Maḥmúd Dá'údí, the son of Abu'l-Qásim Dá'údí, was a great fool, nay, almost a madman, and had no considerable knowledge as to the actions of the stars; yet he could cast a nativity, and in his notebook were figures declaring “it is” or “it is not.” He was in the service of Amír Dá'úd Abú Bakr Mas'úd at Panj-dih; and his prognostications generally came right.
Now his madness was such that when my master the King of the Mountains sent him a pair of Ghúrí dogs, very large and formidable, he fought with them of his own free-will, and escaped from them in safety. Years afterwards we were sitting with a number of persons of learning in the Perfumers' Market at Herát, in the shop of Muqrí the surgeon-druggist,*
and discussing all manner of subjects. One of these learned men happening to remark, “What a great man was Avicenna (Ibn Síná)!” I saw Dá'údí fly into a passion, all the possession of anger appearing in and overcoming him, and he cried: “O so-and-so, who was Abú 'Alí? I regard myself as equal in worth to a thousand Abú 'Alí's, for he never even fought with a cat, whilst I fought before Amír Dá'úd with two dogs.” So on that day I knew him to be mad; yet for all his madness I witnessed the following occurrence.
In the year A.H. 505*
(A.H. 1111-1112), when Sulṭán Sanjar encamped in the Plain of Khúzán,*
on his way to Transoxania to fight with Muḥammad,*
Amír Dá'úd attached himself to the King, and made a great entertainment for him. On the third day the King came to the river-brink, and entered a boat to amuse himself with fishing. In the boat he summoned Dá'údí before him to talk after the manner of madmen, while he laughed, for Dá'údí would openly abuse Amír Dá'úd.
Presently the King said to him, “Prognosticate how many maunds the fish which I shall catch this time will weigh.” Dá'údí said, “Draw up your hook.” So the king drew it up; and he took the altitude, paused for a while, and then said, “Now cast it.” The King cast, and he said, “I prognosticate that this fish which you will draw out will weigh five maunds.” “O knave,” said Amír Dá'úd, “whence should fish of five maunds' weight come into this stream?” “Be silent,” said Dá'údí; “what do you know about it?” So Amír Dá'úd was silent, fearing that, should he insist further, he would only get abuse.
Suddenly there was a pull on the line, indicating that a fish had been taken captive. The King drew in the line with a very large fish on it, which, when weighed, scaled five*
maunds. All were amazed, and expressed their astonishment. “Dá'údí,” said the King, “what dost thou wish for?” “O King,” said he with an obeisance, “of all that is on this earth I desire but a coat of mail, a shield, and a spear, that I may do battle with Báwardí.” And this Abáwardí was the Captain of Amír Dá'úd's gate, and Dá'údí entertained towards him a fanatical hatred, because the title of Shujá'u'l-Mulk had been conferred upon him, while Dá'údí himself bore the title of Shujá'u'l-Ḥukamá, and grudged that the other should be so entitled. And the Amír, well knowing this, used continually to embroil Dá'údí with him, and this good Musulmán was at his wits' end by reason of him.
In short, as to Maḥmúd Dá'údí's madness there was no doubt, and I have mentioned this matter in order that the King may know that folly and insanity are amongst the conditions of this craft.