tis love's wild sea1 my sighs' fierce wind doth lash those waves my tears uprear2 ,my head1 the bark of sad despite2 mine eyebrows twain1 the anchors here4 ,mine unkempt hair1 the den of yonder tiger dread1 the fair one's love2 ,my head1 dismay and sorrow's realm's deserted mountain region drear4 ,at whatsoever feast ,i drain the cup thy rubies' mem'ry to1 ,amidst all those who grace that feast1 except the dregs1 ,i've no friend near4 ,thou know'st1 ,o ,light of my poor eyes1 with tutya mixed are gems full bright1 ,what then if weep on thy path's dust mine eyes that scatter pearls most clear6 ,the ,sphere1 old hag1 with witchcraft's spell hath parted me from my fond love1 ,o ,baqi1 see1 by ,god1 how vile a trick yon jade hath played me here6 ,,gazel ,years trodden under foot have ,i lain on that path of thine2 ,thy musky locks are noose-like cast1 around my feet to twine4 ,o ,princess mine6 boast not thyself through loveliness of face1 ,for that1 alas1 is but a sun which must full soon decline6 ,the loved one's stature tall1 her form as fair as juniper1 ,bright 'midst the rosy bowers of grace a slender tree doth shine4 ,her figure1 fair-proportioned as my poesy sublime1 ,her slender waist is like its subtle thought--hard to divine4 ,then yearn not1 ,baqi1 for the load of love's misfortune dire2 ,for that to bear mayhap thy soul no power doth enshrine4 ,,gazel ,with her graceful-moving form1 a ,cypress jasmine-faced is she8 ,or in ,eden's bower a branch upon the ,lote or ,tuba-tree8 ,that thy blood-stained shaft which rankles in my wounded breast1 my love1 ,in the rosebud hid a lovely rose-leaf1 sweetheart1 can it be8 ,to the dead of pain of anguish doth its draught fresh life impart2 ,o cupbearer1 is the red wine ,jesu's breath8 tell1 tell to me6 ,are they teeth those in thy mouth1 or on the rosebud drops of dew8 ,are they sparkling stars1 or are they gleaming pearls1 that there ,i see8 ,through the many woes thou wreakest upon ,baqi1 sick of heart1 ,is't thy will to slay him1 or is it but sweet disdain in thee8 ,,gazel ,before thy form1 the box-tree's lissom figure dwarfed would show2 ,those locks of thine the pride of ambergris would overthrow4 ,who1 seeing thy cheek's glow1 recalls the ruby is deceived2 ,he who hath drunken deep of wine inebriate doth grow4 ,should she move forth with figure like the juniper in grace1 ,the garden's cypress to the loved one's form must bend right low4 ,beware1 give not the mirror bright to yonder paynim maid1 ,lest she idolater become1 when there her face doth show4 ,baqi1 doth he not drink the wine of obligation's grape1 ,who drunken with ,a-lestu's cup's overwhelming draught doth go8 ,,gazel ,thy cheek1 like limpid water1 clear doth gleam2 ,thy pouting mouth a bubble round doth seem4 ,the radiance of thy cheek's sun on the heart ,like moonlight on the water's face doth beam4 ,the heart's page1 through the tracings of thy down1 ,a volume all illumined one would deem4 ,that fair ,moon's sunny love the earth have burned1 ,it warm as rays of summer sun doth stream4 ,at woful sorrow's feast my bloodshot eyes1 ,two beakers of red wine would one esteem4 ,baqi1 her mole dark-hued like ambergris1 ,a fragrant musk-pod all the world would deem4 ,,gazel ,all sick the heart with love for her1 sad at the feast of woe2 ,bent form1 the harp2 low wail1 the flute2 heart's blood for wine doth flow4 ,prone lies the frame her path's dust 'neath1 in union's stream the eye1 ,in air the mind1 the soul 'midst separation's fiery glow4 ,oh1 ever shall it be my lot1 zone-like1 thy waist to clasp6 ',twixt us1 ,o love1 the dagger blade of severance doth show6 ,thou art the ,queen of earth1 thy cheeks are ,towers of might1 this day1 ,before thy ,horse1 like ,pawns1 the ,kings of grace and beauty go4 ,him hinder not1 beside thee let him creep1 ,o ,shade-like stay6 ,baqi1 thy servant1 ,o my ,queen1 before thee lieth low4 ,,on ,,autumn ,lo1 ne'er a trace or sign of springtide's beauty doth remain2 ,fall'n 'midst the garden lie the leaves1 now all their glory vain4 ,bleak stand the orchard trees1 all clad in tattered dervish rags2 ,dark ,autumn's blast hath torn away the hands from off the plane4 ,from each hill-side they come and cast their gold low at the feet1 ,of garden trees1 as hoped the streams from these some boon to gain4 ,stay not within the parterre1 let it tremble with its shame3 ,bare every shrub1 this day doth naught of leaf or fruit retain4 ,baqi1 within the garden lies full many a fallen leaf2 ,low lying there1 it seems they 'gainst the winds of ,fate complain4 ,,gazel ,tulip-cheeked ones over rosy field and plain stray all around2 ,mead and garden cross they1 looking wistful each way1 all around4 ,these the lovers true of radiant faces1 aye1 but who the fair8 ,lissom ,cypress1 thou it is whom eager seek they all around4 ,band on band ,woe's legions camped before the ,city of the ,heart1 ,there1 together league1 sat ,sorrow1 ,pain1 ,strife1 ,dismay1 all around4 ,from my weeping flows the river of my tears on every side1 ,like an ocean 'tis again1 a sea that casts spray all around4 ,forth through all the ,seven ,climates have the words of ,baqi gone2 ,this refulgent verse recited shall be alway1 all around4 ,,gazel ,from thine own beauty's radiant sun doth light flow2 ,how lustrously doth now the crystal glass show6 ,thy friend's the beaker1 and the cup's thy comrade2 ,like to the dregs why dost thou me aside throw8 ,hearts longing for thy beauty can resist not2 ,hold1 none can bear the dazzling vision's bright glow6 ,united now the lover1 and now parted2 ,this world is sometimes pleasure and sometimes woe4 ,bound in the spell of thy locks' chain is ,baqi1 ,mad he1 my ,liege1 and to the mad they grace show4 ,,gazel ,the goblet as affliction's ,khusrev's bright ,keyani crown doth shine2 ,and surely doth the wine-jar love's ,king's ,khusrevani hoard enshrine4 ,whene'er the feast recalls ,jemshid1 down from its eyes the red blood rolls2 ,the rosy-tinted wine its tears1 the beakers its blood-weeping eyne4 ,at parting's banquet should the cup1 the heart1 with blood brim o'er were't strange8 ,a bowl that1 to the fair we'll drain1 a goblet filled full high with wine4 ,o ,moon1 if by thy door one day the foe should sudden me o'ertake-- ,a woe by ,heaven decreed1 a fate to which ,i must myself resign6 ,the fume of beauty's and of grace's censer is thy cheek's sweet mole1 ,the smoke thereof thy musky locks that spreading fragrant curl and twine2 ,thy cheek rose-hued doth light its taper at the moon that shines most bright1 ,its candlestick at grace's feast is yonder collar fair of thine4 ,of love and passion is the lustrous sheen of ,baqi's verse the cause2 ,as ,life's ,stream brightly this doth shine2 but that1 th' ,eternal ,life ,divine4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,ancient ,,church ,,of ,,st4 ,,sophia4 ,the former ,christian ,cathedral of ,ancient ,constantinople1 now converted into the chief ,mohammedan ,mosque4 ,,underwood ,,underwood1 ,n4,y4 ,,gazel ,when the sheets have yonder ,torment to their bosom ta'en to rest1 ,think ,i1 ,hides the night-adorning ,moon within the cloudlet's breast4 ,in the dawning1 ,o thou turtle1 mourn not with those senseless plaints2 ,in the bosom of some stately cypress thou'rt a nightly guest4 ,why thou weepest from the heavens1 never can ,i think1 ,o dew2 ,every night some lovely rose's bosom fair thou enterest4 ,hath the pearl seen in the story of thy teeth its tale of shame1 ,since the sea hath hid the album of the shell within its breast8 ,longing for thy cheeks1 hath ,baqi all his bosom marked with scars1 ,like as though he'd cast of rose-leaves fresh a handful o'er his chest4 ,,elegy ,,on ,,sultan ,,suleiman ,i4 ,o thou6 foot-bounden in the mesh of fame and glory's snare6 ,till when shall last the lust of faithless earth's pursuits and care8 ,at that first moment1 which of life's fair springtide is the last1 ',tis need the tulip cheek the tint of autumn leaf should wear2 ',tis need that thy last home should be1 e'en like the dregs'1 the dust2 ',tis need the stone from hand of ,fate should be joy's beaker's share4 ,he is a man indeed whose heart is as a mirror clear2 ,man art thou8 why then doth thy breast the tiger's fierceness bear8 ,in understanding's eye how long shall heedless slumber bide8 ,will not war's ,lion-,monarch's fate suffice to make thee ware8 ,he1 ,prince of ,fortune's ,cavaliers6 he to whose charger bold1 ,whene'er he caracoled or pranced1 cramped was earth's tourney square6 ,he1 to the luster of whose sword the ,magyar bowed his head6 ,he1 the dread gleaming of whose brand the ,frank can well declare6 ,like tender rose-leaf1 gently laid he in the dust his face1 ,and ,earth1 the ,treasurer1 him placed like jewel in his case4 ,in truth1 he was the radiance of rank high and glory great1 ,a ,shah1 ,iskender-diademed1 of ,dara's armied state2 ,before the dust beneath his feet the ,sphere bent low its head2 ,earth's shrine of adoration was his royal pavilion's gate4 ,the smallest of his gifts the meanest beggar made a prince2 ,exceeding bounteous1 exceeding kind a ,potentate6 ,the court of glory of his kingly majesty most high ,was aye the center where would hopes of sage and poet wait4 ,although he yielded to ,eternal ,destiny's command1 ,a ,king was he in might as ,doom and puissant as ,fate6 ,weary and worn by this sad1 changeful ,sphere1 deem not thou him3 ,near ,god to be1 did he his rank and glory abdicate4 ,what wonder if our eyes no more life and the world behold6 ,his beauty fair1 as sun and moon1 did earth irradiate6 ,if folk upon the bright sun look1 with tears are filled their eyes2 ,for seeing it1 doth yon moon-face before their minds arise6 ,now let the cloud blood drop on drop weep1 and its form bend low6 ,and let the ,judas-tree anew in blossoms gore-hued blow6 ,with this sad anguish let the stars' eyes rain down bitter tears6 ,and let the smoke from hearts on fire the heavens all darkened show6 ,their azure garments let the skies change into deepest black6 ,let the whole world attire itself in robes of princely woe6 ,in breasts of fairies and of men still let the flame burn on-- ,of parting from the blest ,king ,suleiman the fiery glow6 ,his home above the highest heaven's ramparts he hath made2 ,this world was all unworthy of his majesty1 ,i trow4 ,the bird1 his soul1 hath1 huma-like1 aloft flown to the skies1 ,and naught remaineth save a few bones on the earth below4 ,the speeding ,horseman of the plain of ,time and ,space was he2 ,fortune and ,fame aye as his friends and bridle-guides did go4 ,the wayward courser1 cruel ,fate1 was wild and fierce of pace1 ,and fell to earth the ,shade of ,god the ,lord's benignant ,grace4 ,through grief for thee1 bereft of rest and tearful e'en as ,i1 ,sore weeping let the cloud of spring go wand'ring through the sky6 ,and let the wailing of the birds of dawn the whole world fill6 ,be roses torn6 and let the nightingale distressful cry6 ,their hyacinths as weeds of woe displaying1 let them weep ,down o'er their skirts their flowing tears let pour--the mountains high6 ,the odor of thy kindliness recalling1 tulip-like1 ,within the ,tartar musk-deer's heart let fire of anguish lie6 ,through yearning for thee let the rose its ear lay on the path1 ,and1 narcisse-like1 till the last day the watchman's calling ply6 ,although the pearl-diffusing eye to oceans turned the world1 ,ne'er into being should there come a pearl with thee to vie6 ,o heart6 this hour 'tis thou that sympathizer art with me2 ,come1 let us like the flute bewail1 and moan1 and plaintive sigh6 ,the notes of mourning and of dole aloud let us rehearse2 ,and let all those who grieve be moved by this our seven-fold verse4 ,will earth's ,king ne'er awake from sleep8--broke hath the dawn of day3 ,will ne'er he move forth from his tent1 adorned as heaven's display8 ,long have our eyes dwelt on the road1 and yet no news hath come ,from yonder land1 the threshold of his majesty's array3 ,the color of his cheek hath paled1 dry-lipped he lieth there1 ,e'en like that rose which from the vase of flowers hath fall'n away4 ,goes now the ,khusrev of the skies behind the cloudy veil1 ,for shame1 remembering thy love and kindness1 one would say4 ,my prayer is ever1 ,may the babes1 his tears1 go 'neath the sod1 ,or old or young be he who weeps not thee in sad dismay4 ,with flame of parting from thee let the sun burn and consume2 ,and o'er the wastes through grief let darkness of the clouds hold sway4 ,thy talents and thy feats let it recall and weep in blood1 ,yea1 let thy saber from its sheath plunge in the darksome clay4 ,its collar1 through its grief and anguish1 let the reed-pen tear6 ,and let the earth its vestment rend through sorrow and despair6 ,thy saber made the foe the anguish dire of wounds to drain2 ,their tongues are silenced1 none who dares to gainsay doth remain4 ,the youthful cypress1 head-exalted1 looked upon thy lance1 ,and ne'er its lissom twigs their haughty airs displayed again4 ,where'er thy stately charger placed his hoof1 from far and near ,flocked nobles1 all upon thy path their lives to offer fain4 ,in desert of mortality the bird1 desire1 rests ne'er2 ,thy sword in cause of ,god did lives as sacrifice ordain4 ,as sweeps a scimitar1 across earth's face on every side1 ,of iron-girded heroes of the world thou threw'st a chain4 ,thou took'st a thousand idol temples1 turndst all to mosques2 ,where jangled bells thou mad'st be sung the ,call to ,prayers' strain4 ,at length is struck the signal drum1 and thou hast journeyed hence2 ,lo6 thy first resting-place is ,eden's flowery1 verdant plain4 ,praise is to ,god6 for he in the ,two ,worlds hath blessed thee1 ,and caused thy glorious name1 ,hero and ,martyr both to be4 ,baqi1 the beauty of the ,king1 the heart's delight1 behold6 ,the mirror of the work of ,god1 the ,lord of ,eight1 behold6 ,the dear old man hath passed away from th' ,egypt sad1 the world2 ,the youthful ,prince1 alert and fair as ,joseph bright1 behold6 ,the ,sun hath risen1 and the ,dawning gray hath touched its bourne2 ,the lovely face of yon ,khusrev1 whose soul is light1 behold6 ,this chase now to the grave hath sent the ,behram of the ,age2 ,go1 at his threshold serve1 ,king ,erdeshir aright1 behold6 ,the blast of ,fate to all the winds hath blown ,suleiman's throne2 ,sultan ,selim ,khan on ,iskender's couch of might1 behold6 ,the ,tiger of the mount of war to rest in sleep hath gone2 ,the ,lion who doth now keep watch on glory's height1 behold6 ,the ,peacock fair of ,eden's mead hath soared to ,heaven's parterre2 ,the luster of the huma of high1 happy flight1 behold6 ,eternal may the glory of the heaven-high ,khusrev dwell6 ,blessings be on the ,monarch's soul and spirit--and farewell6 ,,turkish ,,literature ,,the ,,mirror ,,of ,,countries ,,or ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,,sidi ,,ali ,,reis ,we roam the waters far and wide1 ,and bring confusion to our enemies2 ,revenge and hatred is our motto4 ,,turkish ,,sea ,,song ,,of ,,sidi4 ,,the ,,mirror ,,of ,,countries 7,,introduction ,,by ,,professor ,,arminius ,,vambery7 ,the book of the ,turkish ,admiral ,sidi ,ali ,reis1 entitled ,mirat ul ,memalik 7the ,mirror of ,countries71 is in many ways interesting4 ,in the first place1 on account of the personality of the author1 in whom we see a man of many varied accomplishments2 a genuine type of the ,islamitic culture of his time1 and a representative of that class of official and military dignitaries to whose influence it is chiefly due that the ,ottoman ,empire1 extending over three continents1 attained to that eminent height of culture which it occupied during the reign of ,suleiman the ,great4 ,sidi ,ali is the descendant of an illustrious family connected with the arsenal at ,galata1 in whom love for the sea seems to have been hereditary1 and hence1 as the ,turkish publisher points out in his preface1 ,sidi ,ali1 being thoroughly acquainted with the nautical science of his day1 excels as author on maritime subjects4 ,as a man of general culture1 he was in harmony with the prevailing notions of his time1 as mathematician1 astronomer1 and geographer2 and also as poet1 theologian1 and in all branches of general literature2 sometimes wielding his pen in writing lyrical or occasional verses1 at other times entering into keen controversial disputes upon certain ,koran theses or burning schismatic questions4 ,besides all this he was a warrior1 proving himself as undaunted in fighting the elements as in close combat with the ,portuguese1 who in point of accoutrement had far the advantage over him4 ,but what stands out above all these accomplishments is his glowing patriotism and his unwavering faith in the power and the greatness of the ,ottoman ,empire4 ,he boasts that he never ceases to hope to see ,gujarat and ,ormuz joined to the ,ottoman realm2 his one desire is to see his ,padishah ruler of the world1 and wherever he goes and whatever he sees1 ,rum 7,turkey7 always remains in his eyes the most beautiful1 the richest1 and the most cultured land of the whole world4 ,the ,turkish ,admiral has1 moreover1 a singularly happy way of expressing himself on this subject of his preference for his own ,padishah and his native land2 and this required no small amount of courage and tact where he had to face proud ,humayun or ,thamasp1 no less conceited than the former4 ,with regard to the things which he saw and heard in non-,mussulman circles and districts in ,india1 his accounts are poor compared with the descriptions of ,ibn ,batuta and other ,moslem travelers4 ,sidi ,ali has had hardly any intercourse with ,hindus1 and his route lay almost entirely through districts where the ruling caste1 with whom he principally had to deal1 were adherents to the ,mohammedan faith4 ,it does appear somewhat strange that he had such unbounded reverence for the ,sultan of ,turkey1 and upheld him as the legitimate ,caliph1 although the caliphate had only fallen into the hands of the ,ottoman rulers a few years previously with the overthrow of ,tuman ,bey by ,selim ,,ii2 and this seems the more strange1 as ,asia is so tenaciously conservative that even to this day the ,turkish claim to the caliphate is a disputed point4 ,the authoritative and executive power of ,turkey1 formerly the terror of the ,christian world1 could not fail to exercise its influence upon the ,moslem lands of ,asia and their unstable governments1 torn and harassed as they were by internal strife and petty wars1 while the sultans of ,turkey basked1 not only in the glory of spiritual preferment1 but also in that of temporal superiority4 ,the picture which our author draws of the government of ,india and the ,east is certainly a very sad one4 ,civil wars and mutinies against the rulers of the land are every-day occurrences2 the roads swarm with highwaymen1 and even during the reign of the much-extolled ,humayun1 all intercourse with other lands was fraught with every imaginable kind of danger4 ,their rulers all suffer from a peculiar form of conceit1 like the ruler of ,bokhara1 who asked me1 pointing to a ragged1 motley crowd of ruffians1 whether the army of the ,sultan of ,turkey were not exactly like this4 ,humayun1 ,thamasp1 and even ,borak ,khan of ,bokhara1 all delighted in drawing parallels between themselves and ,sultan ,suleiman4 ,one thing1 however1 in the account of the ,turkish ,admiral is certainly surprising1 namely the few facts by which he illustrates the ,sultan's policy in ,moslem ,asia4 ,we have always been under the impression that the ,turks1 during the era of their supreme power and universal sway1 directed their attention more toward the ,christian lands of the ,west1 than toward the ,moslem lands of the ,east1 and that as a matter of fact their campaigns were nothing short of marauding raids1 and empty conquests1 while they might have utilized the many means at their disposal and the high prestige in which they stood toward the consolidation of their power in ,asia1 which would have been comparatively easy4 ,this reproach is neither unfounded nor unmerited1 for although the finest of the ,ottoman rulers1 ,sultan ,selim1 did direct his attention chiefly toward the ,east1 as proved by his campaigns against ,persia and ,egypt1 most of his predecessors and successors have occupied themselves solely in making war in the ,west4 ,asia1 which offered little to tempt the mercenary janissaries1 was meanwhile left pretty well to its own devices1 without any fixed form or plan of government4 ,but1 as in this narrative the threads of the policy pursued by those sultans1 one by one1 come to light1 we are struck with the fact that1 after all1 they were not quite so short-sighted as we gave them credit for1 and that now and again they have given a thought to the bringing about of a better state of things4 ,,the ,,mirror ,,of ,,countries ,,or ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,,sidi ,,ali ,,reis ,i ,when ,sultan ,suleiman had taken up his winter residence in ,aleppo1 ,i1 the author of these pages1 was appointed to the ,admiralship of the ,egyptian fleet1 and received instructions to fetch back to ,egypt the ships 7#ae galleys71 which some time ago had been sent to ,basrah on the ,persian ,gulf4 ,but1 ,man proposes1 ,god disposes4 ,i was unable to carry out my mission1 and as ,i realized the impossibility of returning by water1 ,i resolved to go back to ,turkey by the overland route1 accompanied by a few tried and faithful ,egyptian soldiers4 ,i traveled through ,gujarat1 ,hind1 ,sind1 ,balkh1 ,zabulistan1 ,bedakhshan1 ,khotlan1 ,turan1 and ,iran1 i4e41 through ,transoxania1 ,khorassan1 ,kharezm1 and ,deskti-,kiptchak2 and as ,i could not proceed any farther in that direction1 ,i went by ,meshed and the two ,iraks1 ,kazwin and ,hamadan1 on to ,bagdad4 ,our travels ended1 my companions and fellow-adventurers persuaded me to write down our experiences1 and the dangers through which we had passed1 an accurate account of which it is almost impossible to give2 also to tell of the cities and the many wonderful sights we had seen1 and of the holy shrines we had visited4 ,and so this little book sees the light2 in it ,i have tried to relate1 in simple and plain language1 the troubles and difficulties1 the suffering and the distress which beset our path1 up to the time that we reached ,constantinople4 ,considering the matter it contains this book ought to have been entitled1 ,a tale of woe1 but with a view to the scene of action ,i have called it ,mirror of ,countries1 and as such ,i commend it to the reader's kind attention4 ,,ii ,,the ,,beginning ,,of ,,the ,,story ,when the illustrious ,padishah was holding his court at ,aleppo1 in ,ramazan of the year #ifj 7#aeeb71 ,i was commanded to join the army4 ,i celebrated ,ramzam-,bairam in attendance on his ,majesty1 later on1 however1 ,i went to ,sidi-,ghazi1 made a pilgrimage in ,konia to the tomb of ,molla-i-,rumi1 and visited the shrines of the ,sultan ul-,ulema1 and ,shemsi ,tebrizi1 and of the ,sheik ,sadr-ed-din-,koniavi2 at ,kassarie ,i made a pilgrimage to the graves of the ,sheiks ,awhad-ed-din ,kirmani1 ,burham-ed-din1 ,baha-ed-din ,zade1 ,ibrahim ,akserayi1 and ,davud ,kaissari4 ,returned to ,haleb 7,aleppo71 ,i visited the graves of ,daud1 ,zakeriah1 and ,balkiah1 as also those of ,saad and ,said1 companions of the ,prophet4 ,the ,kurban-,bairam ,i spent again in attendance on the ,sultan4 ,i must here mention that ,piri ,bey1 the late ,admiral of the ,egyptian fleet1 had1 some time previous to this1 been dispatched with about #cj ships 7galleys and galleons7 from ,suez1 through the ,red ,sea1 touching ,jedda and ,yemen1 and through the straits of ,bab-i-,mandeb1 past ,aden and along the coast of ,shahar4#fj ,through fogs and foul weather his fleet became dispersed1 some ships were lost1 and with the remainder he proceeded from ,oman to ,muscat1 took the fortress and made all the inhabitants prisoners2 he also made an incursion into the islands of ,ormuz and ,barkhat1 after which he returned to ,muscat4 ,there he learned from the captive infidel captain that the ,christian 7,portuguese7 fleet was on its way1 that therefore any further delay was inadvisable1 as in case it arrived he would not be able to leave the harbor at all4 ,as a matter of fact it was already too late to save all the ships2 he therefore took only three1 and with these just managed to make his escape before the arrival of the ,portuguese4 ,one of his galleys was wrecked near ,bahrein1 so he brought only two vessels back to ,egypt4 ,as for the remainder of the fleet at ,basrah1 ,kubad ,pasha had offered the command of it to the ,chief ,officer1 but he had declined1 and returned to ,egypt by land4 ,when this became known in ,constantinople the command of the fleet had been given to ,murad ,bey1 formerly ,sanjakbey of ,catif1 then residing in ,basrah4 ,he was ordered to leave two ships1 five galleys1 and one galleon at ,basrah1 and with the rest1 i4e41 #ae galleys 7one galley had been burned in ,basrah7 and two boats1 he was to return to ,egypt4 ,murad ,bey did start as arranged1 but opposite ,ormuz he came upon the infidel 7,portuguese7 fleet1 a terrible battle followed in which ,suleiman ,reis1 ,rejeb ,reis1 and several of the men1 died a martyr's death4 ,many more were wounded and the ships terribly battered by the cannon-balls4 ,at last1 night put a stop to the fight4 ,one boat was wrecked off the ,persian coast1 part of the crew escaped1 the rest were taken prisoners by the infidels1 and the boat itself captured4 ,when all this sad news reached the capital1 toward the end of ,zilhija of the said year #ifj 7#aeeb71 the author of these pages was appointed ,admiral of the ,egyptian fleet4 ,i1 humble ,sidi ,ali bin ,husein1 also known as ,kiatibi-,rumi 7the writer of the ,west1 i4e41 of ,turkey71 most gladly accepted the post4 ,i had always been very fond of the sea1 had taken part in the expedition against ,rhodes under the ,sultan 7,suleiman71 and had since had a share in almost all engagements1 both by land and by sea4 ,i had fought under ,khaireddin ,pasha1 ,sinan ,pasha1 and other captains1 and had cruised about on the ,western 7,mediterranean7 sea1 so that ,i knew every nook and corner of it4 ,i had written several books on astronomy1 nautical science1 and other matters bearing upon navigation4 ,my father and grandfather1 since the conquest of ,constantinople1 had had charge of the arsenal#fa at ,galata2 they had both been eminent in their profession1 and their skill had come down to me as an heirloom4 ,the post now entrusted to me was much to my taste1 and ,i started from ,aleppo for ,basrah1 on the first of ,moharram of the year #ifa 7#g ,dec4 #aeec74 ,i crossed the ,euphrates at ,biredjik and when in ,reka 7i4e41 ,orfah71 ,i undertook a pilgrimage to the tomb of ,abraham1 having visited on the way between ,nisebin and ,mossul the holy graves of the prophets ,yunis and ,djerdjis and of the sheiks ,mohammed ,garabili1 ,feth ,mosuli1 and ,kazib-elban-,mosuli4 ,on the way to ,bagdad ,i made a little detour from ,tekrit to ,samira1 and visited the graves of ,iman ,ali-el-,hadi and ,iman ,haman ,askeri1 after which ,i came past the towns of ,ashik#fb and ,maashuk1 and through ,harbi1 past the castle of ,semke1 on to ,bagdad4 ,we crossed the ,tigris near ,djisr and1 after visiting the graves of the saints there1 ,i continued my journey past the fortress of ,teir1 to ,bire1 and crossing the ,euphrates near the little town of ,masib1 ,i reached ,kerbela 7,azwie71 where ,i made a pilgrimage to the graves of the martyrs ,hasan and ,husein4 ,turning into the steppe near ,shefata1 ,i reached ,nedjef 7,haira7 on the second day1 and visited the graves of ,adam1 ,noah1 ,shimun1 and ,ali1 and from there proceeded to ,kufa1 where ,i saw the mosque with the pulpit under which the prophets of the house of ,ali are buried1 and the tombs of ,kamber and ,duldul4 ,arrived at the fortress of ,hasinia1 ,i visited the grave of the prophet ,zilkefl1 the son of ,aaron1 and in ,hilla ,i made pilgrimages to the graves of ,iman ,mohammed ,mehdi and ,iman ,akil1 brother of ,ali1 and also visited there the mosque of ,shem4 ,again crossing the ,euphrates 7this time by a bridge71 ,i resumed my journey to ,bagdad and went from there by ship to ,basrah4 ,on the way we touched ,medain1 saw the grave of ,selmas ,faris1 admired ,tak ,kesri and the castle of ,shah ,zenan1 and went past ,imare ,bugazi1 on the road of ,vasit to ,zekya1 past the strongholds of ,adjul and ,misra to ,sadi-es ,sueiba and on to ,basrah1 where ,i arrived toward the end of ,safar of the said year 7beginning of ,february1 #aeed74 ,,iii ,,about ,,what ,,happened ,,in ,,basrah ,on the day after my arrival ,i had an interview with ,mustafa ,pasha1 who1 after seeing my credentials1 made over to me the #ae galleys which were needing a great deal of repair4 ,as far as could be1 they were put in order1 calked and provided with guns1 which1 however1 were not to be had in sufficient quantity either from the stores there or from ,ormuz4 ,a water-supply had also to be arranged for1 and as it was yet five months before the time of the monsoon1#fc ,i had plenty of leisure to visit the mosque of ,ali and the graves of ,hasan ,basri1 ,talha1 ,zobeir1 ,uns-bin-,malik1 ,abdurrahman-bin-,anf1 and several martyrs and companions of the ,prophet4 ,one night ,i dreamed that ,i lost my sword1 and as ,i remembered that a similar thing had happened to ,sheik ,muhieddin and had resulted in a defeat1 ,i became greatly alarmed1 and1 just as ,i was about to pray to the ,almighty for the victory of the ,islam arms1 ,i awoke4 ,i kept this dream a secret1 but it troubled me for a long time1 and when later on ,mustafa ,pasha sent a detachment of soldiers to take the island of ,huweiza 7in which expedition ,i took part with five of my galleys71 and the undertaking resulted in our losing about a hundred men all through the fickleness of the ,egyptian troops1 ,i fully believed this to be the fulfilment of my dream4 ,but alas6 there was more to follow--for3 ,what is decreed must come to pass1 ,no matter1 whether you are joyful or anxious4 ,when at last the time of the monsoon came1 the ,pasha sent a trusty sailor with a frigate to ,ormuz1 to explore the neighborhood4 ,after cruising about for a month he returned with the news that1 except for four boats1 there was no sign of any ships of the infidels in those waters4 ,the troops therefore embarked and we started for ,egypt4 ,,iv ,,what ,,took ,,place ,,in ,,the ,,sea ,,of ,,ormuz ,on the first of ,shawal we left the harbor of ,basrah1 accompanied1 as far as ,ormuz1 by the frigate of ,sherifi ,pasha4 ,we visited on the way from ,mehzari the grave of ,khidr1 and proceeding along the coast of ,duspul 7,dizful71 and ,shushter in ,charik1 ,i made pilgrimages to the graves of ,imam ,mohammed1 ,hanifi1 and other saints4 ,from the harbor in the province of ,shiraz we visited ,rishehr 7,bushir7 and after reconnoitering the coasts and unable to get any clue as to the whereabouts of the enemy by means of the ,tshekleva1#fd ,i proceeded to ,katif1 situated near ,lahsa#fe and ,hadjar on the ,arabian coast4 ,unable to learn anything there1 ,i went on to ,bahrein1 where ,i interviewed the commander of the place1 ,reis ,murad4 ,but neither could he give me any information about the fleet of the infidels4 ,there is a curious custom at ,bahrein4 ,the sailors1 provided with a leather sack1 dive down into the sea and bring the fresh water from the bottom for ,reis ,murad's use4 ,this water is particularly pleasant and cold in the spring time1 and ,reis ,murad gave me some4 ,god's power is boundless6 ,this custom is the origin of the proverb3 ,maradj ul bahreia jaltakian1 and hence also the name ,bahrein4 ,next we came to ,kis1 i4e41 old ,ormuz1 and ,barhata1 and several other small islands in the ,green ,sea1 i4e41 the waters of ,ormuz1 but nowhere could we get any news of the fleet4 ,so we dismissed the vessel1 which ,mustafa ,pasha had sent as an escort1 with the message that ,ormuz was safely passed4 ,we proceeded by the coasts of ,djilgar and ,djadi1 past the towns of ,keimzar or ,leime1 and forty days after our departure1 i4e41 on the tenth of ,ramazan1 in the forenoon1 we suddenly saw coming toward us the ,christian fleet1 consisting of four large ships1 three galleons1 six ,portuguese guard ships1 and twelve galleys 7,kalita71 #be vessels in all4 ,i immediately ordered the canopy to be taken down1 the anchor weighed1 the guns put in readiness1 and then1 trusting to the help of the ,almighty1 we fastened the filandra#ff to the mainmast1 the flags were unfurled1 and1 full of courage and calling upon ,allah1 we commenced to fight4 ,the volley from the guns and cannon was tremendous1 and with ,god's help we sank and utterly destroyed one of the enemy's galleons4 ,never before within the annals of history has such a battle been fought1 and words fail me to describe it4 ,the battle continued till sunset1 and only then the ,admiral of the infidel fleet began to show some signs of fear4 ,he ordered the signal-gun to fire a retreat1 and the fleet turned in the direction of ,ormuz4 ,with the help of ,allah1 and under the lucky star of the ,padishah1 the enemies of ,islam had been defeated4 ,night came at last2 we were becalmed for awhile1 then the wind rose1 the sails were set and as the shore was near 444 until daybreak4 ,the next day we continued our previous course4 ,on the day after we passed ,khorfakan1#fg where we took in water1 and soon after reached ,oman1 or rather ,sohar4#fh ,thus we cruised about for nearly #ag days4 ,when on the sixth of ,ramazan1 i4e41 the day of ,kadr-,ghedjesi1 a night in the month of ,ramazan1 we arrived in the vicinity of ,maskat and ,kalhat1#fi we saw in the morning1 issuing from the harbor of ,maskat1 #ab large boats and #bb gurabs1 #cd vessels in all1 commanded by ,captain ,kuya1#gj the son of the ,governor4 ,they carried a large number of troops4 ,the boats and galleons obscured the horizon with their mizzen sails 7,magistra7#ga and ,peneta 7small sails7 all set2 the guard-ships spread their round sails 7,chember-yelken71 and1 gay with hunting1 they advanced toward us4 ,full of confidence in ,god's protection we awaited them4 ,their boats attacked our galleys2 the battle raged1 cannon and guns1 arrows and swords made terrible slaughter on both sides4 ,the ,badjoalushka penetrated the boats and the ,shaikas#gb and tore large holes in their hulls1 while our galleys were riddled through by the javelins 7,darda7#gc thrown down upon us from the enemy's turrets1 which gave them the appearance of bristling porcupines2 and they showered down upon us4444 ,the stones which they threw at us created quite a whirlpool as they fell into the sea4 ,one of our galleys was set on fire by a bomb1 but strange to say the boat from which it issued shared the like fate4 ,god is merciful6 ,five of our galleys and as many of the enemy's boats were sunk and utterly wrecked1 one of theirs went to the bottom with all sails set4 ,in a word1 there was great loss on both sides2 our rowers were now insufficient in number to manage the oars1 while running against the current1 and to fire the cannon4 ,we were compelled to drop anchor 7at the stern7 and to continue to fight as best we might4 ,the boats had also to be abandoned4 ,alemshah ,reis1 ,kara ,mustafa1 and ,kalfat ,memi1 captains of some of the foundered ships1 and ,derzi ,mustafa ,bey1 the ,serdar of the volunteers1 with the remainder of the ,egyptian soldiers and #bjj carpenters1 had landed on the ,arabian shore1 and as the rowers were ,arabs they had been hospitably treated by the ,arabs of ,nedjd4 ,the ships 7gurabs7 of the infidel fleet had likewise taken on board the crews of their sunken vessels1 and as there were ,arabs amongst them1 they also had found shelter on the ,arabian coast4 ,god is our witness4 ,even in the war between ,khaiveddin ,pasha and ,andreas ,doria no such naval action as this has ever taken place4 ,when night came1 and we were approaching the bay of ,ormuz1 the wind began to rise4 ,the boats had already cast two ,lenguvurta1 i4e41 large anchors1#gd the ,lushtas were tightly secured1 and1 towing the conquered gurabs along1 we neared the shore while the galleys1 dragging their anchors1 followed4 ,however1 we were not allowed to touch the shore1 and had to set sail again4 ,during that night we drifted away from the ,arabian coast into the open sea1 and finally reached the coasts of ,djash1#ge in the province of ,kerman4 ,this is a long coast1 but we could find no harbor1 and we roamed about for two days before we came to ,kichi ,mekran4#gf ,as the evening was far advanced we could not land immediately1 but had to spend another night at sea4 ,in the morning a dry wind carried off many of the crew1 and at last1 after unheard-of troubles and difficulties1 we approached the harbor of ,sheba4#gg ,here we came upon a ,notak1 i4e41 a brigantine 7pirate-ship71 laden with spoils1 and when the watchman sighted us they hailed us4 ,we told them that we were ,mussulmans1 whereupon their captain came on board our vessel2 he kindly supplied us with water1 for we had not a drop left1 and thus our exhausted soldiers were invigorated4 ,this was on ,bairam day1 and for us1 as we had now got water1 a double feast-day4 ,escorted by the said captain we entered the harbor of ,guador4#gh ,the people there were ,beluchistanis and their chief was ,malik ,djelaleddin1 the son of ,malik ,dinar4 ,the ,governor of ,guador came on board our ship and assured us of his unalterable devotion to our glorious ,padishah4 ,he promised that henceforth1 if at any time our fleet should come to ,ormuz1 he would undertake to send #ej or #fj boats to supply us with provisions1 and in every possible way to be of service to us4 ,we wrote a letter to the native ,prince ,djelaleddin to ask for a pilot1 upon which a first-class pilot was sent us1 with the assurance that he was thoroughly trustworthy and entirely devoted to the interests of our ,padishah4 ,v ,,what ,,we ,,suffered ,,in ,,the ,,indian ,,ocean ,god is merciful6 ,with a favorable wind we left the port of ,guador and again steered for ,yemen4 ,we had been at sea for several days1 and had arrived nearly opposite to ,zofar#gi and ,shar1 when suddenly from the west arose a great storm known as fil ,tofani4#hj ,we were driven back1 but were unable to set the sails1 not even the trinquetla 7stormsail74 ,the tempest raged with increasing fury4 ,as compared to these awful tempests the foul weather in the western seas is mere child's play1 and their towering billows are as drops of water compared to those of the ,indian sea4 ,night and day were both alike1 and because of the frailty of our craft all ballast had to be thrown overboard4 ,in this frightful predicament our only consolation was our unwavering trust in the power of the ,almighty4 ,for ten days the storm raged continuously and the rain came down in torrents4 ,we never once saw the blue sky4 ,i did all ,i could to encourage and cheer my companions1 and advised them above all things to be brave1 and never to doubt but that all would end well4 ,a welcome diversion occurred in the appearance of a fish about the size of two galley lengths1 or more perhaps1 which the pilot declared to be a good omen4 ,the tide being very strong here and the ebb slow1 we had an opportunity of seeing many sea-monsters in the neighborhood of the bay of ,djugd1 sea-horses1 large sea-serpents1 turtles in great quantities1 and eels4 ,the color of the water suddenly changed to pure white1 and at sight of it the pilot broke forth into loud lamentations2 he declared we were approaching whirlpools and eddies4 ,these are no myth here2 it is generally believed that they are only found on the coasts of ,abyssinia and in the neighborhood of ,sind in the bay of ,djugd1 and hardly ever a ship has been known to escape their fury4 ,so1 at least1 we are told in nautical books4 ,we took frequent soundings1 and when we struck a depth of five ,kuladj 7arm-lengths7 the mizzensails 7,orta ,yelken7 were set1 the bowspreat#ha 444 and 444 heeling over to the left side1 and flying the commander's flag1 we drifted about all night and all day until at last1 in ,god's mercy1 the water rose1 the storm somewhat abated1 and the ship veered right round4 ,the next morning we slackened speed and drew in the sails4 ,a stalwart cabin boy 7or sailor7 was tied to the ,djondu1 whereby the post at the foot of the mizzenmast was weighted down1 and the sailrope slightly raised4 ,taking a survey of our surroundings we caught sight of an idol-temple on the coast of ,djamber4 ,the sails were drawn in a little more2 we passed ,formyan and ,menglir1#hb and directing our course toward ,somenat1#hc we passed by that place also4 ,finally we came to ,div1#hd but for fear of the unbelievers which dwell there we further drew in our sails and continued on our course with serderma4 ,meanwhile1 the wind had risen again1 and as the men had no control over the rudder1 large handles had to be affixed with long double ropes fastened to them4 ,each rope was taken hold of by four men1 and so with great exertion they managed to control the rudder4 ,no one could keep on his feet on deck1 so of course it was impossible to walk across4 ,the noise of the 444 and the 444 was deafening2 we could not hear our own voices4 ,the only means of communication with the sailors was by inarticulate words1 and neither captain nor boatswain could for a single instant leave his post4 ,the ammunition was secured in the storeroom1 and after cutting the 444 from the 444 we continued our way4 ,it was truly a terrible day1 but at last we reached ,gujarat in ,india1 which part of it1 however1 we knew not1 when the pilot suddenly exclaimed3 ,on your guard6 a whirlpool in front6 ,quickly the anchors were lowered1 but the ship was dragged down with great force and nearly submerged4 ,the rowers had left their seats1 the panic-stricken crew threw off their clothes1 and1 clinging some to casks and some to jacks1 had taken leave of one another4 ,i also stripped entirely1 gave my slaves their liberty1 and vowed to give #ajj florins to the poor of ,mecca4 ,presently one of the anchors broke from its crook and another at the podjuz2 two more were lost1 the ship gave a terrible jerk--and in another instant we were clear of the breakers4 ,the pilot declared that had we been wrecked off ,fisht-,kidsur1 a place between ,diu and ,daman2#he nothing could have saved us4 ,once more the sails were set1 and we decided to make for the infidel coast2 but after duly taking note of tide and current1 and having made a careful study of the chart1 ,i came to the conclusion that we could not be very far off the mainland4 ,i consulted the horoscope in the ,koran1 and this also counseled patience4 ,so we commenced to examine the hold of the ship and found that the storeroom was submerged1 in some places up to the walls1 in some places higher still4 ,we had shipped much water1 and all hands set to work at once to bale it out4 ,in one or two places the bottom had to be ripped up to find the outlet so as to reduce the water4 ,toward afternoon the weather had cleared a little1 and we found ourselves about two miles off the port of ,daman1 in ,gujarat in ,india4 ,the other ships had already arrived1 but some of the galleys were waterlogged not far from the shore1 and they had thrown overboard oars1 boats1 and casks1 all of which wreckage eventually was borne ashore by the rapidly rising tide4 ,we were obliged to lie to for another five days and five nights1 exposed to a strong spring-tide1 accompanied by floods of rain2 for we were now in the ,badzad1#hf or rainy season of ,india1 and there was nothing for it but to submit to our fate4 ,during all this time we never once saw the sun by day1 nor the stars by night2 we could neither use our clock nor our compass1 and all on board anticipated the worst4 ,it seems a miracle that of the three ships lying there1 thrown on their sides1 the whole crew eventually got safely to land4 ,,vi ,,what ,,happened ,,in ,,the ,,province ,,of ,,gujarat ,after five days1 in ,god's mercy1 the wind somewhat abated4 ,all that was saved of the wreckage1 cannon and other armament we left with the ,governor of ,daman1 ,malik ,esed1 who1 since the time of ,sultan ,ahmed1 the ruler of ,gujarat1 had held office there4 ,in the harbor were some ,djonk's#hg i4e41 monsoon ships belonging to ,samiri1 the ruler of ,calcutta4 ,the captains came on board our ship and assured us of the devotion of their chief to the ,padishah4 ,they brought us a letter which said that ,samiri was waging war day and night against the ,portuguese infidels1 and that he was expecting the arrival of an ,imperial fleet from ,egypt under the guidance of the pilot ,ali1 which was to put the ,portuguese to flight4 ,malik ,esed1 the ,governor1 gave me to understand that the fleet of the infidels was on its way1 that it behooved us to avoid it and1 if possible1 to reach the fortress of ,surat4 ,this news frightened the crew4 ,some of them immediately took service under ,melik ,esed1 and some went ashore in the boats and proceeded by land to ,surat4 ,i remained on board with a few faithful of the men1 and after procuring a ,dindjuy1#hh or pilot-boat1 for each vessel1 we set out for the harbor of ,surat4 ,after great difficulties we reached the open4 ,presently the ,kutwal1#hi ,aga ,hamsa1 hailed us with a letter from ,umad-el-mulk1 the ,grand ,vizier of ,sultan ,ahmed1 who informed us that there were large numbers of infidels about1 and that ,daman being a free port we had better be careful4 ,he would allow us to come to ,surat if we liked1 as we were now in most perilous waters4 ,this was exactly what we wanted to do1 so we struggled on for five days longer1 sailing at the flow1 riding at anchor at the ebb of the tide1 until at last we reached the harbor of ,surat1 fully three months after our departure from ,basrah4 ,great was the joy of the ,mohammedans at ,surat when they saw us come2 they hailed us as their deliverers 7,khidr71 and said3 ,you have come to ,gujarat in troublous times2 never since the days of ,noah has there been a flood like unto this last1 but neither is it within the memory of man that a ship from ,rum 7,turkey7 has landed on these coasts4 ,we fervently hoped that ,god in his mercy would soon send an ,ottoman fleet to ,gujarat1 to save this land for the ,ottoman ,empire and to deliver us from the ,indian unbelievers4 ,the cause of the disturbances was this3 ,after the death of ,sultan ,bahadur1 the ruler of ,gujarat1 one of his relatives1 a youth of twelve years old1 had succeeded to the throne4 ,the army had acknowledged him1 but one of the nobles1 ,nasir-ul-,mulk1 had refused to take the oath of allegiance1 and had raised the banner of sovereignty on his own behalf4#ij ,he had many adherents1 took the stronghold of ,burudj1#ia left a sufficient garrison to keep it1 proceeded himself to another town1 and then called in the aid of the ,governor of the infidels 7,portuguese7 at ,goa1 promising that in return for his services the harbors on the coast of ,gujarat1 viz41 ,daman1 ,surat1 ,burudj1 ,ketbaye1 ,sumenat1 ,minglur1 and ,furmeyan1 should be thrown open to the ,portuguese1 while he would retire to the land of the interior4 ,sultan ,ahmed had immediately collected an army to go to ,burudj1 and when informed of our arrival he took from our troops #bjj gunners and other men1 and advanced toward ,burudj4 ,on the third day we who were left behind were attacked by the infidel captains of ,goa1 ,diu1 ,shiyul1 ,besai1 and the ,provador2#ib five in all1 commanding #g large galleons and #hj gurabs4 ,we went ashore1 pitched our tents1 and threw up entrenchments2 for two whole months we were busy preparing for battle4 ,but the tyrant ,nasir-ul-,mulk1 who had joined with the infidels1 had hired murderers to kill me2 they were1 however1 discovered by the guard and fled4 ,again another time he tried to poison my food1 but1 being warned by the ,kutwal of ,surat1 this attempt to take my life also failed4 ,meanwhile ,sultan ,ahmed had taken the stronghold of ,burudj and sent two of his officers1 ,khudavend and ,djihanghir1 with elephants and troops to ,surat1 while he proceeded to ,ahmedabad1 where a youth1 called ,ahmed1 a relation of ,sultan ,ahmed1 had in the meantime raised a revolt4 ,a battle followed1 in which the usurper was wounded1 ,hasan ,khan1 one of his adherents1 killed1 and his