Muntakhab al-tawarikh 30.3.5

30.3.5

They were preparing to perform the wazu in the water of their eyes, Hoping for pardon for that they wept at the time of prayer. Their tongues were blistered like the feet of prisoners, So sorely did they weep for the captives of calamity. Their eyes poured forth blood upon the earth like the throat of the slain, So bitterly did each one weep for his own dead. And if by chance a captive returned from that bond of calamity, Every one seeing his face wept honest tears of sorrow. [So great was the weeping that the waves of the tears were greater than those of the Jihun. This was my own condition, the state of the others how can I describe? Shall I wring my hands, or shall I with my own teeth make my arm livid, Or shall I wear clothes of a darker blue than this blue heaven? Every man of reputation tattoos his arm with the needle, But when I make my arm blue with my teeth, the name of the king leaps forth on my arm. Alas! that he by the tyranny of the blue sky, is sleeping beneath the earth, while because of his sleeping there the whole horizon has become blue (dark). There was both the blackness of the Hindu and the whiteness of the Turk, whereas now both Turk and Hindu are wearing blue (as mourning). [It was as though the people were tearing the heavens and dividing them among themselves, To such an extent [men are in all directions blue with mourning garments.]