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T*HIRD DISCOURSE. ON ASTROLOGERS<br />
(<br />
A-NECDOTE XXVII.<br />
(.. i<br />
Hakfm-i-Mawsili was o tne of the Border of Astrologers in<br />
Nishapur, and was in the service of that Great Minister Nizamu'l- ,<br />
Mulk of Tus, who used to 'consult with him on matters of importance,<br />
and seek his advice (ir) and opiniodi. Now when Mawsilf's<br />
years were drawing to a close, and failure of his faculties began<br />
to manifest itself, and feebleness of body began to appear, so<br />
that he was no longer able to perform these long journeys, he<br />
asked the Minister's permission to go and reside at Nfshapur,<br />
and to send thence, annually, an almanac and forecast for<br />
the year. c fi<br />
Now the Minister Nizamu'1-Mulk was also in the decline of<br />
life and near the term of existence and he ',<br />
said, " Calculate the<br />
march of evento and see when the dissolution of my elemental<br />
nature will occur, a r nd at what date that inevitable doom and<br />
unavoidable sentence will befall."<br />
Hakfm-i-Mawsili answered, " Six months after my death.'''<br />
So the Minister bestowed on him in increased measure all things<br />
needful for his comfort, and Mawsilf went to Nfshapur, and there<br />
abode in ease, sending each year the forecast and calendar. And<br />
whenever anyone came to the Minister from Nfshapur, he used<br />
first to enquire, "How is Mawsilf?" and so soon as he had<br />
ascertained that he was alive and well, he would become joyous<br />
and cheerful.<br />
At length in the year A.H. 485 (A.D. 1092-3) one arrived from<br />
Nfshapur, and the Minister enquired of him concerning Mawsilf.<br />
"<br />
The man replied, with an obeisance, May he who holdeth the<br />
ck-ief feat in Islam be the heir of many life-times ! Mawsilf hath<br />
quitted this mortal body." "When?" enquired the Minister. "In<br />
the middle of Rabi" the First" (April 11 May 11, A.D. 1092),<br />
answered the man, " he yielded up his life for him Who sitteth in<br />
the chief seat of Islam."<br />
The Minister thereat was mightily put'' about ; yet, being<br />
thus warned, he looked into all his affairs, confirmed all his pious<br />
endowments, gave effect to his bequests, wrote his last testa-<br />
ment, set free such of his slaves as had earned his* approval,<br />
discharged the debts which he owed, and, so far as lay in his<br />
power, made all men content with him, L.nd sought forgiveness<br />
from his adversaries, and so sat awaiting his fate until the month<br />
of Ramadan (A.H. 485 = Oct. 5 Nov. 4, A.D. 1092), when,! he foil<br />
a martyr at Baghdad 1 at the hands of that Sect (i.e. the Assassins) ;<br />
may God make illustrious his Proof, and accord him an ajnple<br />
approval !<br />
1 This is an error of the author's, for the evidence that Nizamu'1-Mulk was (<br />
assassinated<br />
at Nihawand is overwhelming.<br />
(<br />
,