“INASMUCH as the world-rejoicing favour of the king of kings, and the globe-adorning bounty of the asylum of the universe, is ever attendant to the condition distinguished by virtue of* (the giver of splendour to the aspect of dignity and honour, adorner of the musnud of the assembly of nobility and high fortune, shrub of the garden of loyalty and attachment, ornament of the mansion of fidelity and unshaken adherence, enlivener of the assembly of truth and constancy, diffuser of fragrance in the apartments of virtue and purity, brightness of the sabre of heroism and valour, ocean of liberality and munificence, chief link in the chain of sincerity and openness, distinguished in the circle of kindness and affability, acquainted with the duties of friendship and regard, chief of the followers of what is right, encreaser of fragrance to the perceptions of unanimity and concord, distinguished in the world of agreement and alliance, sea of wisdom and knowledge, well-experienced in the mysteries of changeful fortune, heart-expanding breeze of the rose-bud of loyalty, delight-encreasing odour to the sensation of attachment, pursuer of the path of wisdom and arranger of the garden of understanding, first of the nobles, highest among exalted lords, our honoured uncle, example to the empire, and director of the candidates for honour in the present day) Bharam Khan, information is given of our surprizing and astonishing adventures.
“When, returning in victory and triumph from the empire of Menousowaud, after encountering a thousand dangers, we had pitched the royal tents on the confines of our own dominions; as time is ever pregnant with good and evil, and our stars are sometimes friendly and sometimes adverse, the deceitful Hoormuz, shaking the chains of treachery, by artifice and cunning seized our elemental frame, and our pure soul being for some time confined in the envelope of an antelope, became a cause of exultation to the deer of Khoten and Tartary, and of boasting to the fawns of Thibet and China. The abominable wretch, fancying himself able to bear the crown of Khoosroo and wear the robes of Keikobaud, was filled with empty ideas, and imagining his feeble star a planet sufficient to illume the universe, entertained the boastful vanity of ruling the world. Like a dot in the center of a compass-drawn circle, he sat in the boundary of royalty.
“At this period, when the planet of our princely family was in descendance, the gracious monarch, whose throne of repose is now in heaven, having cast off the vesture of this frail world, departed for the eternal mansions, and the impostor inflicted horrible disgrace on the person of royalty; but as the almighty Dispenser requites every one according to his actions, his short-lived splendour, resembling the feeble blaze of lighted straw, was speedily extinguished.
“Being devoured by blood-preying dogs, in reward for his crimes, he in numberless tortures was dispatched to hell; and the gale of prosperity waving afresh over the garden of our hopes, expanded the blossoms of the hearts of the loyal to this everlasting empire. It is most probable, that intelligence of these astonishing events, before the arrival of our gracious firmaun, may have reached the hearing of the chief in the path of fidelity.*
“To God be praise and thanksgivings, that the affairs of the world are settled agreeably to the wishes of the well-affected to our gracious house, and that the kindly shade of our sacred person is extended over the heads of mortals. Doubtless, our dear uncle, from the depth of his wisdom and experience, considering the fate of the traitor (according to the adage, Fly like the arrow from the disloyal, and take up thy abode with the well-affected) will hasten to that party. How can it be supposed, that with their virtues, good sense, and recollection of the favours conferred upon them by his majesty, whose reposing place is now in heaven, they can without any reason withdraw their feet from the circle of loyalty? Surely it is impossible that the vest of that measurer of the path of fidelity and attachment should be stained with the filth of so dishonourable an action, which is contrary to the dictates of religion.
“Now that, by the favour of the Almighty, the spring of the blossoms of loyal hearts has appeared, we doubt not but that having offered up sincere thanksgivings, that chief of our nobles will without delay hasten to our court, the asylum of a world, and gladden his eyes with the splendour of our august presence.
“Several imprudent meddlers have represented the conduct of that adorner of the assembly of fidelity as disloyal, and advised us to move against him with our victorious forces; but as our pure mind is a mirror reflecting truth, we declined the advice, and made the slanderers ashamed of their insinuations. We trust, that the distinguished by our confidence also, not attending to the remarks of the officious, but contemplating his true interest with a penetrative eye, will with glad heart and assured mind hasten to enjoy honour by kissing the carpet of our sublime throne.
“By God’s blessing, after obtaining the gracious audience, he will, eminently distinguished by the imperial favour, become the envy of his equals and contemporaries. The administration of all our affairs being entrusted to his wisdom and direction, bounties greater than can be conceived by the public, or that virtuous personage himself, will be conferred upon him. May his duty and loyalty continue to encrease! and may the divine auspices direct him in the right path!”*
When the above gracious firmaun reached the rebel, (as he was intoxicated with the wine of pride and vanity, and the sweets of independence had become relishing to his corrupted palate) forgetting his own station, and the bounties of Jehaundar, he returned the following insolent reply, and prepared for himself the means of destruction and ruin.