The Book of Akbar 306.4

306.4

The Sultan of the spheres (the sun) had reached the auspicious House of Pisces, and had bent his sublime aspect towards his House of Exaltation, in order that he might make the four-pillared throne of Aries radiant with the auspicious Accession, and might refresh the dust-stained denizens of earth’s domain by universal plenty. A canopy of trees threw a shade over the parterre which made the throne-chamber; and King Rose (Khusrau-i-Gul) sat on an emerald throne, wearing a diadem composed of the hundred-leaved rose, set with jacinths and rubies; and sweet voiced birds, like the heralds of an imperial accession, with scarves of long feathers (shahpar) on their bodies, and ermine robes on their bosoms, raised high the khutba of joy from many-pillared arboreal pulpits. The cypress and pine, who stood in respect’s antechamber, bowed their heads in reverence, and the box-tree and juniper, who were feeble and needy seniors, put on the dress and the airs of youth. Glorious tulips and aromatic plants donned parti-coloured robes, and the young tulips and dog-roses could not for joy contain themselves in their vestments. The sound of the drums of thunder, set upon the heads of elephant-clouds, made uproar throughout the seven climes, and the pearl-dropping voice of early spring emitted a general invitation to the four quarters of the universe. The winds of enduring bounty began to issue from the blow-holes of benevolence, and the flower gardens of the Divine Caliphate blossomed anew.