The Book of Akbar 144.5

144.5

He held high rank as a poet and a prose-writer, and especially in Turki poetry. The Turki diwan (diwan-i-turki) of his Majesty is of great eloquence and purity, and its contents are charming. His book of Masnawi which has the name of Mubin (clear) is a famous composition and is mentioned with great applause by critics. He versified the Risala-i-walidiya of Khwaja Ahrar which is a pearl from the ocean of knowledge, and very excellent it was. He also wrote his Acts (Waqi'at) from the beginning of his reign to the time of departure with fidelity and in a lucid and eloquent style. It is an Institute for all earthly sovereigns and a manual for teaching right thoughts and proper ideas. This Institute of dominion and fortune was, by the world-obeyed commands of the king of kings, translated into Persian by Mirza Khan Khan-khanan, son of Bairam Khan, in the 34th year of the Divine Era, at the time of the return of the standards of glory from the roseate vernal abode of Kashmir and Kabul, so that its exquisite bounties might moisten the lips of all the thirsty and that its hidden treasures might be beheld by those whose hands were empty of learning. His Majesty was also eminently skilled in music and composed charming verses in Persian. Among them the following quatrain is a product of his bounteous muse. Verse. Though I be not related to dervishes. Yet am I their follower in heart and soul. Say not a king is far from a dervish; I am a king but yet the slave of dervishes.