[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate) › [Ṭabaqāt-i Nāṣirī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri) › [Tabakat-i-Nasiri](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty) › 15 # The Nāṣirī Generations 15: ANECDOTE. Tabakat-i-Nasiri 15 - **Language:** English ### [15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.15) There was a person dwelling at Nishapur, one of the most excellent men of his day, named Mahmud-i-Warrak. He possessed a female slave, who played exceedingly well upon the barbat — a kind of lute — and of such grace and beauty as cannot be described. The fame of the loveliness of this slave-girl, and of her amiability and accomplishments, having reached the ear of Muhammad-i-Tahir, to the effect that she improvised ghazals, or odes, sang them, and accompanied them on the barbat, the heart of Muhammad-i-Tahir desired, beyond measure, to obtain possession of her. He had repeatedly asked Mahmud-i-Warrak to part with her, and, had offered to give a very high price for her ; but all his offers were rejected, and he could not obtain possession of her, for her master himself was deeply enamoured of his beautiful slave, Ratibah, as she was named. After some time had elapsed, however, and Mahmud-i-Warrak had expended all his property and possessions in pleasure and expense on her account, and nothing remained to him, he despatched a person with a message to the presence of Muhammad-i-Tahir soliciting that the Amir would honour him with a visit, in order that he might dispose of his beautiful slave to him. When Muhammad-i-Tahir received this message he was delighted beyond measure, and directed that four badrahs of silver should be brought and handed over to the domestic who brought the message, while the Amir arose, and proceeded, by way of his own private residence to that of Mahmud-i-Warrak. When the Amir had sat down, and the silver was placed before the eyes of Mahmud-i-Warrak, he, seeing the state of affairs, went out, and directed Ratibah, saying: "Don your best apparel, Ratibah, and prepare to present yourself before the Amir, as I am going to sell you to him." When the slave-girl heard these words she burst into a flood of tears, and, such was the paroxysm of her grief, that the sounds reached the ears of the Amir, who was in another apartment. He heard Mahmud say to her: "Wherefore all this grief and lamentation, O Ratibah?" to which she replied: "O my master! is this the end of our connexion, that at last you separate me from you?" Mahmud replied: "All this I do out of love and affection for you, now that I possess nothing, and am a beggar; and, that you may continue to live in ease and affluence for the rest of your life, I send you to the haram of the Amir." Ratibah replied: "If you merely act thus on my account, refrain from doing so, for I undertake to work for the rest of my days, and, by industry befitting a woman, by weaving coifs and mantles, earn sufficient means for your subsistence and my own, but do not separate me from you." Mahmud-i-Warrak rejoined: "If such be the case, O Ratibah, I now pronounce you free, and fix your dowry at nineteen dinars and a half, and make you my wife." Muhammad-i-Tahir, hearing this loving and affectionate dialogue between Mahmud-i-Warrak and his slave, arose, and, gathering his garments about him, said to Mahmud; "The whole of the four badrahs of silver are thine; I make thee a present of it: pass the rest of thy life in ease and affluence!" Thus saying, he went his way; and the fame of his generosity still remains. - [Previous: 14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.14) - [Next: 16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.16) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.15) · Pramāṇa