army put to flight4 ,sultan ,ahmed reascended his throne1 and1 as ,nasir-ul-,mulk died of vexation over his misfortunes1 peace was once more restored in ,gujarat4 ,when the infidels heard of this they sent an envoy to ,khudavend ,khan to say that they did not mind so much about ,surat1 but that their hostility was chiefly directed toward the ,admiral of ,egypt1 viz41 my humble person4 ,they demanded that ,i should be given up to them1 but were refused2 and my soldiers would have killed the envoy1 but ,i reminded them that we were on foreign soil and must commit no rash deeds4 ,it so happened that a runaway infidel gunner from one of my ships had enlisted on the ship of the envoy1 and1 knowing a good deal about our affairs1 he had undertaken to prevent our departure after the holiday of ,kurban4 ,no sooner had this come to the knowledge of my men1 than they attacked the envoy's ship and captured the infidel1 who was executed on the spot1 greatly to the alarm of the envoy4 ,there is in ,gujarat a tree of the palm tribe1 called tari agadji 7millet-tree74 ,from its branches cups are suspended1 and when the cut end of a branch is placed into one of these vessels a sweet liquid1 something of the nature of arrack1 flows out in a continuous stream2 and this fluid1 by exposure to the heat of the sun1 presently changes into a most wonderful wine4 ,therefore at the foot of all such trees drinking-booths have been placed1 which are a great attraction to the soldiers4 ,some of my men1 having indulged in the forbidden drink1 determined to kill their ,serdar4 ,one of these profligates1 ,yagmur by name1 one evening after sunset surprised ,hussain ,aga1 the ,serdar of the ,circassians4 ,a few comrades rushed to his assistance1 there was some fighting and two young men were wounded1 and one1 ,hadji ,memi1 was killed4 ,then the soldiers pressed round1 and implored me to punish the evil-doers1 but ,i again reminded them that we were on foreign soil1 in the land of a foreign ,padishah1 and that our laws had no force here4 ,what1 they cried1 the laws of our ,padishah hold good everywhere4 ,you are our ,admiral1 judge according to our law1 and we will be the executioners6 ,thereupon ,i pronounced judgment according to the law of the ,koran1 which says3 ,eye for eye1 life for life1 nose for nose1 ear for ear1 etc4 ,the man was executed1 and peace restored4 ,when the nobles of the ,begs heard of the occurrence they took the lesson to heart1 and the envoy immediately hired a conveyance and went to ,sultan ,ahmed4 ,but my troops were getting dissatisfied4 ,in ,surat1 ,khudavend ,khan had been paying them from #ej to #fj paras per day1 and in ,burudj1 ,adil ,khan had done the same4 ,at last their pent-up feelings burst forth and they argued as follows3 ,it is now nearly two years since we have received any pay1 our goods are lost1 and the ships dismantled2 the hulks are old1 and our return to ,egypt is practically made impossible4 ,the end was that the greater part of them took service in ,gujarat4 ,the deserted ships1 with all their tools and implements1 were given over to ,khudavend ,khan1 under condition that he should immediately remit to the ,sublime ,porte the price agreed upon for the sale4 ,after receiving a confirmatory note to this effect1 both from ,khudavend ,khan and ,adil ,khan1 ,i started on my journey to ,ahmedabad#ic in the beginning of ,muharram of the year #ifb 7end of ,november #aeeb71 accompanied by ,mustafa ,aga1 the ,ketkhuda 7chief officer7 of the ,egyptian ,janissaries1 and ,ali ,aga1 the captain of the gunners 7both of which had remained faithful to their ,padishah71 and with about #ej men4 ,a few days took us from ,burudj to ,belodra1#id and from there we proceeded to ,champanir4#ie ,on our way we saw some very curious trees1 whose crowns reached up to the sky1 and the branches swarmed with bats of such extraordinary size that their wings on the stretch measured #dj inches across4 ,the most curious part about the trees1 however1 was that the roots hung down from the branches and1 when touching the ground1 planted themselves and produced new trees4 ,thus from one tree1 from ten to twenty new ones sprung up4 ,the name of this tree is the ,tobi tree1#if and more than a thousand people can find shelter under its shade4 ,besides these we saw several ,zokum trees4#ig ,parrots were very plentiful1 and as for the monkeys1 thousands of them made their appearance in our camp every evening4 ,they carried their young in their arms1 made the most ridiculous grimaces1 and strongly brought to our minds the stories of ,djihan ,shah1 according to whom these animals live in a community but acknowledge no head among them4 ,at nightfall they always retired to their own place4 ,after a great many vicissitudes we at last arrived in ,mahmudabad1#ih and after a journey of #ej days in ,ahmedabad the capital of ,gujarat4 ,there ,i visited the ,sultan1 his ,grand ,vizier ,imad-ul-,mulk1 and other dignitaries4 ,the ,sultan1 to whom ,i presented my credentials1 was pleased to receive me most graciously and he assured me of his devotion to our glorious ,padishah4 ,he gave me a horse1 a team of camels1#ii and money for the journey4 ,at ,cherkes1 in the vicinity of ,ahmedabad1 is the grave of ,sheik ,ahmed ,magrebi1 which ,i visited4 ,one day1 being at the house of ,imad-ul-,mulk1 ,i met the infidel envoy1 and our host addressed him in this way1 ,we have need of the ,sultan of ,turkey4 ,our ships touch the ports of his ,empire1 and if we were not free to do so1 it would be bad for us4 ,moreover1 he is the ,padishah of the ,islamitic world1 and it is not seemly that we should be expected to deliver up his ,admiral to you4 ,i became very angry at this speech and cried3 ,hold1 thou cursed tongue6 ,thou foundest me with a shattered fleet1 but ,i swear by ,god ,almighty thou shalt see ere long not only ,ormuz1 but ,goa itself1 yield before the victorious arms of the great ,padishah6#ajj ,to which the unbeliever made the following answer3 ,henceforth not so much as a bird will be able to leave the ports of ,india4 ,i replied3 ,one need not necessarily go by water1 there is a land route also4 ,he was silent after that1 and the subject was dropped4 ,a few days after this ,sultan ,ahmed offered me the command of the ,province of ,burudj1 with a very large income1 but ,i refused1 saying that ,i would not stay if he gave me the whole of the land4 ,one night in my dream ,i saw the ,khalifa ,murteza ,ali4 ,i had a piece of paper before me with ,ali's seal upon it4 ,with this seal1 the seal of ,god to help me1 away with all fear1 for in its strength all foreign waters were mine to command4 ,next morning ,i told my dream to my companions and all were glad with me4 ,i asked for permission to depart1 and the ruler granted my request out of respect for our ,padishah4 ,amongst the learned#aja of this land of ,banians#ajb there is a tribe which they call the ,bats1 whose business it is to escort merchants or travelers from one land into another1 and for a very small remuneration they guarantee their perfect safety4 ,should the ,rajputs1#ajc i4e41 the mounted troops of the land1 attack the caravan1 the ,bats point their daggers at their own breast1 and threaten to kill themselves if they should presume to do the slightest harm to the travelers entrusted to their care4 ,and out of respect for the ,bats1 the ,rajputs generally desist from their evil purpose1 and the travelers proceed on their way unmolested4 ,occasionally1 however1 the ,bats carry out their threat1 otherwise it would have no force4 ,but if such a thing does happen1 if a caravan is attacked and the suicide of the ,bats becomes necessary1 this is considered a terrible calamity1 and the superstition of the people demands that the offenders be put to death1 and not only the offenders themselves but the chief of the ,rajputs deems it necessary to kill their sons and daughters also2 in fact1 to exterminate the whole of their race4 ,the ,mohammedans of ,ahmedabad had given us two such ,bats as an escort1 and so1 about the middle of ,safar of the said year1 we started on our overland journey to ,turkey4 ,in five days we reached ,patna1#ajd traveling in carriages1 and visited the grave of ,sheik ,nizam the ,pir 7spiritual chief7 of ,patna4 ,here ,shir ,khan and his brother ,musa ,khan had collected an army1 to fight ,behluj ,khan1 the ruler of ,radanpoor4#aje ,for fear of our siding with their enemies1 the people tried to retain us1 and would not allow us to proceed on our journey until the battle should be over4 ,we showed them1 however1 that we had not come to render either party any assistance1 but that we only wanted to continue our journey in peace1 and had a pass from their ruler to that effect4 ,then at last they let us go1 and after five days we came to ,radanpoor1 where ,i was presented to ,mahmud ,khan1 but he treated me very rudely1 and insisted on forcibly detaining three of my companions before he would consent to our departure4 ,on the way we met some friendly ,rajputs2 their ,beg was of great service to us1 and gave me a letter of protection 7free pass74 ,the camels were hired1 and after dismissing the ,bats which the people of ,ahmedabad had sent with us1 we continued our journey4 ,,vii ,,what ,,befell ,,us ,,in ,,the ,,province ,,of ,,sind ,leaving on the first of ,rebiul-,evvel we came1 after a ten days' journey1 to ,parker1#ajf a town of the ,rajputs4 ,here we were surprised by the infidels1 but thanks to the letter of protection and a few presents1 we were let free2 quite anticipating further dangers1 however1 we were on our guard when next day a band of hostile ,rajputs commenced a free fight with us4 ,immediately ,i ordered all the camels to be let down on their knees so as to form a ring round us1 and then the firing began on all sides4 ,the infidels1 not prepared for this1 sent us word that they had not come to fight1 but to exact the passage money1 to which ,i made reply3 ,we are not merchants and carry nothing but medicines and ,mohurs#ajg on which we have already paid duty2 but if there be anything further to pay we are quite prepared to do so4 ,this had the desired effect2 they let us pass1 and for about ten days we wandered through deserts and sandy places1 until we reached ,wanga1#ajh the frontier town of ,sind4 ,here we hired fresh camels1 and in five days we came to ,djoona#aji and ,baghi-,feth4 ,the throne of ,sind was then occupied by ,shah ,husein ,mirza4 ,he had reigned for #dj years1 but during the last #e years he had become invalided and unable to mount his horse1 so now he only went about on board his ship in the river ,sihun4#aaj ,at that time ,isa ,terkhan1 the commander of the capital of ,sind1 called ,tata1#aaa had put to death a number of able officers belonging to ,shah ,husein1 after which he had captured the treasure1 stored in the fortress of ,nasrabad1 and divided it amongst his men1 and then proclaimed himself as ,humayun ,shah4 7,it says literally that he had this title inserted in the ,friday-prayers and ordered the ,nakara#aab to be played47 ,thereupon ,shah ,husein had nominated his adopted brother ,sultan ,mahmud as commander of the land troops1 and he himself with #djj ships had set out against the rebels4 ,hearing of my arrival he received me with great honor4 ,it was then the beginning of the month of ,rabia-al-,sani4 ,he gave me festive apparel#aac and conferred upon us the title of a ,god-sent army2#aad he offered me1 besides all this1 the governorship of ,bender-,lahuri or ,duyuli-,sindi4 ,of course ,i refused this offer1 but when ,i requested permission to continue my journey ,i was given to understand that ,i should not be allowed to do so until after the successful termination of the campaign4 ,he also wrote a letter to our glorious ,padishah1 explaining matters2 in a word he did not rest until he had quite cleared us from being mixed up in this war with ,isa ,khan4 ,the ,mohammedans pleaded in vain that our arms could bring no evil upon them1#aae for1 said they1 ,are we not all of one nation1 and are not many of our sons and brethren in the rebel army8 ,and this was perfectly true4 ,i had an interview with ,sheik ,abdul ,vahab and received his blessing2 ,i also visited the graves of the ,sheiks ,djemali and ,miri4 ,the campaign lasted a month1 earthworks were thrown up and cannon raised thereon1 but as ,tata lies on an island and their shot did not reach so far1 the fortress could not be taken4 ,nevertheless there was great loss of life on both sides4 ,at last a compromise was decided upon4 ,mir ,isa relinquished his adherence to ,humayun ,padishah1 returned to his allegiance to ,husein ,mirza1 and sent his son ,mir ,salih with presents of submission4 ,on the other hand1 ,husein ,mirza gave the remainder of the treasure1 which ,mir ,isa had divided amongst his troops1 to ,mir ,salih4 ,isa was reinstated in his former rank1 and ,mirza sent him a formal acceptance of his allegiance by the hand of the ,vizier ,molla ,yari4 ,he also sent him a ,nakara by ,tugbeghi1 the chief standard-bearer1 and released from prison the ten rebels from the tribes of ,argun and ,tarkhan1#aaf which had sided with ,mir ,isa1 from his side1 had sent back the wife of ,husein ,shah1 called ,hadji ,begum1 and in the first days of ,djemadi-ul-evvel1 ,sultan ,mahmud returned by land1 and ,shah ,husein by water1 to the city of ,bakar4 ,on the tenth day after his wife had rejoined him1 ,shah ,husein died1 and it was supposed that she had poisoned him4 ,directly after his father's death1 ,sultan ,mahmud divided the property in three parts4 ,one part was for the wife of the deceased1 and another part he sent to ,mir ,isa by a ,khodja4 ,the body was taken to ,tata2 he lent me one of his own ships1 and providing himself with horses1 camels1 and other necessaries1 returned by land to ,bakar4 ,while the body of ,mirza1 with his wife and an escort of #ej ships1 was on its way to ,tata1 the soldiers attacked the remaining vessels and plundered them4 ,the sailors took flight1 and we1 the passengers1 were compelled to take command of the ships4 ,beset on all sides by the ,djagatais 7,central ,asians71 we relinquished our firearms1 and barely escaped with our lives4 ,at last1 after struggling for ten days against the stream1 we made our way to ,nasirpur4#aag ,this town had been plundered by the ,rajah1 i4e41 the ,bey of the ,rajputs4 ,we were greeted with the news that ,mir ,isa1 with #aj1jjj valiant soldiers1 was pursuing ,sultan ,mahmud1 and that his son1 ,mir ,salih1 with #hj ships1 was close behind us4 ,this was very perplexing but ,i decided at once to turn back4 ,we prayed long together1 and then started on our return to ,tata4 ,three days later we passed ,mir ,salih in the river4 ,i went on board his ship with a few small presents1 and he asked me where we were going4 ,i said1 ,we are going to your father1 whereupon he told me to go back with him4 ,i said1 ,we have no sailors on board1 so he gave me fifteen of his crew2 and thus compelled to turn back1 we had another weary ten days to get through4 ,one day ,i chanced upon ,mir ,isa in a small town of ,sind4 ,here ,i also found the former partizans of the late ,mirza1 who were tired of fighting and desired peace4 ,isa received me with great honor1 forgave me the past1 and allowed me to remain a few days1 saying that he intended shortly to send his son ,mir ,salih to ,humayun ,padishah1 and that ,i might as well travel under his escort1 for1 he added1 ,sultan ,mahmud will never allow thee to pass ,bakar2 he is a son of ,ferrukh ,mirza and wants to become ,padishah4 ,this proposal1 however1 did not suit me1 and ,i insisted upon continuing my journey forthwith1 suggesting that he should give us back the ships lately taken from us1 and also to send a messenger in advance1 for with ,god's help he1 ,sultan ,mahmud1 would probably have to submit to the ,padishah 7,humayun71 and thus peace be restored4 ,isa agreed to this1 and gave me seven ships with their complement of sailors4 ,he wrote to the ,padishah to assure him of his unalterable loyalty1 and so we went on our way4 ,we were struck with the enormous size of the fish 7alligators7 sporting in the river1 as also with the numbers of tigers on the banks4 ,it was necessary to keep up a perpetual warfare with the people of ,semtche and ,matchi1 through whose territory our course lay1 and thus we reached ,siyawan1#aah and shortly after we came to ,bukkur by the way of ,patri#aai and ,dible4 ,here ,i fell in with ,sultan ,mahmud and his ,vizier ,molla ,yari4 ,i offered a small gift to the former1 who thereupon expressed his willingness to submit himself to ,humayun1 and also to make peace with ,mir ,isa4 ,i composed a chronogram on the death of ,husein ,mirza and presented ,sultan ,mahmud with two gazels1#abj after which ,i requested permission to continue my journey4 ,this was granted1 but as the route past ,kandahar was made unsafe by the inroads#aba of ,sultan ,bahadur1 a son of ,sultan ,haidar1 the ,ozbeg1 and as the season of the ,semum 7hot winds7 had now commenced1 the ,sultan offered to give me an escort by the way of ,lahore1 warning me to be on my guard against the ,djats1 a hostile tribe which had its abode there4 ,but whichever route ,i chose ,i should have to wait a while yet1 and as a matter of fact ,i waited for a whole month4 ,one night in my dream ,i saw my mother1 who told me that she had seen her highness ,fatima in a dream1 and had learned from her the glad news1 that ,i should soon be coming home1 safe and sound4 ,when next morning ,i told this dream to my companions they were full of good courage4 ,sultan ,mahmud1 when he heard of it1 at once consented to my departure4 ,he gave me a beautiful horse1 a team of camels1 a large and a small tent1#abb and money for the journey4 ,he also provided me with a letter of recommendation to ,humayun1 and an escort of #bej mounted camel-drivers1 from ,sind4 ,thus we departed about the middle of ,shaaban1 and reached the fortress of ,may in five days1 traveling by the way of ,sultanpoor4#abc ,as the ,djats were very troublesome1 we did not take the route of ,djenghelistan 7the forest71 but preferred to go through the steppe4 ,on the second day we came to the spring1 but found no water1 and many of my companions nearly succumbed with heat and thirst4 ,i gave them some ,teriak 7opium71 of the very best quality1 and on the second day they were recovered4 ,after this experience we deemed it advisable to leave the desert and to return to ,mav1 for the proverb says truly1 ,a stranger is an ignorant man4 ,in the steppe we saw ants as large as sparrows4 ,our escort from ,sind was afraid of the wood1 and ,i had to inspire my own people with fresh courage4 ,i placed #aj gunners in front1 #aj in the center1 and #aj in the rear of our caravan1 and thus1 trusting in ,god's protection1 we commenced the journey4 ,the people from ,sind also took courage after this1 and went with us4 ,thus1 after manifold dangers1 we came after ten days to ,utchi1#abd or ,autchi1 where ,i visited ,sheik ,ibrahim and received his blessing4 ,i also made a pilgrimage to the graves of the ,sheiks ,djemali and ,djelali4 ,in the beginning of ,ramazan we resumed our journey and came to the river ,kara1 or ,kere1#abe which we crossed by means of a raft4 ,the people of ,sind gave us permission to proceed as far as the ,machvara1#abf and this river was crossed by boats4 ,on the other side we found #ejj ,djats awaiting us1 but our firearms frightened them and they did not attack4 ,we advanced unmolested1 and reached the town of ,multan on the fifteenth of ,ramazan4 ,,viii ,,my ,,experiences ,,in ,,hindustan ,in ,multan ,i only visited the graves of the ,sheiks ,baha ,bahaeddin1 ,zekeria1 ,rukneddin1 and ,sadreddin4 ,i received a blessing from ,sheik ,mohammed ,radjva1 and1 after receiving permission to continue my journey from ,sultan ,mirmiram ,mirza ,hasan1 we proceeded toward ,lahore4 ,in ,sadkere ,i visited ,sheik ,hamid1 received his blessing1 and in the first days of the ,month ,shawwal we came to ,lahore4 ,the political state of the country was as follows3 ,after the death of ,selim ,shah a son of ,shir ,khan1 the former ,sovereign of ,hindustan1 ,iskender ,khan1 had come to the throne4 ,when the ,padishah ,humayun heard this he immediately left ,kabul and marched his army to ,india1 took ,lahore1 and fought ,iskender ,khan near ,sahrand4 ,he won the battle and took #djj elephants1 besides several cannon and #djj chariots4 ,iskender ,khan escaped to the fortress of ,mankut1 and ,humayun sent ,shah ,abul-,maali with a detachment of soldiers after him4 ,humayun himself proceeded to his residence at ,delhi and dispatched his officers to different places4 ,the ,ozbeg1 ,iskender ,khan1 he sent to ,agra1 and others to ,firuzshah ,senbel1#abg ,bayana1 and ,karwitch4 ,war raged on all sides1 and when ,i arrived at ,lahore the ,governor1 ,mirza ,shah1 would not let me continue my journey until ,i had seen the ,padishah 7,humayun74 ,after sending the latter word of my arrival1 he received orders to send me forthwith to ,delhi4 ,meanwhile a whole month had been wasted1 but finally we were sent off with an escort4 ,the river ,sultanpoor was crossed in boats and after a journey of #bj days we arrived1 toward the end of ,dulkaada1 by the route of ,firuzshah#abh in the capital of ,india1 called ,delhi4 ,as soon as ,humayun heard of our arrival he sent the ,khanikhanan#abi and other superior officers with #djj elephants and some thousand men to meet us1 and1 out of respect and regard for our glorious ,padishah1 we were accorded a brilliant reception4 ,that same day the ,khanikhanan prepared a great banquet in our honor2 and as it is the custom in ,india to give audience in the evening1 ,i was that night introduced with much pomp and ceremony into the ,imperial hall4 ,after my presentation ,i offered the ,emperor a small gift1 and a chronogram upon the conquest of ,india1 also two gazels1 all of which pleased the ,padishah greatly4 ,forthwith ,i begged for permission to continue my journey1 but this was not granted4 ,instead of that ,i was offered a ,kulur#acj and the governorship over the district of ,kharcha4 ,i refused1 and again begged to be allowed to go1 but for only answer ,i was told that ,i must at least remain for one year1 to which ,i replied3 ,by special command of my glorious ,padishah ,i went by sea to fight the miserable unbelievers4 ,caught in a terrible hurricane1 ,i was wrecked off the coast of ,india2 but it is now my plain duty to return to render an account to my ,padishah1 and it is to be hoped that ,gujarat will soon be delivered out of the hands of the ,unbelievers4 ,upon this ,humayun suggested the sending of an envoy to ,constantinople1 to save my going1 but this ,i could not agree to1 for it would give the impression that ,i had purposely arranged it so4 ,i persisted in my entreaties1 and he finally consented1 adding1 however3 ,we are now close upon the three months of continuous ,birshegal1#aca 7i4e41 the rainy season74 ,the roads are flooded#acb and impassable1 remain therefore till the weather improves4 ,meanwhile calculate solar and lunar eclipses1 their degree of latitude1 and their exact date in the calendar4 ,assist our astrologers in studying the course of the sun1 and instruct us concerning the points of the equator4 ,when all this is done1 and the weather should improve before the three months are over1 then thou shalt go hence4 ,all this was said solemnly and decisively4 ,i had no alternative1 but must submit to my fate4 ,i took no rest1 however1 but labored on night and day4 ,at last ,i had accomplished the astronomical observations1 and about the same time ,agra fell into the hands of the ,padishah4 ,i immediately wrote a chronogram for the occasion1 which found much favor4 ,one day1 during an audience1 the conversation turned upon ,sultan ,mahmud of ,bukkur1 and ,i suggested that some official contract 7,ahdnameh1 i4e41 agreement7 should be made with him1 to which ,humayun agreed4 ,the document was drawn up1 and the ,emperor dipping his fist in saffron pressed it upon the paper1 this being the ,tughra1#acc or ,imperial signature4 ,thereupon the document was sent to ,sultan ,mahmud4 ,the ,sultan was much pleased1 and both he and his ,vizier ,molla ,yari expressed their thanks for my intervention in a private letter1 which ,i showed to his ,majesty1 who had entrusted me with the transaction4 ,this incident furnished the material for a gazel1 with which the ,sovereign was so delighted that he called me a second ,mir ,ali ,shir4#acd ,i modestly declined the epithet1 saying that it would be presumption on my part to accept such praise1 that1 on the contrary1 ,i should consider myself fully rewarded to be allowed to gather up the gleanings after him4 ,whereupon the ,sovereign remarked3 ,if for one more year thou perfectest thyself in this kind of poetry thou wilt altogether supplant ,mir ,ali ,shir in the affections of the people of the ,djagatais4 ,in a word1 ,humayun loaded me with marks of his favor4 ,one day ,i was talking to ,khoshhal1 the ,imperial archer1 and the ,sovereign's special confidant2 a superb youth4 ,he used to take part in the poetical discussions1 and provided me with material for two gazels1 which soon became popular all over ,india and were in everybody's mouth4 ,the same good fortune attended my acquaintance with the ,afetabedji1#ace ,abdurrahman ,bey1 a courtier who also rejoiced in the confidence and affection of the monarch1 and was his constant companion in private life4 ,he also entered the poetical contest1 and ,i composed two gazels upon him4 ,in a word1 poetical discussions were the order of the day1 and ,i was constantly in the presence of the ,emperor4 ,one day he asked me whether ,turkey was larger than ,india1 and ,i said3 ,if by ,turkey your ,majesty means ,rum proper1 i4e41 the province of ,siwas1#acf then ,india is decidedly the larger1 but if by ,turkey you mean all the lands subject to the ruler of ,rum1 ,india is not by a tenth part as large4 ,i mean the entire ,empire1 replied ,humayun4 ,then1 ,i said1 it appears to me1 your ,majesty1 that the seven regions over which ,iskender 7i4e41 ,alexander the ,great7 had dominion1 were identical with the present ,empire of the ,padishah of ,turkey4 ,history records the life and the reign of ,iskender1 but it is not reasonable to suppose that he actually visited and personally ruled these seven regions1 for the inhabited world 7the fourth part of the present inhabited world7 is #ahj degrees longitude and from the equator about #fj degrees latitude4 ,its area1 according to astronomical calculations1 covers #a1ffh1fgj fersahhes4 ,it is therefore an utter impossibility for any man to visit and govern all these lands in person4 ,perhaps he only owned a portion of each of these regions 7,iklim71 in the same way as the ,padishah of ,turkey does4 ,but has the ruler of ,turkey possessions in all these regions8 asked ,humayun4 ,yes1 certainly1 ,i replied1 the first is ,yemen1 the second ,mecca1 the third ,egypt1 the fourth ,aleppo1 the fifth ,constantinople1 the sixth ,kaffa1 and the seventh ,ofen and ,vienna4#acg ,in each of these regions the ,padishah of ,turkey appoints his ,beglerbeg and ,kadi1 who rule and govern in his name4 ,moreover1 ,i was told in ,gujarat1 by the merchants ,khodja ,bashi and ,kara ,hasan 7,god alone knows whether their story is true71 that when the ,turkish merchants in ,china desired to insert the name of their ,sovereign in the ,bairam prayers on ,bairamday1 they brought the request before the ,khakan of ,china1 stating that their ,sovereign was ,padishah of ,mecca1 ,medina1 and the ,kibla 7,direction of the prayer71 and therefore entitled to have his name inserted in the ,bairam prayers4 ,the ,khakan1 although an unbeliever1 had insight enough to see the justice of their request1 which he granted forthwith2 he even went so far as to clothe the ,khatib#ach in a robe of honor and to make him ride on an elephant through the city4 ,ever since that time the name of the ,padishah of ,turkey has been included in the ,bairam prayers1 and to whom1 ,i ask1 has such honor ever before been vouchsafed8 ,the ,sovereign 7,humayun71 turning to his nobles1 said3 ,surely the only man worthy to bear the title of ,padishah is the ruler of ,turkey1 he alone and no one else in all the world4 ,another time we were talking about the ,khan of the ,crimea1 and ,i remarked that he also held his office under the ,padishah of ,turkey4 ,but1 said ,humayun1 if that be so1 how1 then1 has he the right of the ,khutbe8 ,it is a well-known fact1 ,i replied1 that my ,padishah alone has the power to grant the right of ,khutbe and of coinage4 ,this statement seemed to satisfy everybody and we prayed together for the welfare of my ,sovereign4 ,one day the ,emperor planned a little excursion on horseback to visit the graves of the holy ,sheiks of ,lahore1 and ,i accompanied him4 ,we visited the graves of ,shah ,kutbeddin1 the ,pir of ,delhi1 of ,sheik ,nizam ,weli1 ,sheik ,ferid ,shekr-,ghendj1 ,mir ,khosru ,dehlevi1 and ,mir ,husein ,dehlevi4 ,when the conversation turned upon the poetical works of ,mir ,khosru ,i quoted some of his best poems1 and under their influence ,i conceived a most telling distich4 ,i turned to the ,emperor1 saying1 ,it would be presumption on my part to measure my powers against those of ,mir ,khosru1#aci but he has inspired me1 and ,i would fain recite my couplet before your ,majesty4 ,let us hear it1 said ,humayun1 and ,i recited the following3 ,truly great is only he who can be content with his daily bread4 ,for happier is he than all the kings of the earth4 ,by ,god1 cried the monarch1 this is truly sublime6 ,it is not so much my object here to make mention of my poetic effusions1 but rather to show up ,humayun's appreciation of poetry4 ,on another occasion ,i called upon ,shahin ,bey1 the keeper of the ,imperial ,seal1 and asked him to use his influence to obtain permission for me to depart4 ,in order not to come empty-handed ,i brought him two gazels1 and begged him urgently to intercede for me4 ,shahin ,bey promised to do his best1 and one day he actually brought me the glad news that my petition had been granted1 but that ,i was expected to offer my request formally in verse4 ,the rainy season was now at an end2 ,i wrote to the monarch1 enclosing two gazels1 which had the desired effect1 for ,i received not only permission to leave1 but also presents and letters of safe conduct4 ,all was ready for the start4 ,humayun had given audience on ,friday evening1 when1 upon leaving his castle of pleasure1 the ,muezzin announced the ,ezan just as he was descending the staircase4 ,it was his wont1 wherever he heard the summons1 to bow the knee in holy reverence4 ,he did so now1 but unfortunately fell down several steps1 and received great injuries to his head and arm4 ,truly the proverb rightly says1 ,there is no guarding against fate4 ,everything was confusion in the palace1 but for two days they kept the matter secret4 ,it was announced to the outer world that the ,sovereign was in good health1 and alms were distributed amongst the poor4 ,on the third day1 however1 that was on the ,monday1 he died of his wounds4#adj ,well may the ,koran say1 ,we come from ,god and to him do we return4 ,his son ,djelaleddin ,ekber was at the time away on a journey to visit ,shah ,ebul ,maali1 accompanied by the ,khanikhanan4#ada ,he was immediately informed of the sad event4 ,meanwhile the ,khans and ,sultans were in the greatest consternation2 they did not know how to act4 ,i tried to encourage them and told them how at the death of ,sultan ,selim the situation was saved by the wisdom of ,piri ,pasha1 who managed to prevent the news of his death from being noised abroad4 ,i suggested that1 by taking similar measures1 they might keep the ,sovereign's death a secret until the ,prince should return4 ,this advice was followed4 ,the divan 7council of ,state7 met as usual1 the nobles were summoned1 and a public announcement was made that the ,emperor intended to visit his country-seat1 and would go there on horseback4 ,soon after1 however1 it was announced that on account of the unfavorable weather the trip had to be abandoned4 ,on the next day a public audience was announced1 but as the astrologers did not prophesy favorably for it1 this also had to be given up4 ,all this1 however1 somewhat alarmed the army1 and on the ,tuesday it was thought advisable to give them a sight of their monarch4 ,a man called ,molla ,bi1 who bore a striking resemblance to the late ,emperor1 only somewhat slighter of stature1 was arrayed in the imperial robes and placed on a throne specially erected for the purpose in the large entrance hall4 ,his face and eyes were veiled4 ,the ,chamberlain ,khoshhal ,bey stood behind1 and the first ,secretary in front of him1 while many officers and dignitaries1 as well as the people from the riverside1 on seeing their ,sovereign1 made joyful obeisance to the sound of festive music4 ,the physicians were handsomely rewarded1 and the recovery of the monarch was universally credited4 ,i took leave of all the grandees1 and with the news of the ,emperor's recovery ,i reached ,lahore about the middle of the month ,rebiul ,evvel4 ,this was on a ,thursday4 ,traveling by the way of ,sani-,pata1 ,pani-,pata1 ,kirnat1 and ,tani ,sera1 ,i came to ,samani1#adb where ,i communicated the news to the ,governor that the ,padishah 7,humayun7 was giving audiences1 and that he was in good health4#adc ,from there ,i went by the road of ,sahrandi to ,matchuvara#add and ,bachuvara1#ade and crossing the ,sultanpoor by boat ,i returned to ,lahore by a forced march4 ,meanwhile ,prince ,djelaleddin ,ekber had ascended the throne1 and in ,lahore and many other places his name was inserted in the ,friday prayers4 ,mirza ,shah1 the ,governor of ,lahore1 however1 would not permit me to leave1 for he professed to have received orders from the new ,emperor that no one was to be allowed to go to ,kabul and ,kandahar4 ,the only way therefore was to go back to the ,emperor 7,ekber71 and accordingly ,i went as far as ,kelnor1 where ,i met ,djelaleddin ,ekber and the ,khanikhanan just opposite the fortress of ,mankit4#adf ,i was informed through ,molla ,pir ,mehemmed1#adg the ,khodja of ,bairam ,khan1 that during the interregnum ,i should remain where ,i was1 and that in a short time he would appoint me to some post either in ,hind or ,sind1 whichever ,i preferred4 ,i hastened to produce my ferman1 given to me by the late ,padishah1 presenting him at the same time with a chronogram on the death of his father4 ,my verses pleased the ,mirza and1 after examining the ferman of his father1 he gave me leave to continue my journey1 stipulating1 however1 that ,i should travel in company with the four ,begs1 which he was about to send with troops to ,kabul4 ,ebul ,maali1#adh who meanwhile had been taken prisoner1 was confined in the castle of ,lahore4 ,in return for my chronogram ,i received a lakh for traveling expenses1 and began to prepare for my journey with the four ,begs4 ,amongst the many strange and wonderful things ,i saw in ,india ,i must make mention of a few4 ,the unbelievers are called in ,gujarat ,banian1 and in ,india ,hindu4 ,they do not belong to the ,ehli-,kitab1#adi and believe in fate 7kademi-alem74 ,when a man dies his body is burned by the riverside4 ,if the deceased leaves a wife past child-bearing she is not burned2 if1 however1 she is not past that age she is unconditionally burned4 ,if a wife of her own free will offers herself to be burned1 the relations celebrate the occasion with great rejoicings4 ,should the ,mohammedans interfere and forcibly prevent the self-sacrifice1 fate decrees that their king must die1 and no other be raised4 ,for this reason1 officers of the ,padishah are always present on such occasions1 to prevent any act of violence4#aej ,another curious custom is the use of tame gazelles in hunting4 ,a noose is lightly thrown over their antlers1 and then they are driven to mix with the wild gazelles4 ,like seeks like1 and the latter soon make up to their tame companions1 bringing their heads in close proximity to those of the others4 ,the noose which is round the antlers of the tame animal falls over the head of the other and pulls it down4 ,the more it struggles the more it gets entangled1 and can not possibly escape4 ,this method is in use all over ,india4 ,buffaloes are very plentiful in the steppes4 ,they are hunted with elephants4 ,turrets are placed on the elephant's back1 in which several men are hidden4 ,thus they traverse the plain1 and as soon as the elephant comes up with the buffalo he attacks him with his teeth and holds him till the hunters get off his back and capture him4 ,wild oxen 7,gaukutas7#aea are hunted in a similar manner1 but they are much stronger than other animals of their kind1 and their tongue is supposed to have such force that they can kill a man with it4 ,the ,emperor ,humayun once told me a story to the effect that one of these wild oxen1 having overtaken a man1 flayed him with his tongue from head to foot4 ,the ,emperor vouched for the truth of this story with an oath4 ,the best kutas are found in the land of ,bahr-itch1 perhaps that accounts for their being called ,bahri-,kutas 7which means sea-kutas71 although they belong unquestionably to the terrestrial animals4 ,i might go on enumerating many more interesting and curious things to be seen in ,india1 but it would keep me too long4 ,about the middle of ,rebiul ,evvel we left for ,kabul4 ,we crossed the ,river ,lahore in ships1 and came presently to another large stream1 which had to be crossed4 ,finding no ships at hand1 we built a raft of barrels and chairs and so managed to reach the other side4 ,next we came to ,bahara1 where another river had to be crossed1 this time in ships4 ,when ,i told the ,governor 7,khodja7 of this place what ,ekber had commanded1 he exclaimed1 ,god be merciful6 ,as the ,padishah was dead we have not collected the taxes1 the people still owe them4 ,i will send round1 collect the moneys and hand them over to you4#aeb ,mir ,babu's and the other ,begs who were of the company consulted together and decided that as ,shah ,abul ,maali had escaped from his prison in ,lahore1 and might possibly have taken refuge with his brother ,kihmerd ,bey in ,kabul1 it would not be safe for them to delay1 but they suggested that ,i should wait till the tribute-money was collected1 and follow them as soon as ,i could4 ,but ,i argued that the roads were unsafe and dangerous and that it would be much better to keep all together4 ,i acted on the principle that ,the contented mind shall be satisfied and the covetous man shall be humbled4 ,so ,i relinquished my claim upon the tribute-money and continued my journey with the others4 ,after crossing the rivers ,khoshab#aec and ,nilab#aed in ships1 ,i set foot upon the shore of ,bakhtar4#aee ,,xi ,,our ,,experience ,,in ,,bakhtar-,,zemin 7,,kabulistan7 ,in the beginning of the month ,djemaziul-,evvel we left the river ,nilab and turned toward ,kabul4 ,for fear of the ,afghans under ,adam ,khan1 we made a quick march through the night1 and at daybreak we arrived at the foot of the mountain4 ,so far the ,afghans had not seen us1 but by the time we had reached the top there were thousands of them gathered together4 ,we seized our guns1 and with ,god's help managed to get out of their way1 and came to the town of ,pershuer1 i4e41 ,peshawur4 ,soon after1 we crossed the ,khaiber ,pass1 and reached ,djushai4 ,in the mountains we saw two rhinoceroses 7,kerkedans71#aef each the size of a small elephant2 they have a horn on their nose about two inches long4 ,in ,abyssinia these animals are much more plentiful4 ,presently we reached ,laghman1#aeg and after a very toilsome journey through ,hezareland1#aeh we entered ,kabulistan and its capital ,kabul4 ,here ,i visited the two sons of ,humayun1 ,mehemmed ,hekim ,mirza and ,perrukk ,fal ,mirza2 ,i also saw ,mun'im ,khan1 and1 after presenting the ferman from ,humayun1 ,i was treated with much honor4 ,kabul itself is a beautiful city1 surrounded by mountains covered with snow1 and pleasure-gardens with running brooks4 ,pleasure and merriment prevailed everywhere1 feasting and banqueting were the order of the day4 ,in every corner were gaily dressed1 slender ,lulis#aei enticing one with music and song to join the merry crowd2 the populace1 in fact1 seemed to have no thought for anything but for pleasure and enjoyment4 ,who would long for houris and the ,paradise whose good fortune has brought him amongst the ,lulis of ,kabul8 ,we1 however1 had no time for such frivolities1 our only aim and object was to reach home as soon as possible4 ,mun'im ,khan remarked that the roads were snowed up1 that the ,hindu ,kush could not possibly be passed1 and that it would be far better for us to wait a few days in ,kabul2 but ,i quickly replied that men could overcome mountains1 if they had the mind to do so4 ,thereupon the ,governor commanded ,mir ,nezri1 the ,chief of the ,perashi and ,peshai1 to accompany me1 and his men were to conduct our horses and goods safely across the mountain pass4 ,we left accordingly in the beginning of ,djemazi ul ,evvel and came to ,karabag1#afj and from there to ,tcharikar and ,pervane or ,mervan4 ,this was ,nezri's native country4 ,he collected his men1 and they took us across to the other side of the mountain4 ,it was a very difficult passage1 but we accomplished it that day1 and spent the night in a village at the foot of the pass4 ,,xii ,,the ,,condition ,,of ,,badakhshan ,,and ,,khatlan ,early in the month of ,redjeb we came to the city of ,anderab1 and journeyed from there through ,badakhshan to ,talikan1 where ,i had an interview with ,suleiman ,shah#afa and his son ,ibrahim ,mirza4 ,on the day of our arrival the ,mirza had met us1 and received me in his pleasure-garden2 ,i offered him some presents and a gazel4 ,the ,mirza1 who understood poetry1 entered into a poetical competition with me1 and introduced me next day to his father1 to whom ,i also offered gifts and a gazel4 ,the ,sovereign also showed me much attention and loaded me with signs of his favor4 ,there was hostility between ,pir ,mohammed ,khan1 the ruler of ,balkh1 and ,borak ,khan1 the ruler of ,transoxania1 and the roads were made unsafe1 the more so as ,pir ,mohammed's younger brother had raised a revolt in ,kunduz1 ,kavadian1 and ,termed1 which districts were now in great tumult4 ,they advised me therefore to travel by the way of ,badakhshan and ,khatlan1#afb and both ,suleiman and his son presented me with horses and garments of honor1 besides giving me a letter of recommendation to ,djihanghir ,ali1 the ruler of ,khatlan1 who had married his younger sister2 and so ,i journeyed to ,kishm1 the capital of ,badakhshan4#afc ,i saw the ,sovereign's pleasure-garden1 and ,humayun's garden ,duabe1 and proceeded from ,kalai ,zafar#afd to ,rustak1 and from there to ,bender ,semti4#afe ,i approached ,dalli1 in ,khatlan1 from the ,kashgar 7eastern7 side1 and made a pilgrimage to the grave of ,seid ,ali ,hamadani1 and from there ,i went to ,kulaba1#aff where ,i met with ,djihanghir ,ali ,khan1 and after presenting my letter of recommendation he gave me an escort of #ej men to conduct me to ,charsui1 where ,i crossed the ,pul-i-,senghin#afg 7stone bridge71 and dismissed the men who had escorted us4 ,,xiii ,,events ,,in ,,turan 7,,transoxania7 ,on the day that ,i crossed the bridge ,i first set foot on ,transoxanian soil4 ,after a day's rest ,i proceeded to ,bazar ,no 7,new-,market71 and from there to a little place called ,tchiharshembe1 where ,i visited the grave of the ,khodja ,yaakub ,tcharkhi4 ,then on to ,tchaganian1 i4e41 ,hissar-i-,shadman4#afh ,i visited ,timur ,sultan1 the ,kagalga#afi of the ,ozbeg rulers1 and passed ,mount ,senghirdek1#agj where it always rains and a considerable stream is formed at the foot of the mountain1 and ,i marveled at the wonderful works of ,god4 ,the next station was ,sehri-,sebz1 i4e41 ,kesh1 where ,i met ,hashim ,sultan1 who gave me permission to continue my journey to ,samarkand4 ,with great difficulty we got across the mountain#aga situated between the two last-named places2 we touched the little town of ,mazar1 and in the beginning of ,shaaban we reached ,samarkand1 which is a perfect paradise4 ,here ,i saw ,borak ,khan#agb 7more correctly called ,noruz ,ahmed71 who1 in return for my humble offerings1 gave me a horse and garments of honor4 ,it was this same ,borak ,khan to whom his ,majesty the ,padishah had sent cannon and guns by the hand of ,sheiks ,abdullatif and ,dadash4 ,at the time of my arrival ,abdullatif ,khan1 the rider of ,samarkand1 was dead1#agc and ,borak had taken his place4 ,pir ,mohammed ,khan1 in ,balkh1 and ,burhan ,seid ,khan1#agd in ,bokhara1 declared their independence1 and ,borak's first business was to settle this matter4 ,he began by taking ,samarkand and proceeded to ,shehri-,sebz1 where a great battle was fought1 in which the ,ketkhuda 7overseer7 of the ,osman soldiers fell4 ,he then took the stronghold and marched to ,bokhara1 which place he laid siege to4 ,seid ,burhan1 the ruler of ,bokhara1 made peace with ,borak1 relinquished the place to him1 and retired to ,karakul1 where the brother of ,pir ,mohammed ,khan then reigned4 ,he1 however1 gave up the place to ,seid ,burhan4 ,when ,borak ,khan entered ,samarkand1 the ,aga of the ,osmans#age had just started with a few men on their way to ,turkey1 having taken the way of ,tashkend and ,turkestan4 ,ahmed ,tchaush was also on the point of returning to ,turkey by the way of ,bokhara and ,kharezm1 for part of the ,janissaries had enlisted under ,seid ,burhan1 and the remainder joined his son4 ,about #aej remained faithful to ,borak ,khan4 ,when he had communicated all this to me1 he added3 ,i am now as a liar before his ,majesty the ,sultan of ,turkey1 for ,i can do nothing1 but if thou wilt help me1 something may yet be done4 ,he offered me the government of a ,province1 but ,i said that with such a small army nothing could be done1 moreover that1 without the consent of my ,padishah1 ,i could not stir in the matter4 ,he thereupon proposed to send an envoy to the ,sublime ,porte to explain the situation4 ,as a matter of fact he had already decided to send ,sadr ,alem1 a descendant of ,khodja ,ahmed ,jesewi1#agf and gave him a letter1 in which he expressed his willingness in the future to satisfy every wish of the ,sultan4 ,he discharged me1 however4 ,during my stay in ,samarkand ,i made a pilgrimage to the grave of the prophet ,daniel1 to the place of the ,khidr 7,elias71 to the cloak and to the wooden shoes of the ,prophet1 and also to the ,koran1 written by ,ali himself4#agg ,besides these places ,i visited the graves of the following sheiks and sages3 the author of ,hidayet1 ,ebu ,mansur ,matridi2 ,shah-,zinde1 ,khodja ,abdullah1 ,khodja ,abdi-birun1 ,khodja ,abdi-derum1 the ,tchopanata1 and the ,kazizade of ,rum1 and the grave of the #ddd1jjj ,transoxanian sages4 ,but to return to ,borak ,khan4 ,one day1 while talking together1 he asked me which of all the cities ,i had visited pleased me most4 ,i replied with the following stanza3 ,far from home no one longs for ,paradise4 ,for in his eyes his native town is superior even to ,bagdad4 ,thou hast spoken well1 said the ,khan4 ,now as regards the embassage to ,constantinople1 ,sadr ,alem proposed to go by ,turkestan1 but when he was told that the ,nogai tribe of the ,mangit committed violence upon travelers1 and that the roads swarmed with robbers and highwaymen1 who gave no quarter to ,mussulmans1#agh but plundered and ill-treated any that came in their way1 he decided to travel through ,bokhara4 ,unfortunately1 just then the news came that ,seid ,burhan had again declared war with ,borak ,khan1 and that the latter's son ,kharezm ,shah had been attacked4 ,borak ,khan advised me thereupon to remain at ,ghidjduvan until the return of the envoy4 ,if no hostilities took place we might travel by that way1 but otherwise we were to wait until he sent some one to conduct us safely through ,bokhara4 ,to this ,i agreed4 ,on the fifth of ,ramazan we started1 touched ,kala and ,kermineh1 crossed the river of ,samarkand#agi at ,duabe1 and so arrived at ,ghidjduvan1#ahj where ,i visited the grave of ,khodja ,abdul ,khalik4 ,as the ,mirza was not here1 and no news concerning him could be obtained1 we went