[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) › 279.3 # Muntakhab al-tawarikh 279.3 Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 279.3 - **Language:** English ### [279.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.279.3) “O thou who holdest the world in the grasp of thy wisdom by the force of thy sword and thy arrow, Crowned monarch of the throne and of fate, Who conquerest the world by means of thy elephants and thy horses, Thy crown and thy throne, thy sword and thy arrow are the sun, the moon, the lightning, and the meteor, A hundred writers would be unable to reckon the number of thy elephants and horses.” As his divan is exceedingly well known I refrain from quoting any more of his verses. At the time when he was employed on the translation of the Mahabharata he said, “These prolix fables resemble the dreams of a man in a fever.” I said, ‘From the well of hope the water of desire is not to be had.’ It replied ‘The well-rope of hope was not sufficiently long.’ I said, ‘If there is any rest anywhere, tell me where it may be found?’ It replied, ‘In sleep, they say, the sleep of death.’ I said, ‘Can anyone spend his life in joy?’ It said ‘This is mere speech, which never comes to pass.’ I said ‘Why is the brow of the beloved one furrowed with a frown?’ It said, ‘It is ill to contend with one ill-disposed.’ I said, ‘The mirror of wisdom is covered with rust.’ It said, ‘Where is the burnisher, generosity, that it may once more receive a polish?’ I said, ‘The eloquent are the ornament of the assembly.’ It said, ‘Thou canst not say these things to the wealthy.’ I said, ‘Alas for these men, who are far from the truth!’ - [Previous: 279.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.279.2) - [Next: 279.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.279.4) - [Up: 279](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.279) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.279.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.279.3) · Pramāṇa