The Book of Akbar 1.302-315

1.302

روز بروز این عزم مصصم میشد و اسباب نیکبختی آماده میگشت تا آنکه از بارگاه افضال بخصوص تربیت این نظرکردهآ خود و عموم مهربانی مستعدان سعادت برین پیشقدم سالکان شاهراه ارادت نظر باخلاص و وایسترین قوافل ارباب سعادت نظر بعز مراد، ابو الفضل بن مبارک، که کلاه چهارترکی ارادت بر تارک دل مانده و آستین هفت طراز عقیدت بر هژده هزار عالم افشانده پرتو اشارت تافت که سوانح احوال اقبال قرین و وقایع فتوحات دولت افزای مارا بخامهآ صدق نگارش نماید. چگویم که این حکم نوشتن سرگذشت بود؟ یا بخشیدن همت نگاشتنرا اجازت فرمود؟ یا دلرا سعادت بخشیده واقعه نویس جلایل آثار ساخت؟ یا زبان عجمیرا فصاحت گفتار کرامت کرد؟ نی نی، سخن را بال و قلم را قدم بخشید. سروش غیب بود که از عالم بالا مژدهآ جانبخش رسانید، یا ناموس اکبر که از پیشگاه جبروت تنزیل وی نمود.

Though each one of those four points was a powerful motive for entering upon this great task, yet, as my aim was lofty and ability small, success was not attained nor my desire achieved until this light shone on the antechamber of my truth-reflecting heart; to wit — “In this noble enterprise, at the same time that you discharge your duty to the creature, you are also fulfilling your obligations to the Creator. While you are paying your devoirs of respect and gratitude, you are in reality, steadfastly engaged in praising God, the Creator of the world.” Day by day, my purpose was growing confirmed and the materials of success were being collected, until at length, out of general good-will to the partakers of his felicity and from special favour to me, his charmed-one, a ray of intimation from the court of liberality reached this—as regards his sincerity,—forerunner on the highway of loyalty, but—as regards attainment of desires,—hindermost (member) of the caravans of felicity; and to Abu-l-fazl, son of Mubarak, upon the crown of whose heart is the quadripartite cap of discipleship and whose seven times embroidered sleeve of devotion is celebrated throughout the eighteen thousand creations, this sublime mandate was given. "Write with the pen of sincerity the account of the glorious events and of our dominion-increasing victories. What shall I say was the effect of this order for describing the occurrences?

Did it grant permission to undertake the task by bestowing on me the necessary genius? or did it, by a grant of felicity to my heart, appoint me the recorder of glorious events? or did it bestow eloquence on one rude of speech? Nay! nay! it gave wings to my words and feet to my pen. It was an invisible angel, conveying from the upper world, life-giving news of joy. It was the Archangel Gabriel bringing down a revelation from the antechamber of Omnipotence. Assuredly, I spent much labour and research in collecting the records and narratives of his Majesty’s actions and I was a long time interrogating the servants of the State and the old members of the illustrious family. I examined both prudent, truth-speaking old men and active-minded, right-actioned young ones and reduced their statements to writing. The royal commands were issued to the provinces, that those who from old service remembered, with certainty or with adminicle of doubt, the events of the past, should copy out their notes and memoranda and transmit them to Court. Inasmuch as this auspicious invitation was not fully responded to nor my wish fully accomplished, a second command shone forth from the holy Presence-chamber;

1.315

لاجرم غایت تکاپوی و نهایت جستوجوی در جمع کردن جرائد احوال وصفائح واقعات حضرت شاهنشاهی بجای آوردن گرفتم، و مدتی از ملازمان درگاه و قدیمان این دودمان دولت از پیران هوشمند راست گفتار و جوانان بیدارمغز درست کردار میپرسیدم و بقید کتابت می درآوردم. و باطراف ممالک بجمعی که با خدمت قدیم درستی و راستی متیقن بعضی و مظنون برخی بود مناشیر عالی شرف صدور یافت که نقل مسودات و یادداشتهای خودرا ببارگاه حضور فرستادند. هرچند این داعیهآ سعادتافزا بتمام انجام نیافته بود و این آرزو بکمال انصرام نگرفته که حکم مجدد از پیشگاه مقدس لمعان