The apparition of the result of hopes from the embryonic sac of desire, and emergence of the light of fortune from the auspicious ascension-point,—the most holy nativity,* to wit,—of his Majesty from the sublime veil and consecrated curtain of her Highness, cupola of chastity,—screen of modesty,—saint of seclusion,—scion of austerity,—holy one of the age,—dawn* of epochs,—mistress of the world,—perfect teacher,* —paragon of purity,—pattern of limpidity,—chosen one of pure disposition,—abounding in trustworthy fidelity,—pure-principled princess,—queen of celestial graces,—elect lady of time and the terrene,—world's bliss,—wave of eternal ocean, —mother* -o'-pearl of the ocean of bounty,—lamp of the holy family, —glory of the house of guidance,—lantern of the wall* of worship,— bridal chamber of the auspicious harem,—forefront of obedience to God,—eye of eternal empire,—pillar of the celestial throne,—pedestal of the sublime seat,—lady of the exalted marriage-daïs,—princess of fortune's alcove,—chosen curtain of honour's litter,—exalter of chas­tity's coiffure,—glorious gift of heaven,—treasure of Divine mercy,— prime dainty of the Divine table,—supreme boon of heavenly gifts,— revolving-point of bounties and graces,—glorious pearl of dominion and prestige,—spring-flower of justice,—tablet of the gergeous picture-gallery,—splendour of sanctity and love,—fire-flame of majesty and exaltation,—cream of abilities and accomplishments,—choice one* of the secrets* of hand and heart,—central node of wisdom and wakefulness,—linking the divine and the human,—goodly tree of peace and purity,—generous fruit of liberality and election,—truth-showing mirror,—countenance of certainty,—staircase of majesty,— ladder of realm and religion,—tap-root of the umbrageous trunk of happiness,—noble palm of the garden of excellence,—veiled matron of meekness and modesty,—screened and curtained one of honour and greatness,—glorious medium between hidden and revealed light,— opener of the morning of fortune and favour,—enveloped in celestial veils,—her Majesty Miryam Makānī, chaste one of church and state, Ḥamīda Bānū Bēgam —(may her glorious shadow be perpetuated!)— pure scion of that pattern of eminent saints,* —pole of the poles of greatness,—wanderer in the wilderness of humanity,—swimmer in the ocean of divinity,—lamp of spiritual secrets,—key of the trea­sures of conquests,—rose-gatherer* of the gardens of revelation,— garland-twiner of the fragrant herbs of truth,—abbot (imām) of the monastery of asceticism,—cup-bearer of the tavern of abundance,— ocean-hearted one of the baiting-place of privation,—ocean-drinker of the tavern of unity,—immersed in the seas of holy conflicts,— consumed by the lightnings of contemplation,—torch-bearer of the chamber of the Path,—caravan-conductor on truth's highway,— supreme theatre of the epiphanies of the divine essence,—illumination-spot* of the rays of the Attributes,—cambist* of the secrets of the masters of revelation and manifestation,—assayer of the hearts of the lords of divine transports,—observant traveller over hearts and spirits,—scrutinizer of the interiors of moulds and forms,—disperser* of the clouds of darkness,—procuring the blotting-out of the writings* of transgressions,—knowing the links between the seen and the unseen,—revealer of the splendours of the secrets of mani­festation and concealment—

VERSE.

Pole* which salutes the two poles of heaven,
Bridling by discipline the tigers of lust,
Stalking as a lion in the forest of the heart,
Ocean-drinker of love, the premier elephant, Aḥmad-i-jām,*

Holy be his tomb, (i.e., R. I. P.)

… occurred* when the altitude of Procyon* was 38° and when 8hs. 20m. had passed from the beginning of the night of 8th Ābān* 464, Jalālī era, corresponding to 19th Isfandārmiẕ 911, of the old era,* and to night of Sunday (shab-i-yak-shamba) 5th Rajab, lunar era,* and to 6th Kārtik* 1599, Hindū era, and to 16th Tishrīnu* -l-awwal 1854, Greek era;—4hs. 22m.* of the said night (that of Saturday, or rather Sunday)* were remaining. The place was the auspicious city and fortunate fort, Amarkōṭ,* which belongs to the second climate and lies in latitude 25 N. and longitude 105 E. of the Fortunate Isles. At that time, the imperial army had marched to subdue the country of Tatta (Scinde) and the litter of fortune had been directed to halt in the pleasant country and fortu­nate fortress, on account of the time's drawing nigh for the appear­ance of the light of the world.

Among the strange circumstances which occurred near the time of the appearance of the light of fortune, there was this,—that before the auspicious moment above-mentioned, the mother felt a pressing urgency to bring forth the child. Maulānā Cānd, the astrologer, who by the king's order, had been stationed by the chaste threshold in order that he might cast the horoscope, was perturbed, as the moment was inauspicious. “In a short time,* a glorious moment will arrive, such as does not happen once in a thousand years. What an advantage if the birth could be delayed.” Those who were present made light of it and said, “What is the good of your agitation? Such things are not under control.”

At this very instant the impulse to bring forth passed off and the astrologer's mind was set at rest somewhat by the transit of the unlucky moment. The ostensible cause of this supreme blessing was that a country midwife had been just brought in to perform her office, and as her appearance was repulsive, the holy soul of Miryam Makānī felt disgusted and her even temper was rebuffed and so the urgency for parturition left her. But when the chosen time came, the Maulānā became disturbed, lest it should accidentally pass by. The confidants of the harem said to him, “Her Majesty,* has after much suffering, got an interval of relief and is now slumbering. It would not be right to waken her. Whatever Almighty God, in His good pleasure, has determined, must happen.” Just as they were speaking, the pains of travail came upon her Majesty, Miryam Makānī, and awoke her and in that auspicious moment, the unique pearl of the viceregency of God (Khilāfat) came forth in his glory.

They spread the carpet of joy under the canopy of chastity and curtain of honour, and made ready a feast of joy and exultation. The veiled ones of the pavilion, and the chaste inmates of the royal harem anointed the eye of hope with the collyrium of rejoicing and coloured the eyebrows of desire with the indigo* of merriness. They decked the ear of good tidings with the earring of success, painted the face of longing with the vermilion of pleasure, encircled the fore-arm of wish with the bracelet of purpose, and donning the anklet of splen­dour on the dancing foot, stepped into the theatre of delight and joy and raised the strain of praise and gratulation. Fan-wavers sprinkled otto of roses, and winnowed the air with sandal-scented arms. Dark-haired maidens freshened the floor by rubbing it with perfumes. Rose-cheeked damsels gave a new lustre to joy by sprinkling rose-water. Red-garmented, sweetly-smiling nymphs enveloped the silver-bosomed ones in gold, by scattering saffron. Rose-scented, jasmine-cheeked ones soothed the rapid dancers with camphorated* sandal-wood. Gold in thuribles on the borders of the carpet, gave off fumes of incense.* They uncoyered the stoves which were filled with lign-aloes and ambergris. Musicians created enchanting ecstacy, and melodious minstrels breathed forth magic strains.

VERSE.

And soft-voiced Indian maids,
Glorious* as Indian peafowl,
And light-fingered Chinese musicians
Produced intoxication with wineless cups;
And dulcimer-players from Khurāsān
Brought ease to laden breasts,
And singers from the land of ‘Irāq,*
Everlasting capturers* of joy.

In truth there was an assemblage like the communion of saints and recluses in the exquisiteness of its repose, and a carousal like a feast of spiritual beings in the absence of wine and cup. Celestial spectators took part in the rejoicings without the aid of bodily organs of vision, and sightseers from the upper world poured forth this strain with tongueless tongues: