Untitled

3*2
- SEQOND
DISCOURSE. THE POET'S TRAINING
mortalizing of its own (>
name, how can it
c '
the name of another ?
confer immortality on
But to this rank a poet cannot attain unless m the prime 6f '
his life and the season of his youth 'he commits to memory
20,000 couplets of the poetry of the Ancients, keeps in view [as
models] 10,000 verses of the works of the Moderns, and continually
reads and remembers the'ctfttHfas of the masters of his
art, observing how they have acquitted themselves in the strait
passes and delicate places of song, in order that thus the different
styles and varieties of rerse may become ingrained in his nature,
and the defects and beauties of poetry may be inscribed on the
tablet of his understanding. In this ,way his style will knprov
and his genius will develop. Thei, when his genius has thus
been firmly established in the power of poetical expression, arid
his verse has become even in quality, let him address himself
seriously to the pqetic art, study the science of Prosody, and
familiarize himself with the works of Master Abu'l-Hasan
Bahrami of Sarakhs, such as the "Goal of Prosodists" (Ghdyatul-{
'Ariidiyyiiiy and the "Treasure of Rhyme' s
(Kanzii l-Qdfiyd).
Then let him make a critical study of poetic ideas and phraseology,
plagiarisms, biographies, and all the sciences of this class,
with such a Master as knows these matters, so that he in turn
may merit the title of Master, and his name may appear on the
page of Time like the names of those other Masters whom we
have mentioned, that he may thus be able to discharge his debt
to his patron and lord for what he obtains from him by irKmortalizing
his name.
Now it behoves the King to patronize such a poet, so that he
may enlist in his service and celebrate his praise. But if he fall.
should be wasted on him and no heed
below t this level, no money
for I have investigated
paid to his poetry, especially if he be old ;
this matter, and in the whole world have found nothing worse
than an old poet, nor any money more ill spent than what, is
given to such. For one so ignoble
as not toihave discovered in
fifty years that what he writes is bad, when will he discover it ?
But if he be young and has the right talent, even though his
verse be not good, there is somf hope that it may improve, (n)
and according to the Code of Nobility it is proper to patronize
him, a duty to take care of him, and an obligation to look after
him. t
Now in the service of kings naught is b.etter than improvisation,
for thereby the king's mood is cheered, his receptions are
made brilliant, and the poet himself attains his object. Such
favours as Rudagi obtained from the House of Saman by his iniprovisations
and readiness in verse, none other hath experienced.
1 Or perhaps 'Arudayn^ " the two Prosodies," viz, Arabic and Persian. See the
Editor's note on p. \ o \.
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