on to ,pul ,rabat4 ,meanwhile the troops of ,prince ,kharezm ,shah had prepared for battle4 ,suddenly ,khan ,ali ,bey1 the ,prince's tutor1 accosted us with the question whither we were going4 ,when ,i replied3 ,to ,bokhara1 he said3 ,seid ,burhan1 the ruler of ,bokhara1 threatens to attack ,prince ,kharezm ,shah1 and we pray thee to help us4 ,how now6 ,i cried1 we help no man2 ,borak ,khan has not requested us to do so2 on the contrary1 he has charged us to go to ,ghidjduvan1 and there to await the return of the envoy4 ,so we continued on our way4 ,as we approached ,minar 7,spire7 about #ajj redcoats 7,ala tehapan7#aha rushed down upon us1 crying3 ,in the name of the ,mirza1 turn back1 and at the same time they struck one of my companions4 ,immediately we prepared to fight1 when a ,seid sprang forward and commanded the ,ozbegs to stop4 ,both sides held back1 and the ,seid announced that the ,mirza sent us greeting and desired us not to proceed any farther1 but to look on from a distance4 ,so we were compelled to turn back4 ,with ten of my companions ,i had an interview with the ,mirza1 who renewed his request that we should help him2 but ,i refused again1 whereupon ten guns were forcibly taken from us and we were commanded to remain mere spectators4 ,the ,prince's bearing was very haughty before he had sighted the enemy1 for as the proverb says3 ,our own fist is always of iron1 ,until we receive the first box on the ear4 ,but no sooner had ,seid ,burhan appeared in sight1 from the opposite direction1 than the ,prince retreated across the bridge to the ,rabat 7,karvanserai74 ,i went on with six companions1 which ,i left behind me in the court of the kiosk4 ,seid ,burhan advanced with #a1jjj ,kizil-,ayaks1#ahb i4e41 young men from ,bokhara1 and #dj ,turkish archers1 therefore well equipped for war4 ,in a moment he defeated the ,prince1 who1 being wounded by a bullet1 took flight1 leaving his colors1 musical and other military instruments behind him on the battle-field4 ,of my three companions which fled with the ,prince1 one was wounded by a lance and died soon after1 and while the others retreated with the ,ozbegs into the ,rabat where they were attacked by ,seid ,burhan1 ,i went on to meet the army to inquire after the ,mirza1 leaving my horse in charge of two men4 ,i heard that he was quartered close to the ,rabat1 and asked to be conducted into his presence1 and just as ,i was crossing the bridge1 attended by a few men1 some villain wounded me with an arrow4 ,this was the signal for a general attack2 swords were raised on all sides1 and ,i was very near losing my life4 ,fortunately the attack had been witnessed by the ,osmans serving under the ,khan2 they had recognized me and came to my rescue1 calling out3 ,this man is the guest of our ,prince1 what then is the meaning of this8 ,the ,ozbeghi 7commander of #aj men7 immediately stopped the attack and apprized the ,khan of what had taken place1 whereupon the latter1 a glorious youth1 hastened to me1 embraced me1 and begged my forgiveness1 for it was by accident1 he said1 that ,i had become mixed up in the battle and ,i had been attacked on the principle of the proverb which says3 ,wet and dry burn together4 ,he commissioned two officers to conduct us over the bridge1 during which transport two more of my people were attacked and received sword wounds4 ,i lost on this occasion a beautiful led-horse1 all my cooking apparatus1 one pack-horse1 and #aj saddle-horses1 which were stolen by the soldiers4 ,with much difficulty ,i got across the bridge1 and1 while ,i was resting at a little distance1 the ,khan1 to please me1 ordered the ,turkish soldiers stationed in the ,rabat to hand the place over to me1 as we were innocent and free from all reproach4 ,as ,i approached the place ,i called out3 ,stop fighting2 ,i am here1 and the ,khan will pardon you for my sake4 ,thus the ,rabat fell into my hands and with it some of the lost horses1 but many of the firearms were irrevocably lost4 ,my two men1 who had been taken prisoner in the fight1 had escaped1 and so we proceeded to the town1 which we reached that night4 ,seid ,burhan spoke thus to me3 ,be thou my guide in this and in the next world2 this land shall henceforth belong to thy ,padishah1 thou shalt rule in ,bokhara and ,i will retire to ,karakol4 ,not so1 was my reply1 if thou gavedst me the whole land of ,transoxania ,i could not stay here4 ,know1 ,o ,khan6 that ,i shall report before the ,sublime ,porte the injustice which has been done to thee1 and my glorious ,padishah will be gracious unto thee1 and possibly the government of these provinces will be entrusted to thy care4 ,these words pleased the ,khan2 he gave a banquet in my honor and showed me much kindness1 and during the fortnight which ,i spent in ,bokhara he visited me every day in the pleasure-garden which served as my residence4 ,i composed a gazel in his honor1 which highly delighted him and led to many poetical discussions4 ,when at last ,i desired permission to continue my journey1 he demanded of me that ,i should give him our iron guns in exchange for his brass ones4 ,he pressed me so hard that ,i was compelled to give in1 and received #dj brass muskets in return for all the iron ones which we had left4 ,i also had to exchange my led-horse for a gelding1 besides giving him two precious books4 ,meanwhile the envoy from ,borak ,khan had arrived1 who apologized to me for his son 7,kharezm ,shah71 and made peace with ,seid ,burhan through the mediation of the ,ghidjduvani ,abdul ,sultan4 ,thus peace and security were once more restored4 ,i delayed in ,bokhara to make pilgrimages to the graves of ,bahaeddin ,nakishbendi1 ,kazi ,khan1 ,tchar ,bekir1 ,khodja ,ebn ,hifz ,kebir1 ,sadr esh ,sheriat1 ,tadj esh ,sheriat1 ,seid ,mir ,kelal 7the spiritual head of ,baha-eddin71 ,sultan ,ismail the ,samanide1 ,eyub and ,sarakhsi1 and after that ,i journeyed to ,kharezm4 ,our way led first to ,karakol1 then to ,farab1 where we crossed the ,oxus in ships1 and early in the month ,shavval ,i touched ,iranian soil1 namely ,khorassan4 ,the first town ,i stopped at was ,tchardjui1#ahc where ,i visited the grave of ,khodja ,meshed1 a brother of ,imam ,ali ,musa4#ahd ,then we took the road through the wilderness#ahe to ,kharezm4 ,by day and by night we had to wage war against lions2#ahf it was not safe for one man to go alone to draw water2 but at last1 after ten days of unutterable weariness1 we reached ,hezaresp1#ahg and from there in five days1 ,khiva1 where ,i visited the grave of ,pehlevan ,mahmud ,pir4 ,,xiv ,,our ,,experiences ,,in ,,kharezm ,,and ,,deshti-,,kipchak ,toward the end of ,shavval we left ,khiva1 and in five days we came to ,kharezm1 where ,i made the acquaintance of ,dost ,mohammed ,khan and his brother ,esh-,sultan4#ahh ,i visited the graves of ,sheik ,nedjmeddin ,kubera1 ,sheik ,ali ,rametin1 ,sheik ,khalweti ,yan1 ,imam ,mohammed ,bari'i1 ,sahib ,kuduri1 ,djar ,ullah ,ulama1 ,molla ,husein ,kharezmi 7the expounder of the ,koran71 ,seid ,ata1 and ,hekim ,ata4 ,when it was brought to my knowledge that the holy ,sheik ,abdullatif had died in the city of ,vezir1 ,i could not rest until ,i had made a pilgrimage to his grave in company with a few friends4 ,as this saint had been1 moreover1 my spiritual adviser in ,sufism1 ,i recited the whole ,koran over his grave1 to insure for him everlasting peace and bliss in ,paradise4 ,we also cooked a pilaf 7a rice dish7 and ,i prepared a chronogram in commemoration of his death4 ,having received letters of commendation to the ,manghit chiefs1 from ,hadji ,mohammed ,sultan1 ,timur ,sultan1 and ,mahmud ,sultan1 the three sons of ,agatai ,khan1 ,i returned to ,kharezm1 where ,sheik ,sadr ,alem1 the envoy of ,borak ,khan1 had meanwhile also arrived4 ,our party consisted besides ourselves of the wife of ,sheik ,husein of ,kharezm 7daughter of ,makhdum ,aazam71 the ,sheik's son1 and a few ,moslems2 we traveled in carriages4 ,most of the company wore clothes of sheepskin and they wanted us to do the same1 for they said1 the ,manghit#ahi are worse even than the ,ozbegs1 and when they see strangers they invariably take them for ,russians1#aij which is synonymous to saying1 they attack them4 ,thus we were compelled to don the outlandish garb 7sheepskin71 for1 as ,i said to encourage my people3 ,a wise man follows the ways of the world and makes no trouble of it4 ,thus equipped we started in the first days of ,zilkaada4 ,for more than a month we wandered about in the ,deshti ,kipchak#aia 7,kirghiz steppe74 ,it was late in the autumn1 and at that time of the year not a bird1 not a wild ass 7,onagre7 can be seen1 for there is not a vestige of verdure1 not a drop of water to be found4 ,it was one interminable wilderness2 one desert steppe4 ,at last we came to a place called ,sham1 and shortly after to ,saraidjik1#aib where we met some ,hadjis and three of the ,moslems which had been discharged at ,samarkand4 ,these latter were quite naked1 and at sight of us they cried3 ,whither go ye8 ,astrakhan is taken by the ,russians1 ,ahmed ,tchaush has fought in battle with them1 and our ,aga has been plundered by the troops of ,arslan ,mirza4 ,the way is blocked1 be warned and go back4 ,in vain ,i quoted the lines3 ,we are but poor beggars1 what harm can befall us8 ,for ten armed men can not rob one who has nothing4 ,the rest of the company1 especially the merchants1 were not of my opinion2 they proposed to delay a few days in ,kharezm and await events1 for3 ,speed is from the devil and patience is from ,god4 ,the envoy and the other ,moslems were of the same mind1 and so ,i reluctantly retraced my steps to ,kharezm4 ,the envoy returned to ,samarkand1 but all the rest remained in ,kharezm1 and when ,dost ,mohammed ,khan1 the ruler of ,khiva1 inquired of me by which route ,i now proposed to travel1 ,i replied1 ,i will go by the way of ,meshhed in ,khorassan to ,irak ,adjemi1 and from there to ,bagdad4 ,thereupon the ,khan said3 ,remain here with us4 ,in the spring the ,manghits seek their pastures1 possibly the ,russians may also quit the land by that time1 and1 remember1 the way to ,bagdad is long4 ,but ,i could not agree to this1 and in support of my argument ,i quoted the proverb3 ,to the lover ,bagdad is not far distant2 so at last the ,khan had to give in4 ,he agreed to my departure1 gave me a beautiful horse1 and to my companions he gave the carriage in which we had traveled up to here4 ,as regards our route my first plan was to travel by the way of the ,caspian ,sea and ,shirvan1 but my companions did not like this1 because the ,mussulman army which had lately broken up from ,kaffa#aic had become involved in a bloody war with ,abdullah ,khan1 who would not permit any ,turks to pass that way4 ,next we made inquiries about the roads of ,circassia1 past ,demir-,kapu1 but we heard that the ,circassians had raised a revolt4 ,there remained therefore only the way of ,khorassan and ,irak1 and concerning these districts we learned that the ,persian ,king was in perfect harmony with our glorious ,padishah1#aid but that the ,bey of ,kizilbash 7the ,shiite officer7 would probably prevent us from obtaining admittance to the ,shah4 ,i thought to myself1 ,where ,god does not slay1 man's attempts are but futile2 moreover1 they who fear death should not venture on travels2 so after duly consulting the horoscope1#aie and having made quite sure that there was no other way open to us1 ,i decided to travel through ,persia4 ,the camels were hired and all was ready2 ,i went to take leave of ,dost ,mohammed1 the ruler of ,khiva1 who remarked casually that it was quite impossible for us to travel with firearms through the enemy's land4 ,thereupon we gave half of our arms to the ,khan1 and the other half to his younger brother ,esh ,sultan4 ,we received a letter of commendation to ,ali ,sultan1 a brother of ,tin ,sultan1 and being well stocked with provisions and large skins for water1 and trusting in ,god1 we started on our journey to ,kharezm in the beginning of the month ,zilhidje4 ,,xv ,,our ,,fate ,,in ,,khorassan ,by divine grace we got safely across the ,oxus#aif and encamped on the opposite shore1 awaiting the arrival of the rest of our party4 ,while there1 the wife of ,sheik ,husein sent me a message to say that she had a dream in which she had seen her father1 the holy ,makhdum ,aazam1 who had come from ,vezir to ,kharezm in company with another holy sage4 ,arrived in the town he had thus addressed the people1 who welcomed him joyfully3 ,mir ,sidi ,ali has read the ,koran over my grave in ,vezir1 and he has supplicated for my patronage4 ,i have therefore come to help him and to lead him safely through ,khorassan4 ,this message filled me with joy4 ,i struck camp next morning and the day following we arrived in ,dorum2#aig we passed through1 unmolested by ,mahmud ,sultan1 and proceeded to ,bagwai1#aih which place we also passed1 without being hindered by ,pulad ,sultan1 and came to ,nesa4#aii ,here ,i found ,ali ,sultan1 former ,governor of ,merw1 and brother of ,tin ,sultan1 to whom ,i offered my letter of commendation from ,esh ,sultan1 and was allowed free passage1 for everybody in these parts is devoted to his ,majesty our ,padishah4 ,thus we came to ,bawerd 7,abiwerd7#bjj and ,tus1 where ,i visited the graves of ,imam ,mohammed ,hanifi and of the poet ,firdusi2 and on the first of ,muharram of the year #ifd ,i reached ,meshhed-i-,khorassan1 where ,i immediately made a pilgrimage to the grave of ,imam ,ali ,musa ,riza1 the prince of ,khorassan4 ,when at sea1 during the great storm some time ago1 ,i had vowed to give a ,tumen to the ,imam2 now ,i fulfilled my vow1 and paid a ,tumen to ,mutawali 7the overseer of the ,mosque and ,mausoleum7 and ,i also paid a ,tumen to the ,seid4 ,in ,meshhed ,i found ,ibrahim ,mirza1 the son of ,behram ,mirza1 who occupied the throne there2 also ,suleiman ,mirza1 the son of ,shah1 and his ,vekil 7representative7 called ,kokche ,khalipha1 who entertained me at a banquet4 ,in the course of our conversation1 these gentlemen naturally wished to draw me into an argument upon the succession and sanctity of the ,caliphs ,ali1 ,ebubekr1 ,omar1 and ,osman2 but ,i acted upon the principle that silence is the best answer to give a fool1 and ,i was silent4 ,they pressed me1 however1 and ,i told them the story of ,khodja ,nasreddin1 who was once asked to read the ,koran in the ,mosque1 to which he had replied1 this is not the place4 ,and now1 ,i said1 ,i have not come hither to argue with you1 and ,i refuse to be questioned4 ,it was with great difficulty that ,i at last rid myself of them4#bja ,one of the guests1 unfortunately1 was a miscreant1 of the name of ,ghazi ,bey2 he gave vent to his wrath in these words3 ,it is not seemly to send such people as these to the ,shah4 ,how do we know that they may not kill the men we give them as an escort1 and then take flight8 ,very possibly they belong to the ,ottomans that were sent to ,borak ,khan1 or perhaps they are the bearers of a secret correspondence1 and it might be advisable to search them4 ,the ,mirza 7,ibrahim7 approved of this plan1 and the next morning #bjj men in armor 7kurdji7 surrounded the kervanserai and took us prisoners4 ,as the proverb says3 ,those who can not be caught by fair means will be by foul play4 ,we were each of us put in charge of one of the guards2 ,i was taken to the apartment of the ,kokehe ,khalipha1 with my two attendants4 ,my horses were given in another man's charge1 and my other effects were entrusted to ,mutawali's keeping4 ,they made us undress1 and as it was winter we suffered much from the cold4 ,the next day the ,mirza took from me all my official papers and sundry letters which ,i had received from different princes1 and had them all put into a bag and sealed4 ,when my companions saw this they trembled for their lives1 but ,i comforted them with the sayings1 ,he who falls through no mistake of his will not shed tears1 and ,since fate has not forgotten to bring thee into this world1 it will not forget to take thee out of it1 and further1 ,patience is the key to the final goal4 ,so we calmly resigned ourselves to our fate4 ,a little later on all were put in chains1 except myself2 but ,i was strictly guarded by five men4 ,this action of the ,mirza troubled me not a little1 and although ,i tried to make light of it1 my heart was very heavy4 ,i wrote a gazel to comfort myself1 and with the inspiring thoughts suggested by it fresh in mind1 ,i fell asleep1 and being in a semiconscious state1 a divine inspiration in the form of a ,murabba#bjb was vouchsafed to me1 which ,i sent to ,mutawali4 ,this composition caused great excitement among the nobility of the place4 ,about the same time one of the attendants of the ,imam declared 7whether it was true or feigned ,i can not say7 that in his dream he had seen the ,caliph ,ali1 who had charged him to go and set ,mir ,sidi ,ali free4 ,the news of this dream spread rapidly through the town and stirred up the people1 whose sympathies were now all turned in my favor4 ,mutawali and ,seid went to the ,mirza and said3 ,this man came on a pilgrimage to visit the shrine of the ,imam4 ,he is under a vow and desires to go to the ,shah4 ,as the ,shah is on friendly terms with the ,padishah of ,turkey it is not right that we should in any way trouble this pilgrim now in the ,ashura#bjc days4 ,if the man be a traitor1 it is sure to come to light1 for as the ,koran says1 ',a traitor is known by his countenance1' and there need be no further question of suspicion4 ,these words of the wise man and of ,seid did not lose their effect upon the ,mirza4 ,from my side ,i pointed out to him the unreliableness of the information upon which he had acted1 and in order further to enlist his sympathies in my favor ,i sent him three poems1 after which1 partly for fear of the ,shah1 and partly regretting his rash deed1 he gave us our liberty on the tenth of ,ashura4 ,he loaded me with presents and gave another banquet in my honor4 ,he also restored to us our horses and our clothes2 but many of my other possessions ,i never recovered4 ,four valuable books were taken1 and the whole of my correspondence was conveyed by his armour-bearer1 ,ali ,bey1 and a ,yassaul to the ,shah in a sealed bag1 the transport being effected on a barrow about the middle of ,muharram of the said year4 ,traveling in the same caravan with us was one of the wives of the ,shah and one of the wives of ,behram ,mirza1 who were both returning from a pilgrimage to the shrine of the ,imam4 ,i made their acquaintance1 and they treated us kindly4 ,by my advice my companions comported themselves with due courtesy and modesty toward the retinue of these ladies1 mindful of the saying3 ,the peace of two worlds depends on two things only1 courtesy to friends and flattery to foes4 ,arrived in ,mshabur ,i visited the graves of ,imamzade ,mohammed ,mahruk1 and of ,sheik ,attar 7ferideddin74 ,here ,i also met with ,aga ,kemal1 the ,vekil of ,khorassan1 who1 however1 did not interfere with us4 ,in ,sebzevar we met with a little hostility1 but acting on the principle that ,barking dogs bite not1 we soon got free from these firebrands and continued on our way4 ,,xvi ,,our ,,vicissitudes ,,in ,,irak-,,adjem ,arrived in the ,province of ,irak we skirted the ,demavend range1 traveling from ,mazendran to ,bestam1 where we visited the graves of ,mohammed ,aftah1 ,sheik ,bayazid ,bestami1 and ,sheik ,ebulhasan ,harkani4 ,the next day we reached ,damgan4 ,that night one of our company called ,ramazan the pious1 and known as ,boluk ,bashi1#bjd had a dream4 ,bayazid ,bestami with #dj ,dervishes had appeared unto him and had spoken thus3 ,let us pray for the safe return of ,mir ,sidi ,ali4 ,the ,sheik1 moreover1 had written a passport and sealed it1 that we might not be molested by the way4--,this was his dream1 and when ,i heard of it ,i rejoiced greatly and thanked ,god for his mercy vouchsafed2 for this message 7from the dead7 virtually saved my life4 ,after visiting the grave of ,imam ,djafar in ,damgan1 we proceeded to ,semnan1 where we visited the grave of ,sheik ,ala-ed-,dowleh ,semnani4 ,in this place they tried to draw us into sectarian controversies1 but ,i restrained my comrades1 and reminded them of the ,hadis1 which says3 ,ustur zahbak1 zahabek in mazhabak1 i4e41 hide thy gold1 thine opinions1 and thy faith2 and ,i argued with them1 saying1 ,not one of you has traveled more than ,i have1 and experience has made me wise4 ,a wise man does not heed the words of the vulgar and the ignorant4 ,they saw the wisdom of my words1 and acted upon my advice4 ,before long we came to ,rei1#bje where ,i made pilgrimages to the graves of ,imam ,abdul ,azim1 and of ,bibi ,shehrbanu1 the consort of ,imam ,husein4 ,here ,i also met ,mohammed ,khudabend1 a son of the ,shah's1 and the ,kurdji-bashi#bjf ,sevindek ,aga4 ,their presence was accounted for in this way3 ,some time ago the ,shah had sent ,ismail ,mirza from ,kazvin to ,herat1 and had now recalled him to ,kazvin4 ,the reason of this was that certain things which had happened during his rule had come to light1 and by command of the ,shah one of the nobles of ,kazvin had been executed1 and in like manner1 also by order of the ,shah1 some followers of ,ismail had been put to death4 ,after this the ,shah commanded ,prince ,mohammed ,khudabend to appear before him1 and the ,kurdji-bashi was sent to fetch him4 ,i was very pleased to meet the ,prince1 who assured me of the unwavering devotion of the ,shah to our glorious ,padishah4 ,journeying from ,rei it took us a month and a half 7to the end of ,safar7 before we reached ,kazvin1 the capital of ,irak4#bjg ,upon the ,shah being told of our arrival we were none of us allowed to enter the city1 but had to take up our quarters in ,sebzeghiran1 one of the neighboring villages1 under the protection of ,mohammed ,bey1 the ,divan ,bey#bjh of the ,great ,vizier ,maasum ,bey4 ,presently the ,ishik ,agasi#bji arrived1 who took down our names1 and the number of our horses1 and gave his people private instructions to watch us strictly at night1 until further orders4 ,we were told that the ,shah was very angry that we had been allowed to leave ,meshhed without any further inquiry1 and that in consequence of this ,kokche ,khalipha and ,mir ,munshi 7first secretary7 had been deprived of office4 ,following up this information1 the ,kapchadji1 ,ali ,bey1 came to us by order of ,yassaul ,pir ,ali1 and said3 ,the people here have evil intentions1 if you have any ready money about you1 give it to me to keep1 and if ,providence deliver you out of this plight1 ,i will return it2 if on the other hand evil should befall you it is better that your riches should fall in the hands of friends than of foes4 ,but ,i replied3 ,people who have wandered so long in foreign parts carry no cash about them1 and they who fear death do not venture so far from home4 ,i believe in the words of the ,koran3 ',he who is appointed to die can not delay the hour1 and without ,god's permission no man can slay4' ,it so happened that the ,shah had by this time examined the letters which had been conveyed to him in a sealed bag1 and the ladies who had traveled with us bore witness that we were poor and harmless folk4 ,moreover1 ,i had sent the ,shah a quatrian which had found much favor1 so he set us free4 ,the ,shah commanded his ,vekil1#baj ,maasum ,bey1 to offer me a banquet1 after which he would himself entertain me4 ,maasum ,bey was also commissioned to give me the glad news1 that ,i was free to go where ,i liked1 and1 as an envoy was shortly to be sent to the ,sublime ,porte1 ,i might1 if ,i liked1 travel by the way of ,azerbaidjan1 i4e41 by ,tebriz and ,van4 ,thereupon ,i requested that my desire might be made known to the ,shah4 ,i said1 ,we are not prepared to meet the hardships of the ,van road in the winter time1 and we beg to be allowed to travel by the way of ,bagdad2 which request he graciously granted4 ,on the second day we were invited by the ,shah to a banquet1 and ,i presented my humble offerings4 ,during the feast we conversed upon poetical and other subjects1 and the ,shah remarked to his courtiers3 ,these men do not look like intriguers2 they are only pilgrims and religious