[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Muntakhab al-tawārīkh](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh) › [Muntakhabu-t-tawarikh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig) › 253 # Muntakhab al-tawarikh 253: XL. Hayati of Gilan. Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 253 - **Language:** English ### [253](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.253) He was a sympathetic friend, and excelled in all descriptions of poetry. He entered the imperial service on the recommendation of Hakim Abu 'l-Fath and grew up in that service. He has written a divan and is well acquainted with the poetry of the ancients. Although he is entirely destitute of actual learning he is strenuous and has a sound understanding and a well-balanced mind. The following verses are his — “Watch thyself well in every word that thou utterest, Repent of a speech which gladdens no heart. What need hast thou of the wing of a bird? If the men of this age are employed in light talk Borrow the foot of the ant, and flee.” “God doth not accustom my tongue to the uttering of complaints: May He not associate me with complaints, especially of thee!” Quatrain. “Ever hast thou treated me with harshness,— thou art excused. Thou hast heard but the name of faithfulness,— thou art excused. Thou sayest, ‘I am falsely accused of harshness’; Thou hast not tried thyself,— thou art excused.” Quatrain. “So long as thou art employed in the nurture of vain desires, Thine axe shall strike no stump but thine own foot. of thought passes by his house; correctness and equity are visible on his forehead. Serenity and truth are in him united; he is free from the bad qualities of poets.” He is said to have been born at Rasht in Gilan and to have belonged to the common people of that place. To better his circumstances he went to India, was introduced by Hakim Abu 'l-Fath Gilani (see c in no VIII) at court, got a jagir and was liked by Akbar. He joined the Khankhanan in the wars in the Dakan and lived chiefly at Burhanpur where he built a villa and a masjid called after him. He was alive in A.D. 1616. No enemy works thee such mischief as thou workest thyself, Thy blood is on the head of thine own imagining.” “We have associated with unbelievers But found among them no waist worthy of the sacred thread” An ode. “I desire a house of mourning that I may shut its door on myself But my resolution has peopled it, and now I desire some desert spot. The world is disturbed by stories of “to-morrow” and “yesterday,” I desire some tale of the speech of my own grief. From the fields of this world, the harvest of ox and ass, I desire no harvest nor ear of corn nor even a grain. I am content whether I be killed by the sword of the warrior of Islam or the arrow of the unbeliever, I thirst for my own blood and all I require is a cup. Hayati, sit not before me, prevent not my ravings, I am a lover and thou art wise, a demented companion is what I require.” - [Previous: 252](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.252) - [Next: 254](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.254) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.253](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.253) · Pramāṇa