The Book of Akbar 347.1

347.1

Thanks be to unequalled bounty, and to unceasing excellence that the third year of the Divine Era has happily come to an end, and that time has come for the beginning of the fourth year. On Sunday 2 Jumada-al-akhiri 966 (12 March 1559) the light of Akbar and the great light shed their radiance on the house of exaltation. The visible and invisible world obtained splendour; the gates of joy were opened before mortals, the things of delight displayed brilliancy before the eyes of mankind, the orb (kaukaba) of the Sultan of spring (the sun) inflamed the world and took possession thereof; the sound of the army of King Rose opened the ears of time and the terrene; the New Year-bounty of the spirit of vegetation breathed on the bodies and moulds of terrestrials; the liberality of spring bestowed brain-nourishing odours and perfumes on the horizons; the vernal breeze taught the nurslings of the garden the tripping gait of the partridge and the stately step of the pheasant, the atmosphere gave to earth’s fixtures the ascension of fire, and the mobility of water. The brown covering of earth was changed into a satin and brocade carpet, without woof or warp, of verdure and roses;