fanatics--and on the strength of this verdict ,kokche ,khalipha and ,mir ,munshi were reinstated in their office4 ,i received a horse and two changes of robes1 a bale of silk1 and several other things2 the two ,serdars received each two robes of honor1 and my five traveling companions1 each one4 ,altogether the ,shah behaved handsomely to us and showed a marked respect for the person of his ,majesty the ,padishah4 ,one day ,i was invited to a banquet in the large music-hall1 all the ,beys of the royal family being present4 ,to give some idea of the magnificence here displayed ,i will only mention that from five hundred to one thousand ,tumens#baa had been spent on the decoration of the hall4 ,there were some hundreds of velvet and silken brocaded carpets1 painted and embroidered in figurative designs2 quantities of luxurious cushions and exquisitely artistic tents1 canopies1 and sunshades4 ,yuzbashi ,hasan ,bey1 one of the ,shah's confidants1 turned to me and said3 ,is not this indeed a treasure-house8 ,it is1 ,i replied1 yet the wealth of kings is not measured by their gold and silver but by their military power4 ,this remark silenced him2 he did not return to the subject4 ,as the envoy had already started for ,tebriz ,i was detained for another month1 during which time the ,shah showed me much attention1 and ,i spent a good deal of my time in his presence4 ,one day he ventured the remark3 ,why were those #cjj ,janissaries sent from ,turkey to assist ,borak ,khan8 ,i answered that these had not been sent to strengthen ,borak ,khan's forces1 but merely as an escort to the late ,sheik ,abdullatif1 because it was a well-known fact that the ,circassians#bab had killed ,baba ,sheik1 a son of the holy ,ahmed ,jesewi1 on the road from ,astrakhan1 and that that route was therefore made unsafe4 ,if the ,padishah had intended to send military help1 not three hundred1 but some thousands of ,janissaries1 would have gone to ,bokhara4 ,another time ,i was drawn into a religious dispute with ,mir ,ibrahim ,sefevi1 one of the ,shah's relatives and a sage4 ,the conversation ran as follows3 ,,ibrahim3 ,why do the learned men of ,turkey call us unbelievers8 ,i3 ,it is said that the followers of the ,prophet have been insulted by your countrymen1 and according to the statutes of our religion he who insults his superiors is an unbeliever4 ,,ibrahim3 ,that is what ,imam ,aazam 7,ebn ,hanifa7 says1 but according to ,imam ,shafi this belongs to the pardonable offenses4 ,i3 ,i understand that it is customary with you to accuse ,ayesha1 the wife of the ,prophet 7may ,god have mercy upon her71 of immorality1 and as this throws a stigma on the ,prophet's name1 it is synonymous to blasphemy4 ,the people who can do this are in a state of apostasy1 and their life is forfeited4 ,their goods can be confiscated and their men put in prison4 ,any one persisting in this unbelief is subject to imprisonment1 but if they renounce they may1 without their wives1 with or without marriage4444 ,,ibrahim3 ,i must contradict this4 ,in our eyes also1 any one who accuses ,ayesha of immorality is an unbeliever and a blasphemer and contradicts the ,koran2 because in the ,sacred ,book ,god ,almighty testifies to the virtue of ,ayesha4 ,but all the same we can not love her because she set herself against ,ali4 ,i3 ,how do you explain it that although the ,hadis declares that the ,ulemas are on a level with the prophets of the people of ,israel1 it nevertheless frequently happens that offensive language is used against the former8 ,,ibrahim3 ,does the name ,ulema not include our ,ulemas also8 ,i3 ,in a facetious way it includes all ,ulemas1 but beyond this it is a well-known fact that it is said of them3 ',the flesh of the ,ulema is poisonous1 their odor is sickening1 and to eat them is death'2 and if in spite of this men will insult them1 they must pay the penalty both in this world and in the next4 ,to this he could make no reply1 and ,i turned the conversation into another channel4 ,the ,shah once said to me1 ,tell me1 since thou hast traveled so much1 which of the cities thou hast visited pleases thee best4 ,and ,i replied3 ,i have indeed seen most of the cities of this world1 but ,i have found none to compare with ,stamboul and ,galata4 ,the ,shah allowed this to pass1 and continued3 ,at how many ,tumens dost thou estimate the combined income of the ,beys and ,beylerbeys of ,turkey8 to which ,i replied3 ,the ,beys and ,beylerbeys of ,turkey receive payment according to their rank1 but they enjoy besides this generally a private income4 ,other princes remunerate their officers in proportion to the pay of the regiment which they command1 but if the pay of the ,beys and other officers in the service of the ,emperor of ,turkey were to be based upon this foundation1 it would run not into ,tumens1 nor yet ,lakhs1#bac but into ,kulurs4 ,to give you an example3 ,the payments made to the ,beylerbeys of ,rumelia1 ,anatolia1 ,egypt1 ,hungary 7,budin1 i4e41 ,ofen71 ,diarbekir1 ,bagdad1 ,yemen1 and ,algiers1 are1 each in themselves1 as much as any other prince would lay out on the whole of his army4 ,this proportion holds good for all the other ,beylerbeys also1 and is in strict accordance with the superior standing of our government4 ,quite a different system is adopted for the troops under ,khans and ,sultans1 for there is always an element of uncertainty there2 but in ,turkey the army belongs to the ,padishah4 ,all ,beylerbeys and officers are his servants1 and an ,imperial command is law and can not be trifled with4#bad ,on this same occasion some of the officers asked whether the documents which had been taken from me by ,ibrahim ,mirza in ,meshhed had ever been placed before the ,shah4 ,this question was answered in the affirmative1 but ,i did not like to pursue the subject1 mindful of the saying3 ,when evil slumbers1 cursed be he who arouses it--and ,i turned the conversation into another channel4 ,i preferred to plead my cause with another gazel1 which the ,shah graciously accepted1 and which finally led to the desired result4 ,we received permission to leave4 ,he wrote a letter expressive of his unalterable respect and devotion to his ,majesty the ,padishah1 gave me more presents1 and commanded ,nazr ,bey1 a brother of ,yuzbashi ,hasan ,bey1 to accompany me on the journey4 ,while in ,kazvin ,i made a pilgrimage to the grave of ,imam ,shahzade ,husein1 and in the beginning of ,rebiul ,evvel ,i started on my journey to ,bagdad4 ,near to ,sultani1 we passed ,abhar1 and ,i stopped to visit the grave of ,pir ,hasan1 the son of ,akhi ,avran1 then on to ,kirkan1 where ,i visited the grave of ,mohammed ,demtiz#bae1 a son of ,khodja ,ahmed ,jesewi1 and from there to ,derghezin and ,hamadan1 in which latter place the graves of ,ain-ul-,kuzat and ,pir ,ebulalay1 the armor-bearers of the ,prophet1 were visited4 ,at ,saadabad1 our next station1 ,i was met by the governor1 who treated me with marked attention4 ,then we took our way by ,mount ,elvend and ,nihavend 7in ,suristan7 to ,bisutun1 where ,i visited the grave of ,kiazim1 and in the village ,weis-ul-karn1 the grave of the saint of that name4 ,we then proceeded to ,kasri-,shirin and through ,kurdistan to the fortress ,zendjir4 ,while there we were much interested in watching a ,huma bird#baf high up in the sky4 ,this is supposed to be a good omen1 and we were therefore well pleased4 ,some enlarged upon the good fortune presaged by his appearance1 others spoke of the curious properties of the bird1 of whom ,sa'di sings3 ,the ,huma is distinguished from all other birds1 ,in that he lives on bones1 yet is not a bird of prey4 ,it is a known fact that this bird feeds exclusively on bones4 ,the legend says that the ,huma1 before demolishing a bone1 carries it up high in the air1 and then drops it1 with the result that it breaks into many pieces4 ,he then swoops down upon these1 divides them into equal portions1 and devours them4 ,this is the origin of the saying1 when ,persian officials1 through extortion1 obtain more than they can well digest3 ,they should follow the example of the ,huma bird and divide their spoils into smaller1 equal portions4 ,here1 at ,zendjir1 ,i dismissed ,nazr ,bey1 whom the ,shah had given me as an escort1 and after crossing the great river ,tokuz ,olum#bag we came to ,ban 7or ,sheri ,ban74 ,toward the end of the same month of ,kebiul ,sani we reached ,bagdad1 where we were most hospitably received by ,khizr ,pasha4 ,we did not delay1 however1 but hurried on to ,turkey4 ,,xvii ,,the ,,rest ,,of ,,our ,,adventures ,in the beginning of ,djemazi-ul ,evvel we crossed the ,tigris in ships1 and after revisiting the sacred graves there we journeyed on4 ,past ,kasri1 ,semke1 and ,harbi we came to ,tekrit and ,mossul1 and by the old road of ,mossul and ,djizre to ,nisibin4 ,from there by ,diarbekir and ,mardin we reached ,amed1 where ,i saw ,iskender ,pasha1 who received me most graciously4 ,in the course of conversation ,i told him some of our adventures1 to which he listened with much interest1 and exclaimed3 ,you have gone through more than even ,tamum ,dari has done1 and as for all the marvelous things which you have seen1 they are beyond the dreams of even ,balkiah and ,djihan ,shah4 ,questioned upon the different sovereigns and armies of the countries ,i had visited1 ,i said3 ,in all the world there is no country like ,turkey1 no sovereign like our ,padishah1 and no army like the ,turkish4 ,from ,east to ,west the fame of the ,ottoman troops has spread4 ,for victory follows their banner wherever they go4 ,may ,god keep ,turkey in wealth and prosperity until the last day shall dawn4 ,may he preserve our ,padishah in health and happiness and our troops ever victorious4 ,amen6 ,when asked whether our name was known in those remote parts1 ,i answered4 ,certainly1 more than you would think4 ,in the further course of conversation ,i learned that a report of my death had reached the ,porte1 and that therefore the post of ,egyptian ,admiral had been given to ,kurdzade1 the ,sandjak-bey of ,rhodus4 ,i thought to myself3 ,long live my ,padishah1 ,i shall easily obtain another office2 and ,i comforted myself with poetic effusions4 ,of course ,i trusted in ,god ,almighty1 nevertheless ,i was always thinking about the conquest of ,ormuz and ,gujarat1 and ,i argued thus to myself3 ,these fantastic dreams have so filled thy brain1 that thou art being drawn down to the earth by them2 the spirit of wandering is so strong in thee that thou canst not give thy body rest until it shall return to dust4 ,i resumed my journey to ,turkey1 in the hope soon to set eyes again on ,constantinople4 ,arrived in ,arghini ,i visited the grave of the prophet ,zilkefl2 from there by ,kharput to ,malatia and the grave of ,seid ,ghazi ,sultan1 a native of that place1 and shortly after ,i reached ,siwas1 the first station on ,turkish territory4 ,ali ,pasha received me there with marked distinction2 ,i delayed a short time to visit the grave of ,abdul ,wahab ,ghazi1 and to call upon ,ali ,baba1 who gave me his blessing4 ,after this ,i continued my journey to ,stamboul1 across the plain of ,ken to ,kara ,hissar ,behram ,shah1 and through ,bozauk to ,hadji ,bektash1 where ,i made pilgrimages to the graves of the saints of that place1 and to ,balam ,sultan2 then on to ,kirshehr and the graves of ,hadji ,avran and ,aashik ,pasha1 past ,ayas ,varsak to ,angora1 crossing the ,kizil ,irmak 7,halys7 by the bridge of ,chashneghir4#bah ,i visited the grave of ,hadji ,bairam ,sultan and his children1 and the ,khidr1 and had a friendly interview with ,djenabi ,pasha4 ,from ,beybazari we came to ,boli1 touched ,modurn1 and on to ,kunik1 where is the grave of ,sheik ,shemseddin2 next we came to ,tarakli ,yenidje and ,keive1 with the bridge over the ,sakaria river1 past ,agadj-,deniz1 on to ,sabandja and ,iznikmid#bai and the grave of ,nebi ,khodja4 ,from there our way led past ,ghekivize and ,skutari1 where ,i crossed the ,bosphorus1 and reached ,constantinople in safety4 ,god be praised1 who led me safely through manifold dangers1 and brought me back to this most beautiful country of all the earth4 ,four years have passed away2 years of much sorrow and misery1 of many privations and perplexities2 but now in this year #ifd 7#aeef71 in the beginning of ,redjeb1 ,i have once more returned to my own people1 my relations1 and my friends4 ,glory and praise be to ,god the ,giver of all good things6 ,his ,majesty the ,padishah happened to be at ,adrianople1 and on the second day after my return ,i traveled thither1 to pay him homage4 ,i had the good fortune to be most graciously received by his ,imperial ,majesty4 ,the high ,viziers1 and especially ,vizier ,rustem ,pasha1 loaded me with kindnesses4 ,i was appointed to join the ,corps of the ,muteferrika 7officers in attendance on the ,sultan7 with a daily income of sixty aktche4 ,and the ,kethhuda 7intendant71 who had accompanied me on my travels1 had his salary increased with eight aktche1 and was appointed ,muteferrika for ,egypt4 ,one of the ,boluk-,bashi 7,chef d',escadron7 received eight aktche and my other traveling companions each six aktche above their ordinary pay4 ,one of these latter was nominated to the post of ,egyptian ,tchaush1 and the others joined the volunteers4 ,they received their pay for the four years they had been away1 payment being made out of the ,egyptian treasury4 ,toward the end of ,rajab his ,majesty the ,sultan returned to ,constantinople1 and on the day that he entered the ,konak of ,tchataldja ,i was appointed ,defterdar of ,diarbekir4#bbj ,thus in his gracious kindness his ,majesty had pleased and satisfied us all4 ,he who wishes to profit by this narrative let him remember that not in vain aspirations after greatness1 but in a quiet and contented mind lieth the secret of the true strength which perisheth not4 ,but if in ,god's providence he should be driven from home1 and forced to wander forth in the unknown1 and perchance be caught in the turbulent waves of the sea of adversity1 let him still always keep in mind that love for one's native land is next to one's faith4 ,let him never cease to long for the day that he shall see his native shores again1 and always cling loyally to his ,padishah4 ,he who doeth this shall not perish abroad2 ,god will grant him his desire both in this world and in the next1 and he shall rejoice in the esteem and affection of his fellow-countrymen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i completed this narrative in ,galata in the month ,shaaban of the year #ifd 7#aeef71 and the transcript of it was accomplished in the month ,safar of the year #ife 7#aeeg74 ,,bibliographies ,,medieval ,,arabic ,some of the general works recommended for the early ,arabic history and literature are also of value for this volume4 ,the general theme is covered by3 ,r4 ,a4 ,,nicholson1 ,a ,literary ,history of the ,arabs 7,new ,york1 ,scribners1 #aijg74 ,f4 ,f4 ,,arbuthnot1 ,arabic ,authors 7,london1 #ahij74 ,for the legends of ,mohammed1 read3 ,,william ,,muir1 ,life of ,mahomet 7new edition1 ,edinburgh1 #aiab74 ,d4 ,s4 ,,margoliouth1 ,mohammed and the ,rise of ,islam 7,london1 #aije74 ,,stanley ,,lane-,,poole1 ,speeches and ,table-,talk of the ,prophet ,mohammed 7,london1 #ahhb74 ,a4 ,n4 ,,matthews 7translator71 ,mishcat ul-,masabih1 a ,collection of ,traditions ,regarding ,muhammed 7,calcutta1 #ahaj74 ,,wm4 ,,murray1 ,abulfeda's ,life of ,mohammed 7,elgin74 ,for history and biography1 consult3 ,,baron ,,macguckin ,,de ,,slane1 ,ibn ,khallikan's ,biographical ,dictionary 7,paris1 #ahdb-ahga71 four volumes4 ,,philip ,k4 ,,hitti1 ,al ,baladhuri's ,history of the ,mohammedan ,conquest 7,columbia ,university1 ,new ,york1 #aiaf74 ,albiruni's ,chronology4 ,for romance the list is almost endless4 ,it includes3 ,e4 ,w4 ,,lane1 ,the ,thousand and ,one ,nights 7,london71 three volumes4 ,,john ,,payne1 ,the ,book of the ,thousand ,nights and ,one ,night 7,london1 #ahhd71 nine volumes4 ,,sir ,,richard ,,burton1 ,plain and ,literal ,translation of the ,thousand ,nights 7,london1 #ahhe71 ten volumes4 ,,sir ,,richard ,,burton1 ,supplementary ,nights 7,london1 #ahhg71 six volumes4 ,j4 ,,von ,,hammer1 ,new ,arabian ,nights 7,london74 ,t4 ,,hamilton1 ,antar1 a ,bedoueen ,romance 7,london1 #ahbj71 four volumes4 ,t4 ,,chenery and ,f4 ,,steingass1 ,the ,assemblies of ,al-,hariri 7,london1 #ahih71 two volumes4 ,w4 ,j4 ,,prendergast1 ,the ,maquamat of ,al-,hamadhani 7,madras1 #aiae74 ,c4 ,,field1 ,tales of the ,caliphs 7,new ,york1 #aiji74 ,for philosophic themes1 consult3 ,t4 ,j4 ,,de ,,boer1 ,history of ,philosophy in ,islam 7,london1 #aijc74 ,d4 ,b4 ,,macdonald1 ,development of ,muslim ,theology1 ,jurisprudence1 etc4 7,scribners1 ,new ,york1 #aijc74 ,j4 ,l4 ,,burckhardt1 ,arabic ,proverbs 7,london1 #ahcj74 ,and most important of all for general information is the new and authoritative ,encyclopdia of ,islam1 edited by ,houtsma1 ,arnold1 and ,schaade4 ,,turkish ,,literature ,for the general conditions and history of ,turkey1 read3 ,,sir ,,edwin ,,pears1 ,turkey and ,its ,people 7,london1 #aiaa74 ,l4 ,c4 ,,garnett1 ,turkish ,life in ,town and ,country 7,putnam1 ,new ,york1 #aiaa74 ,,sir ,,chas4 ,,eliot1 ,turkey in ,europe 7,london1 #b;d edition1 #aijh74 ,r4 ,p4 ,,davey1 ,the ,sultan and ,his ,subjects 7,london1 revised edition1 #aijg74 ,s4 ,,lane-,,poole1 ,the ,story of ,turkey 7,new ,york1 #ahig74 ,s4 ,,lane-,,poole1 ,the ,mohammedan ,dynasties 7,london1 #aijc74 ,e4 ,a4 ,,freeman1 ,the ,ottoman ,power in ,europe 7,macmillan74 ,h4 ,a4 ,,gibbons1 ,foundation of the ,ottoman ,empire 7,new ,york1 #aiaf74 ,for the literature itself1 read3 ,j4 ,w4 ,,redhouse1 ,history1 ,system1 etc41 of ,turkish ,poetry4 ,e4 ,j4 ,w4 ,,gibb1 ,ottoman ,poems 7,london1 #ahhb74 ,e4 ,j4 ,w4 ,,gibb1 ,history of ,ottoman ,poetry 7,london1 #aijb74 ,,chas4 ,,wells1 ,turkish ,chrestomathy 7,london1 #ahia74 ,,allan ,,ramsay1 ,tales from ,turkey 7,london1 #aiad74 ,,footnotes3 #a ,abu ,muslim had been the chief means of transferring the ,caliphate from the ,omeyyads to the family of ,abbas4 #b ,father of a villain3 a play upon the name ,abu ,muslim4 #c ,al ,mahdi1 i4e41 the rightly directed4 #d ,the ,caliph's full name was ,abu ,jafar ,al ,mansur4 #e ,i4e41 descendant of ,ali4 #f ,an underground dungeon4 #g ,five4 #h ,praise of ,god4 #i ,koran1 ii41 #bch4 #aj ,a famous musician of the period4 #aa ,i4e41 ,there is nothing new under the sun4 #ab ,in the ,mosque of ,omar4 #ac ,a miracle ascribed to ,mohammed4 #ad ,this was the technical sign for freeing a slave4 #ae ,in this ,assembly ,al ,harith arrives in the town of ,san'a in ,yemen1 in great poverty2 and1 while seeking relief1 encounters a crowd1 which is gathered about a preacher4 ,the discourse is a stern warning against self-indulgence1 and an exhortation to repentance4 ,harith1 wishing to learn who the preacher is1 follows him to a cave1 and there finds him enjoying himself with good food1 and even with wine4 ,he begins to rebuke him1 but the preacher1 throwing off disguise1 extemporizes some lines1 confessing that his preaching was only a device to obtain charity4 ,harith asks the attendant the name of the preacher1 and is told that he is ,abu ,zayd1 of ,seruj4 #af ,in this ,assembly the author displays more than his usual rhetorical subtlety1 and while there is none more admired by those whose taste has been formed on ,eastern models1 there is none which appears more extravagant to the ,european student4 ,alliterations1 verbal caprices1 far-fetched expressions1 and the conceits which were usual among poets of the age1 so abound1 that we may almost imagine the author to be desirous of satirizing what he professes to imitate4 ,the subject is as follows3 ,harith in his passion for the society of literary persons makes his way to ,holwan1 a town in ,irak1 on the mountains east of ,bagdad1 and a resort of the higher classes from the heat of the capital4 ,here he meets with ,abu ,zayd1 who is pursuing his calling of improvisatore and mendicant under various disguises1 and enjoys for a long time his company and literary guidance4 ,abu ,zayd1 however1 disappears1 and ,harith returns to his native place1 ,basra1 where after a time he again meets ,abu ,zayd in the public library1 among a crowd of dilettanti who are discussing the beauties of the popular poets4 ,the admiration of one is especially excited by a line in which the teeth of a lady are compared to pearls and hailstones1 and the white petals of a flower2 and ,abu ,zayd instantly produces a number of comparisons in the same style1 which give him a high place in the esteem of those present1 when they are assured that he is really the author of them4 ,they reward him1 and the ,assembly concludes by his reciting to ,harith1 who had recognized him1 some lines on the fickleness of fortune4 #ag ,harith is in a circle of scholars1 when a lame man makes his appearance1 and after saluting them describes his former affluence and present penury in a very poetical and figurative style4 ,harith1 perceiving his genius1 and pitying his distress1 offers him a denar on condition that he will improvise some lines in praise of it4 ,this the lame man at once does1 and on ,harith offering him another denar on condition of his blaming it1 he recites another composition in dispraise of money4 ,harith then recognizes in the lame man ,abu ,zayd1 and rebukes him for his imposture4 ,abu ,zayd defends himself in some new verses4 ,the opening address of ,abu ,zayd is in imitation of a style said to be common among the ,arabs of the desert4 #ah ,harith is journeying in a caravan to ,damietta1 and during one of the night-halts he hears two men conversing on duty toward a neighbor4 ,the younger being asked for his opinion1 replies in a spirit of charity and generosity1 upon which the other rebukes him1 and sets forth the fitting conduct of a man to his neighbor in accordance with the teachings of selfishness and worldly wisdom4 ,these addresses1 especially that of the elder man1 are expressed in a highly rhetorical diction1 which captivates the literary ,harith1 and the next morning he looks for them1 and discovers them to be ,abu ,zayd and his son4 ,he invites them to his own quarters1 introduces them to his friends1 and procures for them valuable presents4 ,abu ,zayd then asks permission to go to a neighboring village and take a bath1 promising to return speedily4 ,they consent1 and he goes off with his son4 ,after waiting the greater part of the day they find that he has deceived them1 and prepare to continue their journey2 ,harith1 when making ready his camel1 finds some lines written on the saddle1 which allude to a precept in the ,koran in favor of separating after a meal4 ,the plays on words in this ,assembly are exceedingly ingenious and elaborate1 and the opening description has much poetical beauty4 #ai ,the following ,assembly1 remarkable for the poetical beauty of its language1 and the delicacy of its versification1 describes an adventure in which ,abu ,zayd obtains a sum of money from a company of generous scholars4 ,harith is engaged with some friends in a night conversation at ,kufa1 one of the chief seats of ,arabian learning1 when a stranger knocks at the door1 and addresses the inmates in verses describing his want and weariness1 his excellent disposition1 and his gratitude for the favors he may receive4 ,struck with his poetical powers the company admit him1 and give him a supper4 ,the lamp being brought1 ,harith discovers that the guest is ,abu ,zayd1 and informs the company of his merits4 ,they then ask him for a story1 and he relates that he had that evening met with a long-lost son1 whom he would be glad to take charge of1 did not his poverty hinder him4 ,as he had taken care to mention in the narrative that he was of the royal race of ,ghassan1 the company are moved by his misfortunes1 and at once raise a large sum of money to enable him to support his boy4 ,abu ,zayd delights them with his conversation1 but as soon as daylight appears he calls away ,harith1 to assist him in cashing the checks or orders which he had received4 ,the simple ,harith1 who had been delighted with the verses which the father had put into the mouth of his son1 desires to see so eloquent a youth2 upon which ,abu ,zayd laughs heartily1 tells his friend1 in some exquisite verses1 that such a desire is the following of a mirage1 that he1 ,abu ,zayd1 had neither wife nor son1 and that the story was only a trick to obtain money4 ,he then departs1 leaving ,harith mortified at the adventure4 #bj ,this ,assembly is the first of a remarkable series of compositions which1 though they may be set down by ,europeans as merely examples of laborious trifling1 are highly esteemed by the ,orientals as works of ingenuity and scholarship1 and have found in every succeeding age numerous imitators4 ,the incident is that ,harith1 being once on a visit to ,meraghah1 in ,azerbijan1 the northwest province of the present ,persian monarchy1 found a number of literary men lamenting the decline of learning1 and depreciating all contemporary authors in comparison with their predecessors4 ,sitting in a humble place in the outskirts of the company was an elderly man1 who showed by his glances and scornful gestures that he did not value highly the opinions of these critics4 ,when they paused in their fault-finding he took up the conversation1 and declared that one person1 at least1 of the present age was capable of rivaling any who had gone before in scholarship and the arts of composition4 ,he is asked who is this genius1 and answers that it is himself4 ,the company are skeptical1 but as the stranger persists in asserting his great ability1 they determine to test him1 and one of them proposes to him a most difficult task4 ,he tells the company that he is a professional writer attached to the ,governor1 who1 though a man of generosity1 had declared that he would help him no further1 till he had composed an address in which the alternate words should consist entirely of pointed and unpointed letters2 that is1 that the first1 third1 fifth words1 and so forth1 should consist of letters without a point1 while the second1 fourth1 sixth1 and so forth1 should have only pointed letters4 ,he adds that he had been striving a whole year to produce such a composition1 or to find some one who could produce it4 ,the stranger1 on hearing this1 accepts the task with alacrity1 and instantly dictates an address in praise of the ,governor1 fulfilling the conditions that had been imposed4 #ba ,this ,assembly is well known to students4 ,harith is at ,barka'id4 ,the feast at the end of ,ramadan is approaching1 and being desirous of joining in this solemnity he goes to the public prayer in his best attire4 ,when the congregation has formed itself into rows1 after the manner of ,moslem worship1 he espies an old man with his eyes closed1 accompanied by an old woman4 ,the man takes out of a bag a number of papers curiously written or illuminated in variously colored inks2 and the old woman1 going through the rows1 presents them to those whom she guesses from their appearance to be charitably disposed4 ,one of them falls to the lot of ,harith1 who finds on it some strange verses full of alliterations and plays on words4 ,he keeps it1 and when the old woman1 being disappointed in her appeal1 returns to reclaim it1 he offers her a dirhem on the condition that she will tell him the name of the author4 ,she informs him that the old man had composed the verses1 and that he was a native of ,seruj4 ,harith then guesses that he must be ,abu ,zayd1 and is much concerned to find that he has become blind4 ,when the prayer is over he goes up to him and discovers that he is indeed ,abu ,zayd1 whereupon he presents him with a garment and invites him to his house4 ,no sooner are they in private than ,abu ,zayd opens his eyes1 which are perfectly sound1 and ,harith discovers that his pretended blindness was a trick to excite pity4 #bb ,this ,assembly1 like several others that will be met with in the course of the work1 is so essentially ,arabic as almost to forbid intelligible translation4 ,two suitors1 an old man and a youth1 appear before the ,kadi of ,ma'arrah4 ,the former narrates to the ,kadi that he had possessed a beautiful and attractive1 yet obedient and active1 slave girl2 that the youth had borrowed her1 treated her roughly1 and then returned her in an infirm state4 ,the youth admits the charge1 but declares that he had offered sufficient compensation2 and then complains that the old man detained as a pledge a male slave of his1 who was of good origin and qualities1 and highly serviceable to his master4 ,the ,kadi perceives from the style of these addresses that the language is enigmatical1 and bids the litigants speak plainly4 ,the youth then improvises some verses to explain that by a slave girl the old man meant a needle which the youth had borrowed1 and the eye of which he had broken by accident as he was drawing the thread through it2 the male slave which the old man detained was a pencil1 or stylus1 for the application of kohl1 the dark pigment with which ,orientals anoint the eyelid to heighten by contrast the luster of the eye4 ,the old man in his turn admits the truth of this1 but pleads in mournful verse his poverty and his inability to bear the loss even of a needle4 ,the chief feature in the composition is the enigmatical description of the needle and pencil1 which depends on the double meanings of the words and phrases contained in it4 ,some of these are so subtle that even the native commentators are undecided about them2 and we may assume that the double-entente of passages like this was among the lessons which ,hariri is said to have taught to his pupils4 #bc ,the meaning of this passage1 when applied to a kohl pencil1 is as follows3 ,i had a kohl pencil1 the same at both ends1 tracing its origin to the cutler1 free from rust and defect2 often brought near the apple of the eye2 it conferred beauty and produced admiration2 it fed the pupil of the eye with ointment1 but went not near the tongue2 when it was blackened with the ointment it was liberal of it1 when it marked the eye it beautified it2 when it was supplied with ointment it supplied the eye with it1 and when more was required it added more4 ,it remained not always in its case1 and seldom anointed except two eyes at a time2 it gave plentifully of the kohl that was on it1 and was lifted up to the eye for the purpose2 it was constantly attached to the kohl-case1 although the two might be of a different material 7that is1 the pencil might be of gold and the case of glass or silver72 though it was used for adorning1 it was not of a soft substance but of metal4 #bd ,this is one of the two ,assemblies of ,hariri which have been translated and annotated by ,de ,sacy in his ,chrestomathy4 ,harith in his wanderings comes to ,alexandria1 and1 in accordance with his custom1 makes the acquaintance of the ,kadi1 who1 as appears in the sequel1 is a good-natured and benevolent man4 ,one evening1 in winter1 the ,kadi is distributing the public alms1 when an ill-looking old man is brought in by a young and handsome woman who accuses him of having married her on false pretenses4 ,she declares that he had deceived her father by giving out that he had an excellent trade as a pearl-merchant2 that he had been incautiously accepted1 and that now1 when it was too late1 she had discovered that he had no business at all4 ,moreover1 he had taken all her dress and furniture1 piece by piece1 and sold it to keep himself in idleness1 leaving her and her child to starve4 ,the ,kadi is indignant1 and threatens to send the husband to prison1 unless he can clear himself of the charge4 ,the defendant is in no way disconcerted1 but at once improvises some elegant verses1 in which he admits his poverty1 and that he had sold his wife's effects1 but denies that he had deceived her in calling himself a pearl-stringer1 for the pearls which he meant were the pearls of thought1 by stringing which into elegant poems he had been accustomed to make a large income from the liberality of the rich and noble4 ,now1 however1 times were changed2 war and trouble had come upon the earth1 and a race of niggards had succeeded the generous patrons of the old days4 ,the ,kadi accepts the excuse1 bids the woman submit herself to her husband1 and gives them some of the alms-money2 on receiving which the old man triumphantly carries off his wife4 #be ,in this ,assembly ,abu ,zayd is found making gain by his usual questionable arts4 ,at ,rahbah1 on the ,euphrates1 ,harith beholds a crowd following an elderly man who is dragging along a handsome youth4 ,the former accuses the boy of having killed his son1 and it is agreed to go before the ,governor4 ,the purpose of the elder1 who proves in the end to be ,abu ,zayd1 is simply to induce the ,governor to buy off so handsome a youth from punishment1 with the view of taking him into his own household4 ,when they are in court the old man makes his charge1 and as he has no witnesses the boy is allowed to clear himself by an oath4 ,but the old man dictates an oath in which he enumerates all the beauties of the boy1 and invokes destruction on them if truth be not spoken4 ,the boy refuses to swear by such an oath2 and the ,governor1 who desires to take him out of the power of the old man1 then makes up a purse to satisfy the prosecutor4 ,a hundred denars are promised2 but as the whole can not be collected at once the old man says that he will not give up the boy1 but will watch him all night4 ,the ,governor consents1 and soon the two are left together in the courtyard4 ,harith then accosts ,abu ,zayd1 and asks who is the boy4 ,abu ,zayd replies1 that he is his son1 and his assistant in his tricks2 and that they intend to make their escape early in the morning1 and leave the ,governor to his disappointment4 #bf ,this and the following ,assembly are justly reckoned among the masterpieces of the author4 ,to pass suddenly from the most solemn subjects to pleasantry1 to place in the mouth of a clever impostor the most serious warnings that can be addressed to mankind1 may be morally objectionable2 but in the ,moslem world1 where religion is mixed up with all the concerns of life1 and pious discourse and phrases abound1 it excites little repugnance4 ,the design of the author in the present composition was to produce an elaborate sermon in rhymed prose and in verse1 and his genius takes a higher flight than usual4 ,the incident on which the ,assembly is founded is simple4 ,harith1 in a fit of religious zeal1 betakes himself to the public burial-ground of the city of ,saweh1 for the purpose of contemplation4 ,he finds a funeral in progress1 and when it is over1 an old man1 with his face muffled in a cloak1 takes his stand on a hillock1 and pours forth a discourse on the certainty of death and judgment2 rebuking his hearers for their worldly selfishness1 and warning them that wealth and power are of little avail against the general leveler4 ,he then rises into poetry and declaims a piece which is one of the noblest productions of ,arabic literature4 ,in lofty morality1 in religious fervor1 in beauty of language1 in power and grace of meter1 this magnificent hymn is unsurpassed4 #bg ,harith1 being in affluence1 crosses from ,irak to ,damascus to enjoy the luxury of that city4 ,after he has had his fill of pleasure he bethinks himself of returning homeward1 and joins a caravan that is about to cross the ,semaweh1 the desert which lies between ,syria and the ,euphrates4 ,the travelers are ready to depart1 but are delayed by their inability to find an escort1 which they think indispensable for their protection against robbers4 ,while they are consulting they are watched by a dervish1 who at last announces to them that he has the means of keeping them safe from harm2 and1 on their inquiring further1 tells them that his safeguard is a magic form of words revealed to him in a dream4 ,they are at first incredulous1 but at length consent to take him with them1 and to use his incantation4 ,he then repeats it1 and it proves to be a prayer full of assonances and rhymes1 beseeching the general protection of the ,almighty4 ,they all learn it by heart and then set forth1 repeating it twice a day on their journey4 ,as they are not molested on the road they judge the charm to have been successful2 and when they come in sight of ',anah1 the first town on the other side of the desert1 they reward him richly with what he likes best1 gold and jewels4 ,when he has taken all he can get1 he makes his escape1 and the next thing they hear of him is that he is drinking in the taverns of ',anah1 a city celebrated for its wine4 ,harith1 shocked at this enormity in a pious dervish1 determines to seek him out1 and soon finds him reveling amid wine and music in the guest-chamber of a wine-shop4 ,he taxes him with his wickedness1 and then the old man improvises a ,bacchanalian chant1 which is one of the finest pieces in ,hariri's work4 ,in form this poem resembles that which is introduced into the last ,assembly1 though the meter is more light and lively1 as ,hariri1 no doubt1 desired to display his genius by the contrast4 ,this ,assembly is one of the most admired productions of the author1 who has lavished on it all the resources of his marvelous rhetoric4 #bh ,maisuna was a daughter of the tribe of ,calab2 a tribe1 according to ,abulfeda1 remarkable both for the purity of dialect spoken in it1 and for the number of poets it had produced4 ,she was married1 whilst very young1 to the ,caliph ,mowiah4 ,but this exalted situation by no means suited the disposition of ,maisuna1 and amidst all the pomp and splendor of ,damascus1 she languished for the simple pleasures of her native desert4 #bi ,yazid succeeded ,mowiah in the ,caliphate ,a4,h4 #fj2 and in most respects showed himself to be of a very different disposition from his predecessor4 ,he was naturally cruel1 avaricious1 and debauched2 but instead of concealing his vices from the eyes of his subjects1 he seemed to make a parade of those actions which he knew no good ,mussulman could look upon without horror2 he drank wine in public1 he caressed his dogs1 and was waited upon by his eunuchs in sight of the whole court4 #cj ,shafay1 the founder of one of the four orthodox sects into which the ,mohammedans are divided1 was a disciple of ,malek ,ben ,ans1 and master to ,ahmed ,ebn ,hanbal2 each of whom1 like himself1 founded a sect which is still denominated from the name of its author4 ,the fourth sect is that of ,abou ,hanifah4 #ca ,the author of this poem was a hermit of ,syria1 equally celebrated for his talents and piety4 ,he was son to a prince of ,khorassan1 and born about the ninety-seventh year of the ,hegira4 ,this poem was addressed to the ,caliph upon his undertaking a pilgrimage to ,mecca4 #cb ,isaac ,al ,mouseli is considered by the ,orientals as the most celebrated musician that ever flourished in the world4 ,he was born in ,persia1 but having resided almost entirely at ,mousel1 he is generally supposed to have been a native of that place4 #cc ,the family of ,barmec was one of the most illustrious in the ,east4 ,they were descended from the ancient kings of ,persia1 and possessed immense property in various countries2 they derived still more consequence from the favor which they enjoyed at the court of ,bagdad1 where1 for many years1 they filled the highest offices of the ,state with universal approbation4 #cd ,taher ,ben ,hosien was ambidexter and one-eyed and1 strange to say1 the most celebrated general of his time4 #ce ,abu ,tammam is noted as the first collector of the works of earlier poets4 ,he gathered these in a valuable anthology4 ,he was born near ,damascus ,a4,d4 #hjg1 and educated in ,egypt2 but the principal part of his life was spent at ,bagdad1 under the patronage of the ,abasside ,caliphs4 #cf ,abu ,al ,salam was a poet more remarkable for abilities than morality4 ,we may form an idea of the nature of his compositions from the nickname he acquired amongst his contemporaries of ,cock of the ,evil ,genii4 #cg ,the three following songs were written by ,mashdud1 ,rakeek1 and ,rais1 three of the most celebrated improvisators in ,bagdad1 at an entertainment given by ,abou ,isy4 #ch ,ebn ,alrumi is reckoned by the ,arabian writers as one of the most excellent of all their poets4 ,he was by birth a ,syrian1 and passed the greatest part of his time at ,emessa4 #ci ,ali ,ibn ,ahmed distinguished himself in prose as well as poetry1 and a historical work of considerable reputation1 of which he was the author1 is still extant4 ,but he principally excelled in satire1 and so fond was he of indulging this dangerous talent that no one escaped his lash2 if he could only bring out a sarcasm1 it was matter of indifference to him whether an enemy or a brother smarted under its severity4 ,he died at ,bagdad ,a4,d4 #hih4 #dj ,the thought contained in these lines appears so natural and so obvious1 that one wonders it did not occur to all who have attempted to write upon a birthday or a death4 #da ,radhi ,billah1 son to ,moctader1 was the twentieth ,caliph of the house of ,abbas1 and the last of these princes who possessed any substantial power4 #db ,history can show few princes so amiable and few so unfortunate as ,shems ,almaali ,cabus4 ,he is described as possessed of almost every virtue and every accomplishment3 his piety1 justice1 generosity1 and humanity are universally celebrated2 nor was he less conspicuous for intellectual powers2 his genius was at once penetrating1 solid1 and brilliant1 and he distinguished himself equally as an orator1 a philosopher1 and a poet4 #dc ,the wolf4 #dd ,the occasion of the following composition is thus related by ,abulfeda4 ,carawash1 ,sultan of ,mousel1 being one wintry evening engaged in a party of pleasure along with ,barkaidy1 ,ebn ,fahdi1 ,abou ,jaber1 and the improvisatore poet1 ,ebn ,alramacram1 resolved to divert himself at the expense of his companions4 ,he therefore ordered the poet to give a specimen of his talents1 which at the same time should convey a satire upon the three courtiers1 and a compliment to himself4 ,ebn ,alramacram took his subject from the stormy appearance of the night1 and immediately produced these verses4 #de ,ali ben ,mohammed was a native of that part of ,arabia called ,hejaz2 and was celebrated not only as a poet1 but as a politician4 #df ,tabataba deduced his pedigree from ,ali ,ben ,abu ,taleb1 and ,fatima1 the daughter of ,mohammed4 ,he was born at ,ispahan1 but passed the principal part of his life in ,egypt1 where he was appointed chief of the sheriffs1 i4e41 the descendants of the ,prophet1 a dignity held in the highest veneration by every ,mussulman4 ,he died in the year of the ,hegira #dah1 with the reputation of being one of the most excellent poets of his time4 #dg ,ben ,yusef for many years acted as vizier to ,abu ,nasser1 ,sultan of ,diarbeker4 ,his political talents are much praised1 and he is particularly celebrated for the address he displayed while upon an embassy to the ,greek ,emperor at ,constantinople4 ,yusef's poetry must be looked upon merely as a jeu d'esprit suggested by the beauties of the vale of ,bozaa1 as he passed through it4 #dh ,the life of this prince was checkered with various adventures2 he was perpetually engaged in contests either with the neighboring sovereigns1 or the princes of his own family4 ,after many struggles he was obliged to submit to his brother1 ,abu ,camel1 who immediately ordered him to be seized1 and conveyed to a place of security4 #di ,abu ,alola is esteemed as one of the most excellent of the ,arabian poets4 ,he was born blind1 but this did not deter him from the pursuit of literature4 ,abu ,alola died at ,maara in the year #ajdi1 aged eighty-six4 #ej ,written to ,abu ,alchair ,selamu1 an ,egyptian physician4 ,the author was a physician of ,antioch4 #ea ,abu ,ismael was a native of ,ispahan4 ,he devoted himself to the service of the ,seljuk ,sultans of ,persia1 and enjoyed the confidence of ,malec ,shah1 and his son and grandson1 ,mohammed and ,massoud1 by the last of whom he was raised to the dignity of vizier4 ,massoud1 however1 was not long in a condition to afford ,abu ,ismael any protection1 for1 being attacked by his brother ,mahmoud1 he was defeated1 and driven from ,mousel1 and upon the fall of his master the vizier was seized and thrown into prison1 and at length sentenced to be put to death4 #eb ,it is unfortunate that both the philosopher and his opponents should have advanced the same argument in defense of themselves--namely1 their own wisdom4 ,the ,arab philosophers were1 amongst their kind1 something like the libertins of the seventeenth century in ,france4 ,often1 says ,al ,ghazali1 ,i have seen one read the ,koran1 assist at religious ceremonies and prayers1 and praise religion aloud4 ,when ,i asked him1 ',if you consider prophetism as false1 why do you pray6' he responded1 ',it is an exercise of the body1 a custom of the country1 a method of having your life saved4' ,yet he did not cease from drinking wine1 and delivering himself to all sorts of abominations and impieties4 #ec ,seville was one of those small sovereignties into which ,spain had been divided after the extinction of the house of ,ommiah4 ,it did not long retain its independence1 and the only prince who ever presided over it as a separate kingdom seems to have been ,mohammed ben ,abad1 the author of these verses4 ,for thirty-three years he reigned over ,seville and the neighboring districts with considerable reputation1 but being attacked by ,joseph1 son to the ,emperor of ,morocco1 at the head of a numerous army of ,africans1 was defeated1 taken prisoner1 and thrown into a dungeon1 where he died in the year ,a4,d4 #ajhg4 #ed ,this author was by birth an ,african2 but having passed over to ,spain1 he was much patronized by ,mohammed1 ,sultan of ,seville4 ,after the fall of his master1 ,ben ,abad returned to ,africa1 and died at ,tangier1 ,a4,d4 #ajhg4 #ee ,a wicked angel who is permitted to tempt mankind by teaching them magic2 see the legend respecting him in the ,koran4 #ef ,the poet here alludes to the punishments denounced in the ,koran against those who worship a plurality of ,gods3 ,their couch shall be in hell1 and over them shall be coverings of fire4 #eg ,written to a lady upon her refusal of a present of melons1 and her rejection of the addresses of an admirer4 #eh ,gazul is the name of one of the ,moorish heroes who figure in the ,historia de las ,guerras ,civiles de ,granada4 ,the ballad is one of very many in which the dexterity of the ,moorish cavaliers in the bullfight is described4 ,the reader will observe that the shape1 activity1 and resolution of the unhappy animal destined to furnish the amusement of the spectators are enlarged upon1 just as the qualities of a modern race-horse might be among ourselves3 nor is the bull without his name4 ,the day of the ,baptist is a festival among the ,mussulmans1 as well as among ,christians4 #ei ,the reader can not need to be reminded of the fatal effects which were produced by the feuds subsisting between the two great families1 or rather races1 of the ,zegris and the ,abencerrages of ,granada4 ,this ballad is also from the ,guerras ,civiles4 #fj ,shahar is the name of the coast-line between ,oman and ,aden4 #fa ,the word here used is the old and correct one1 ,dar-es-sena 7the house of technics71 from which word the present ,tersane1 i4e41 ,arsenal1 has originated4 #fb ,ashik is now a ruin opposite ,samira4 #fc ,mowsim ,zemani1 literally1 the time of the season4 ,from the ,arabic word ,mowsim the ,english monsoon has originated4 #fd ,a small vessel1 worked by sails and oars1 for the carrying of freights1 also called ,sacolve4 #fe ,lahsa and ,katif1 islands in the ,persian ,gulf1 which1 together with ,ormuz1 ,bahrein1 and ,kalhata1 were famous in the ,middle ,ages1 as staple-towns for the commerce between ,persia and ,india4 #ff ,filandra1 a small ensign hoisted on the top of the mainmast4 #fg ,khorfakan1 a place on the east coast of ,oman1 between ,ras ,dibba and ,fedzna4 #fh ,sohar1 also on the east coast of ,oman4 #fi ,this is the same as ,calatu1 mentioned by ,marco ,polo1 see ,travels of ,marco ,polo1 by ,col4 ,h4 ,yule1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #cha4 #gj ,kuya appears to be really the name of the town ,goa1 the headquarters of the ,portuguese in ,india4 #ga ,according to ,bianchi1 voile d'artimon4 ,the following passage is owing partly to the defective text1 partly to the strange naval technical expressions1 unclear and unintelligible4 #gb ,shaika1 a ,kirghiz boat4 #gc ,compare the ,hungarian d'arda1 i4e41 spear1 lance4 #gd ,of this expression only the word longa 7lenga7 can be identified with the ,italian4 #ge ,a harbor-town in ,persia1 in the vicinity of ,beluchistan4 #gf ,rectius3 ,kidj-,mekran 7,marco ,polo's ,kesmacoran71 as ,yule rightly observes1 situated on the coast of that part of ,kerman1 then belonging to ,india4 ,see ,travels of ,marco ,polo4 #gg ,on our modern maps given as ,shabar1 which is the name of the bay as well as of the place4 #gh ,guador1 on the west coast of ,beluchistan1 belonging to the ,indian ,empire4 #gi ,zofar1 or ,dhofar1 to the east of ,shar4 ,in the ,middle ,ages there was a city of that name1 as mentioned by ,marco ,polo and ,ibn ,batuta4 #hj ,literally1 ,elephant's flood4 #ha ,here follow some nautical expressions which ,i do not understand4 #hb ,perhaps meant for ,manglaus1 ,menglaur1 in the ,district of ,sahranpur4 #hc ,somenat ,somnath1 a town in the south of the peninsula of ,kathiawar1 also the name of the ,district4 #hd ,more correctly ,diu1 an island belonging to the ,portuguese in ,west ,india1 separated from ,kathiawar by a narrow stroke of land1 with about #ac1jjj inhabitants1 and politically under ,goa4 7,see ,imperial ,gazetteer of ,india1 ,,iv41 p4 #cje47 #he ,daman1 a ,portuguese possession in the bay of ,cambay1 with about #ej1jjj inhabitants2 was pillaged first in the year #aeca1 and retaken in #aeec4 #hf ,compare the ,persian badzed1 whirlwind1 tempest2 more correctly gust of wind1 from ,bad1 wind1 and ,zeden1 to strike4 #hg ,in the text ,djonk1 a large ship1 used principally in ,china4 ,first mentioned by the ,monk ,odorico di ,pordenone in #acca4 #hh ,compare dingy1 dinghy4 ,literally1 the name of a ship or large boat1 on the coast of ,mekran2 the word is also known in ,english1 but it originates from ,beluchistan4 ,correctly speaking1 it means a pilot-ship4 #hi ,kotwal1 kutwal1 commander of a fortress1 also policeman4 ,of ,turkish origin1 from the word kut1 to guard1 to watch2 would be more correctly1 kuteol1 meaning guardian4 #ij ,cheter ,kaldirmak means1 literally1 to raise the sunshade 7umbrella71 this being the symbol of sovereignty in ,india4 #ia ,more correctly ,broatsh1 a place northwest of ,surat1 in the province of ,gujarat1 on the right bank of the ,nerbudda4 ,this place has from time immemorial belonged to the ,moslem rulers of ,ahmedabad1 and has twice been pillaged by the ,portuguese 7in #aecf and #aedf74 #ib ,in the text1 ,provador1 meaning ,admiral4 #ic ,ahmedabad1 the chief town of the ,province of that name1 #caj miles north of ,bombay4 #id ,more correctly ,balotra1 a town in ,jodpur 7,radjhputana74 #ie ,champanir1 a mountain fortress in ,gujarat1 in the ,province of ,pendj-,mahal1 #bej miles northeast of ,bombay4 #if ,compare ,tuba-tree1 with the ,sidra-trees of the ,mohammedan paradise4 #ig ,zokum1 a tree which1 according to the ,koran1 grows only in hell4 ,its fruit resembles the plantain and serves as food for the condemned4 #ih ,at present there is only a place of that name known in ,oudh1 but not in ,gujarat4 #ii ,bir ,katar deve1 a team of camels4 ,katar1 team1 means ten camels4 #ajj ,very characteristic is the piece of poetry here introduced4 ,it is probably a ,turkish sea-song of that time4 ,it says3 ,we roam the waters far and wide1 ,and bring confusion upon our enemies2 ,revenge and hatred is our motto1 ,for we are ,khairreddin's troops4 7,khairreddin ,pasha was ,suleiman's renowned ,admiral1 known in ,europe as ,barbarossa47 #aja ,in the text ,bami may possibly be a slip of the pen and intended for ,brahmin4 #ajb ,banians1 ,indian merchants1 more especially from the ,province of ,gujarat1 who from time immemorial have traded with the harbor-towns of ,arabia4 #ajc ,rajput1 a warlike race1 probably descended from the ural-,altaic race4 #ajd ,this can not be the town of that name in ,bengal1 as this lies more to the south and could not be reached from ,ahmedabad in five days4 #aje ,radhanpur1 the capital of the district of that name in the ,presidency of ,bombay4 #ajf ,more correctly ,parkar or ,nagar-,parkar1 the name of a district and a place in the ,presidency of ,bombay4 #ajg ,muhre1 a stone1 which1 so says the legend1 is found in the head of the serpent and the dragon1 and possesses miraculous power4 ,many ,dervishes carry one of these stones in their girdle to trade upon the superstition of the ignorant people4 #ajh ,as a town1 ,wanga is unknown to me1 unless it be intended for ,wanna1 in the district of ,cathiawar in the ,presidency of ,bombay4 #aji ,more correctly ,junaghar1 the name of a ,province and town in ,cathiawar1 ,presidency of ,bombay4 #aaj ,the ,indus4 #aaa ,tatta 7,thats1 or ,nagar ,thats71 in the ,district of ,karachi4 #aab ,nakara1 a band of music1 was formerly considered in ,central ,asia as a sign of sovereignty4 #aac ,serpay vermek1 to distribute festive apparel1 is a great mark of distinction in ,central ,asia1 but as the expression is unknown in ,turkey the author has had to circumscribe it4 #aad ,he gave us the name of3 a mystic army1 #aae ,literally1 there should be no dragonstone1 i4e41 sorcery1 in your guns4 #aaf ,argun and ,tarkhan are two ,turkish tribes in ,central ,asia1 direct descendants of the ,transoxanian warriors1 which came with ,baber to ,india4 #aag ,now ,nasirabad1 the name of several places in ,sind4 #aah ,perhaps meant for ,sehivan in ,naushar on the ,indus4 #aai ,patri1 now a station on the railway-line to ,bombay1 ,baroda1 and ,central ,india2 also the name of a small ,state belonging to ,kathiawar4 #abj ,our author1 according to the spirit of the age1 was not only a brave warrior and sailor1 but also a poet1 using the ,east-,turkish ,dialect 7,djagatai74 ,his muse has no special features1 and with regard to his choice of words they betray a strong tendency toward the ,osmanli dialect4 ,it is nevertheless interesting to note in how short a time he mastered this dialect and that1 more than #ajj years after ,baber1 the ,djagatai tongue maintained itself as the court-and-book-language in ,india4 ,in our translation we necessarily omit these poetic effusions as irrelevant4 #aba ,literally1 wandering4 #abb ,in the text ,kheime we shamiane1 the latter being more a kind of large sunshade4 #abc ,as there are several places called ,sultanpoor and ,mav1 the stations here mentioned are difficult to identify on the map4 #abd ,utch1 a small place on the left bank of the ,pendtjend1 a tributary of the ,indus4 #abe ,on modern maps of ,india it is marked as ,gharra1 by which name the ,sutlej is also known4 #abf ,on the way from ,utch to ,multan there is a river called ,trimba4 ,but ,i have not anywhere come upon a river called ,machvara4 #abg ,sambal1 a place in the ,district of ,muradabad1 in the northeast of ,india4 #abh ,also called ,firuzpoor1 in ,punjab4 #abi ,i4e41 ,khan of the ,khans1 like the ,mirimiran of the ,persians1 and the ,beglerbeghi of the ,turks4 #acj ,correctly1 ,kurur1 that is1 #aj1jjj1jjj rupees1 equivalent to about #e1jjj1jjj4 #aca ,birshegal1 probably a ,hindustani word4 #acb ,in the text ,kish1 i4e41 winter1 also bad weather1 rainy season4 ,compare ,kish ,kiamet1 i4e41 very foul weather4 #acc ,opinions differ as to the exact nature of the ,tughra 7signature of ,turkish rulers3 more correctly1 tora1 meaning decree74 ,some say that it is merely a flourish1 others hold that it is the impression of the hand4 ,in ,central ,asia1 ,turkish monarchs used to dip their hand in blood1 hence the expression al-tamga1 red seal4 ,the descendants of ,baber first introduced into ,india the use of the yellow dye1 saffron4 #acd ,mir ,ali ,shir1 the greatest poet of the ,turks in ,central ,asia1 was born1 according to ,khondemir1 in the year #hdd 7#addj7 and died in ,h4 #ijf 7#aejj74 ,he wrote under the name of ,newai4 ,his compositions1 which are unquestionably superior to any other ,east ,turkish productions1 enjoy to this day great popularity amongst the ,turks of the interior of ,asia4 #ace ,afetabe1 water-basin1 and ,afetabedji1 he who holds the water-basin2 a high court dignity in ,central ,asia1 and later on also among the ,moguls in ,india4 ,the former ,khans of ,khokand had received the title of ,afetabedji from the ,sultan of ,turkey4 #acf ,our author means by ,siwas the old seat of the ,osmans1 but in ,india and in ,central ,asia1 ,rum is generally understood to stand for the ,west1 and more particularly for the ,ottoman ,empire4 #acg ,as the ,turks never conquered ,vienna1 this is a mere boast on the part of the ,turkish ,admiral4 ,possibly1 in the ,far ,east the news of the conquest of ,vienna may have found credence1 for the campaigns of ,suleiman against ,vienna fall about this time4 #ach ,khatib is the name of the ,mollah who on ,fridays says the ,khutbe1 or ,friday prayer1 in which the names of the ,caliph and of the local ruler are inserted4 #aci ,mir ,khosru ,dehlevi 7i4e41 from ,delhi71 one of the greatest poets of ,india1 born #abec1 died #acbd4 ,he wrote in ,persian1 which language had been introduced into ,india with the spread of ,islam4 #adj ,elphinstone in the ,history of ,india relates his death as follows3 ,he had been walking on the terrace of his library1 and was descending the stairs 7which in such situations are narrow steps on the outside of the building and only guarded by an ornamental parapet about a foot high74 ,hearing the call to prayers from the minarets1 he stopped1 as is usual on such occasions1 repeated the creed1 and sat down on the steps till the crier had done4 ,he then endeavored to rise1 supporting himself on his staff2 the staff slipped on the polished marble of the steps1 and the ,king fell headlong over the parapet4 ,he was stunned at the time and1 although he soon recovered his senses1 the injury he had received was beyond cure4 ,on the fourth day after his accident he expired in the forty-ninth year of his age and the twenty-sixth of his reign1 including the #af years of his banishment from his capital4 #ada ,this is meant for ,bairam ,khan1 the faithful follower of ,humayun1 and1 later on1 the ,atabek 7tutor7 of ,ekber4 #adb ,on modern ,english maps of ,india1 these names are given as ,sonpat1 ,panipat1 ,karnal1 ,tanesar1 and ,samani1 in the same order on the way from ,delhi to ,lahore4 #adc ,very striking is the want of reserve wherewith this lie is spread to serve a political purpose4 #add ,matchivara1 a town in ,punjab in ,ludiana4 #ade ,perhaps ,bachrewan1 a town in the province of ,oudh4 #adf ,a stronghold built by ,selim ,shah on the boundary mountains of ,sewalik1 against the ,sakkars4 #adg ,elphinstone1 ,history of ,india1 calls this man ,pir ,mohammed1 the teacher or tutor of ,ekber1 while our author calls him ,khodja ,bairam ,khan4 #adh ,ebul ,maali1 a ,said from ,kashgar1 who had entered the service of ,humayun in #aeea4 ,he had rebelled against ,ekber and had taken possession of ,kabul1 where he was afterward defeated and imprisoned in ,lahore4 ,he died in #aefc4 #adi ,literally1 ,believers in the ,book2 these1 therefore1 have none of the four ,sacred ,books1 viz41 ,koran1 ,tevrat1 ,gospels1 and ,psalms4 ,consequently they are heathen4 #aej ,the burning of widows 7,suttee7 has in recent times been put a stop to by the ,english1 and it is very characteristic that the ,moguls had1 long before that time1 endeavored to check the custom4 #aea ,also called khutaz and kudaz1 a kind of horned cattle4 ,their tail is used as an ornament to hang round the horse's neck4 #aeb ,it appears from this passage that the ,emperor's guests only received the gifts allotted to them when on their return journey2 had1 in fact1 to collect them from the authorities of the districts through which they passed4 #aec ,khoshab1 the name of a town in ,punjab1 situated on the river ,djehlam1 and not the name of the river itself1 as our author states4 #aed ,nilab1 blue water1 can not possibly be the river ,kabul4 #aee ,bakhtar-,zemin1 or ,bakhtarland1 i4e41 ,bactria4 #aef ,generally translated by rhinoceros4 ,baber 7#acef7 makes mention of this animal under the name of gherek1 and he describes it as being about the size of a buffalo4 #aeg ,perhaps more correctly ,lughman1 east of ,kabul4 #aeh ,hezare is the name of the mountainous region1 northeast of ,peshawur2 also the name of an ,iranian ,mongol tribe1 dwelling between ,herat and ,kabul4 #aei ,luli is1 in ,central ,asia1 the name given to the ,gipsies1 to which tribe the dancing and singing damsels and the prostitutes generally belonged4 ,this used also to be the case in ,turkey2 compare ,tchenghi1 musician1 dancing girl1 and ,tchingane1 ,gipsy4 #afj ,kara-bag 7black garden71 marked on the maps merely as ,bag 7garden74 ,tcliarikar lies north of ,kabul1 and ,pervane lies in the same direction as the pass of that name at the foot of the ,hindu ,kush4 ,our author did not take the route now generally used1 across the ,dendanshiken 7tooth-breaker71 but the other1 which lies more to the east1 and which was the one followed by ,baber4 ,this is one of the ,pervan passes1 which1 starting from the place of that same name1 leads to ,badjgah1 and from there into the valley of ,enderab4 #afa ,suleiman ,shah was the son of ,khan ,mirza the ,wise1 a cousin of ,baber's4 ,he had usurped the throne of ,bedakhshan in #aejh1 and was afterward established by ,humayun as ruler over the whole of the ,upper-,oxus territory4 #afb ,from the political condition already referred to1 it is quite evident why our author chose this very difficult1 roundabout route past ,badakhshan1 the same route which was taken by ,sheibani ,khan1 ,baber's adversary1 during his campaign against ,khosru ,shah4 ,part of ancient ,khatlan1 also called ,khotl1 is now included in the ,province of ,kulab4 #afc ,feizabad is now the capital of ,badakhshan4 ,it was ,suleiman ,shah1 who made ,kishm his residence4 #afd ,kalai ,zafar 7castle of victory7 is situated on the ,kotchke1 a tributary of the ,oxus4 #afe ,now ,semti1 on the left side of the ,pendje4 #aff ,now ,kulab 7#a1haj feet above the sea71 situated on a tributary of the ,oxus4 #afg ,neither ,charsui nor ,pul-i-,senghin are to be found on any modern map1 but as the author identifies ,hissar with ,chaganian1 i4e41 places the former in the dominion of the latter province1 we may take it that the ,kafirnihan river was then the boundary-line of ,transoxania4 #afh ,hissar1 situated at the confluence of the ,ilek and the ,khanka-,derya1 formerly known as ,hissar-i-,shadman4 #afi ,probably an ancient title1 which1 in its present form1 is not mentioned in any lexicons or vocabularies4 #agj ,senghirdek is mentioned on the modern maps of ,central ,asia1 between ,sehri-,sebz and ,sari-,asiya 7,yellow ,mill71 as the name of a stream and of a place1 but not as the name of a mountain4 ,sengghirdek means a stone tent4 #aga ,this must be ,mount ,karatepe 7,black ,hill71 7#eaha feet74 #agb ,borak ,khan1 a son of ,mahmud ,khan1 who was defeated by ,sheibani4 ,he was a native of the steppes in the northeast of ,transoxania1 and1 favored by the bad government of ,burhan ,khan1 he and his horsemen1 consisting of ,kirghises and ,kalmuks1 invaded the land1 and took possession of the capital1 ,samarkand4 ,he died in the year #aeee4 ,the incidents connected with his reign1 which our author mentions1 are the more valuable to us as we find no mention of them anywhere else4 #agc ,he died in the year #aeea4 #agd ,called by abbreviation ,burhan ,khan1 an uncle of ,obeidullah4 ,he reigned only a short time1 and died in #aeef4 #age ,aga of the ,osmans was the title of a commander of the ,janissaries which ,sultan ,suleiman had sent from ,constantinople to ,samarkand to support the authority of the ,eastern ,turks4 ,our author1 therefore1 came here unexpectedly in contact with his countrymen4 #agf ,khodja ,ahmed ,jesewi1 the patron saint of ,turkestan1 whose grave in ,aulia ,ata is to this day eagerly visited by pilgrims4 #agg ,when in ,samarkand ,i could learn nothing about the cloak and the ,naalin 7wooden shoes7 of the ,prophet1 but the copy of the ,koran here referred to was extant in the ,mausoleum of ,timur4 ,this latter1 however1 although a very old manuscript in ,kufi letters1 has not descended from ,caliph ,ali1 nor yet from ,caliph ,osman2 it has been brought to ,turkestan by the descendants of ,khodja ,ahrar1 and from ,samarkand the ,russians took it to ,st4 ,petersburg4 #agh ,consequently they belonged at that time still to the ,shaman faith1 an interesting fact and easily explained when we consider that1 at the time of ,timur1 both ,kirghizes and ,turkomans are described as heathen4 #agi ,its name is ,zerefshan1 or ,kohik4 #ahj ,ghidjduvan1 the most northerly town of the ,khanate on the ,wafkend river4 #aha ,may stand for colored coat1 and merely indicates the distinguishing color of the regiment4 #ahb ,literally1 ,red feet1 meaning people that go barefoot1 hence the expressions1 vagabond1 and vagrant4 #ahc ,tchardjui 7more correctly ,tchihar-djui1 meaning four brooks1 after four tributaries of the ,oxus which are there7 was at that time ,persian territory1 and came only to be reckoned to ,bokhara after the seizure of ,abdullah ,khan4 #ahd ,name of the ,shiite saint in ,meshed4 #ahe ,consequently the left side of the river4 #ahf ,curious it seems that #cjj years ago lions were so plentiful in those parts1 while in modern times there has been no sign of them in the steppes of ,turkestan4 #ahg ,in the text called ,hezarus1 by mistake4 #ahh ,dost ,mohammed ,khan1 or simply ,dost1 who was then the ruler of ,kharezm1 and his brother ,esh-,sultan1 were both sons of ,budjuga ,khan4 ,their rival to the throne was ,hadjim ,khan1 who conquered both in turn and put them to death4 #ahi ,the tribe of the ,manghit1 now belonging to the settled population of ,khiwa1 seems at that time still to have led a nomadic life1 inhabiting the steppe between the ,aral and the ,caspian ,sea1 now the home of the ,kirghizes4 #aij ,the ,nomads of ,central ,asia feared the ,russians1 for three years before that time 7#aeed7 ,czar ,ivan ,wassilyewich had conquered ,astrakhan4 #aia ,by ,deshti-,kipchak1 i4e41 the steppe of the ,kipchaks1 ,oriental writers understand the steppe situated between ,kharezm and the ,volga territory4 ,ibn ,batuta likewise accomplished the distance between ,kharezm 7now ,urghendj7 and ,saraidjik in #cj days4 #aib ,saraidjik1 small palace on the bank of the ,ural1 about one hour's distance from the ,caspian ,sea4 ,jenkinson in #aeeh found the place still intact1 but ,pallas in the past century found only extensive ruins to indicate the place4 #aic ,ancient ,theodosia in the ,crimea4 #aid ,at that time the ,king of ,persia was ,thamasp ,shah1 and it so happened that he was on friendly terms with ,sultan ,suleiman1 for about this time a gorgeous ambassy was sent by the ruler of the ,ottoman ,empire to ,kazvin1 as recorded by ,rauzat es ,sefa in the ,seventh ,book4 #aie ,istikhare1 horoscope1 is consulted by opening the ,koran at hazard and the passage at which it opens gives the answer4 ,another way is by the throwing of dice1 or by seizing the rosary 7,tesbih7 at hazard1 when the even or uneven number of the beads decides the question4 #aif ,this passage is of special geographical interest4 ,as our author came from ,kharezm1 on the left shore of the ,oxus1 and crossed the river on his way to ,khorassan1 he refers here undoubtedly to the old course of this river1 mentioned by ,abulgazi4 ,as the ,oxus1 in its course down-stream from ,tchardjui1 reveals several old river-beds1 the direction here indicated by ,sidi ,ali must be one of the two courses which ran either from ,hezaresp or from ,khanka in southwesterly direction into the ,caspian ,sea4 ,most likely it was the latter branch1 as it was at that time the more important of the two1 and1 according to ,abulgazi1 culture had reached a considerable height along its shores4 #aig ,this is ,derum1 frequently mentioned by ,abulgazi1 as situated on the old road from ,kharezm to ,khorassan4 #aih ,bagwai1 on the same road1 but is now no longer marked on the map4 #aii ,nesa1 frequently mentioned in the ,middle ,ages1 situated in the north of ,persia4 ,its ruins have been visited by many modern travelers in the neighborhood of ,ashkabad4 #bjj ,abiwerd is more correct2 it is the modern ,kahka1 a station on the ,trans-,caspian line4 #bja ,curiously enough1 the same custom still prevails in ,persia1 for when ,i visited this land three hundred years later1 disguised as an ,osmanli1 ,i had much to suffer from the indiscretion of the ,shiite fanatics4 ,by night and by day1 on the march and at rest1 it was always this same vexed question of the succession1 which had to be discussed4 #bjb ,murabba1 quatrain1 a poem consisting of four-line verses4 #bjc ,ashura days1 the first ten days of the month ,muharram1 which1 especially in the ,shiite part of ,persia1 were kept as holy days4 #bjd ,boluk-,bashi1 a degree of rank amongst the ,janissaries2 literally1 captain of a division4 #bje ,in the immediate vicinity of ,teheran4 #bjf ,kurdji-bashi1 chief armor-bearer4 #bjg ,this surely must mean a month and a half after entering ,persia1 for the distance from ,rei 7,teheran7 to ,kazvin can easily be accomplished in two or three days4 ,kazvin was at that time the capital of ,persia4 #bjh ,divan ,bey1 first secretary4 #bji ,ishik ,agasi1 chief porter1 a sort of master of ceremonies4 #baj ,literally1 representative2 at the court of the ,shah it is also the title of the overseer over the culinary department4 #baa ,tumen means ducat in ,persian1 but as the word is here used in the dative it would appear that something has been omitted4 #bab ,the ,circassians were at that time not yet ,mohammedans1 for they were converted later on by ,ferrukh ,pasha4 ,it appears from this passage that the ,pilgrims' route from ,central ,asia to ,mecca led in those days past ,astrakhan1 i4e41 by ,kharezm and the lower ,volga1 and from there across the ,caucasus via ,constantinople to ,arabia1 about the same as in modern times1 when pilgrims travel by the ,trans-,caspian line1 via ,batum ,baku and ,constantinople to ,mecca4 #bac ,lakh1 about #ejj1jjj1 a sum only used in ,india4 #bad ,our author refers here to the ,feudal system still in use in ,central ,asia at the time that ,i was there1 and he rightly criticizes the limited power of the rulers1 which is the necessary result of it4 ,in ,persia the relation between the ,khans and the ,shah was based upon this principle till quite within modern times4 ,the ,sultans of ,turkey1 when at the zenith of their power1 were absolute sovereigns of their land4 ,but at the commencement of the decline the same relationship was established there1 as we see from the conduct of the ,derebeys4 #bae ,demtiz means some one possessing strong1 i4e41 active or powerful dem or nefes 7breath74 #baf ,huma1 name of a mythical bird1 a kind of ,phoenix1 which1 as the legend says1 lives in the air and never touches the earth1 and is held to be a good omen4 ,thus1 for instance1 any one who has been overshadowed by this bird is destined to be a ruler4 ,hence the word ,humayun1 i4e41 ,imperial1 an epithet applied to royal persons4 #bag ,tokuz ,olum1 signifying nine fords 7if ,olum be taken for the ,turkoman word of the same meaning71 is not known as the name of a great river1 because1 besides the ,tigris1 there are no large rivers in the neighborhood of ,bagdad4 #bah ,chashneghir1 i4e41 cup-bearer1 probably the name of the builder4 #bai ,iznikmid1 now ,ismid1 has better preserved the ancient ,greek name4 #bbj ,timar ,defterdarlighi1 i4e41 superintendent of the finances of the army4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes ,obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected4 ,variations in hyphenation spelling1 punctuation1 hyphenation and accents remain unchanged4 ,italics are represented thus italic14 ,,on page #cch section ,,iv of ,,the ,,mirror ,,of ,,countries ,,of ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,,sidi ,,ali ,reis 8#ab large boats and #bb gurabs1 #cb vessels in all10 has been corrected to #cd vessels4