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,<br />
2- CuAHfvR MAQALA. EXORDIUM<br />
r<br />
f<br />
vouchsafe to him and to,the other kings of that line a full portion<br />
of dominion "and domain, throne and fortune, fame and success,<br />
command and prohibition, by His Favoyr and universal Grace !<br />
SECTION I.<br />
It is an old custom and ancient convention, which custom is<br />
maintained and observed, that an author (r) or compiler, in the<br />
introduction to his discourse and preface of his book, should<br />
commemorate somewhat of his patron's praise, and record some<br />
prayer on behalf of the object of his eulogy. But I, a loyal<br />
servant, instead of praise and prayer 'for this princq will mkke<br />
mention in this book of the favours ordained and vouchsafed<br />
by God Most High and Most Holy to this King of kingly parent-<br />
age, that, these'being submitted to his world-illuminating judgement,<br />
he may betak'e himself to the expression of his thanks for<br />
them. For in the uncreated Scripture and unmade Word God<br />
says, "<br />
Verily ifye be 1 "<br />
thankful I will give you c'ncrease for the<br />
;<br />
gratitude of the servant is an alchemy tfor the favours of the<br />
Munificent Lord. Briefly, then, it behoves thi,s great King and<br />
puissant Lord to know that to-day, upon the whole of this globe<br />
of dust, and within the circle of this green parasol 2<br />
, there is no<br />
king in more ample circumstances than this monarch, nor any<br />
potentate enjoying more abundant good than this -<br />
sovereign. He<br />
his<br />
hath the gift of youth and the blessing of constant health ;<br />
father and mother are alive ; congenial brothers are on his 'right<br />
hand and on his left. And what father is like his sire, the<br />
ever-victorious and heaven-aided<br />
mighty, divinely-strengthened,<br />
FakhrrCd-Dawla wad-Diu s<br />
, Lord of Iran, King of the Mountains<br />
(may God prolong his existence and continue to the heights<br />
his exaltation!), who is the most puissant Lord of the age and<br />
the most excellent Prince of the time in judgement, statecraft,<br />
l<br />
knowledge, courtesy, swordsmanship, strength of arm, treasure<br />
Supported by ten thousand "men bearing spears<br />
and equipment !<br />
and handling reins he hath made himself a shield before his sons,<br />
so that not even the zephyr may blow roughly on one of his<br />
servants. In her chaste seclu.sion and unassailable abode is a<br />
prayerful lady (may God perpetuate her exaltation !) whose every<br />
invocation, breathed upwards at earliest dawn to the Court of<br />
God, works with the far-flung host and wheeling army. Where<br />
Prince Shamsrfd-Dawla wdd-<br />
again is a brother like -the royal<br />
Dm 4<br />
, Light of Islam and the Muslims (may his, victories be .<br />
1<br />
Qur'dn, xiv, 7.<br />
2 The variant<br />