The Book of Akbar 207: CHAPTER XXXIII.

207

When the loving letter of his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-ashyani reached Shah Tahmasp, he regarded his Majesty's auspicious advent as an unlooked for blessing and felt delighted. He wished that the glorious shadow of the auspicious huma (huma-i-sa'adat-i-humayuni) might fall on the crest of his own fortune, and that the experience of this grace might form the inframing border for the record of the splendour of his family. In acknowledgment of the blessing he bade the drums of rejoicing beat for three days in Qazwin. And he wrote a reply full of respect and veneration and of wishes for his Majesty's speedy arrival, with thousands of lauds and encomia, and sent it along with various gifts and rarities by his special courtiers. This verse was written on the border ('anwan) of the letter.
Verse.
"A huma of auspicious soaring falls into our net, If for thee there chance a passage to our abode."
He sent back the messenger after doing him special honour, and expressed all manner of thankfulness and gratitude, and recalled old friendship. He also wrote to the governors of the cities and towns that at every city and halting-place where the august progress should rest, the leading men and the inhabitants, high and low, should keep the occasion as the fete day of the royal family, and should go out to welcome his Majesty and should engage in royal feastings; also that they should provide at each stage proper materials and furnishings, food and drink, and fresh fruits, such as might be worthy of his Majesty's regard. An exact copy of the ordinance which was addressed to Muhammad Khan, the governor of Herat, is here set forth that it may be a code of regulations for the intelligent and that those alive to the ways of humanity may, by looking at this frontispiece of urbanity, act with philanthropy, honouring and reverencing the unfortunate who have experienced fate in its heights and depths, and may not abate one jot of kindness towards them.