Two Lords of Conjunction in one banquet-hall
Made a syzygy like the sun and moon,
Two lustrous visions for Fortune's eye,
Two blessed ‘Id for month and year,
Two stars making heaven resplendent
Side by side in one spot like the Farqadain,*
Two eyes of the world in companionship
Joining in courtesy like two eye-brows,
Two auspicious portents in one sign (burj),
Two glorious pearls in one casket (darj).
The Shāh observed “The glorious Creator and Bestower of Worlds made the conquest of India, achieved by his Majesty Gītī-sitānī Firdūs-makānī, the key of the treasure-house of universal sway for your world-compassing sword. Every failure and infirmity which hath in these days appeared in administration and world-rule arose from the disservice and discord of disloyal brothers. Over this you had no control. In mundane affairs fraternal unanimity is of high import, and is a disentangler of perplexities. In this present regard ourselves as your younger* brother and know us to be a helper and a supporter, for—our life on it—we shall succour you to the height of your desire. We acknowledge old ties, and shall fulfil whatever assistance may be necessary. Should we be required to go in person as your auxiliary we will go.” He spoke many sincere words and such as bore the impress of magnanimity. For several days they held Cyrus-like festivities. His Majesty the Shāh entered personally into all the arrangements, and every day had a novel entertainment. There was increase of formal and spiritual beauty, and day by day he waxed more and more friendly and affectionate. How can feasts be described when so great a Shāh was in his own person the caterer? What gold-embroidered velvet and silken* canopies there were and what numbers of wrought pavilions and lofty tents there were!
Far as the eye could reach, silken rugs and precious carpets were laid* out and thereby were spread pleasure and joy. What account can be given of how in the important matter of the distribution of presents and rareties he gave his personal attention to the subject? How tell of the choice horses of Media with embroidered and golden saddles and the splendid housings and trappings, of the adorned mules of Bard‘a,* of the strangely* shaped camels, male or female, with valuable coverings, of the many scimitars and daggers set with jewels and the like, of the fine linen, and the robes (pōstīn) of the marten (kesh) and the red* fox, the ermine (sanjāb), and the squirrel* (tīn), and also the dresses of gold brocade, velvet, silk (tāja), satin, figured silks from Europe (mushajjar-i-Firingī), and Yezd, and Kāshān? Many basins, ewers, and candlesticks of gold and silver set with rubies and pearls, many gold and silver dishes, ornamented tents, grand carpets, the marvel of the age for size and beauty, and other regal articles were brought one by one before his Majesty's holy glance. Money and goods were distributed to all the followers, and royal courtesies were interchanged.
His Majesty Jahānbānī on the day of the great festival presented to the Shāh as the gift* of a traveller a diamond* of great value— worth the revenues of countries and climes, together with 250 Badakhshān rubies. Without a doubt, all the expenditure which the Shāh, whether from his privy purse, or through his officers, incurred on account of his Majesty Jahānbānī from the time of his entering the country to his exit therefrom was hereby repaid more than four times over. From thence they went to Sulānīya and there held Cyrus-like festivities. In the intervals between these glorious seasons of fortunate conjunctions a cloudiness of heart was created on both sides through the instigation of sundry strife-mongers,* but the turbidity did not last long, and was washed away by the waters of cleansing. His Majesty the Shāh made every day new arrangements for pleasure and joy. Among other things he ordered the amusement of a hunting-drive (shikār-i-qamargha), and his army drove the beasts of the plain a ten days' journey up to a spring known as the Sāvūq Bulāq* which is the first stage of the Zailāq Bīlāq.* His Majesty Jahānbānī and the Shāh entered the hunting-ground together and gave new lustre to the arts of horsemanship and game-slaying. After that Bahrām Mīrzā, Sām Mīrzā, and after them Bairām Khān, Ḥājī Muḥammad Kōkī, Shāh Qulī* Sulān Muhrdār (seal-keeper, or chancellor), Rōshan Kōka, Ḥasan Kōka, and many others of his Majesty Jahānbānī's trusty followers were permitted to enter the qamargha. Several of the Shāh's officers were bidden to enter, such as ‘Abdālla Khān Istajlū, son-in-law of the great Shāh Isma'īl, Abūl Qāsim Khalfā, Sīūndak* Sulān, Qūrcī Bāshī Afshār, Badar Khān Istajlū and some others. After a time a general permission to enter was given. Everyone of the soldiers and troopers engaged in seizing and binding* the game. Meanwhile Bahrām Mīrzā, who had a grudge against the Khalfā intentionally* shot an arrow at him so that he died. Out of consideration for the Mīrzā no one mentioned this to the Shāh. After this troops were sent away in order that a fresh qamargha might be made at Sulaimān's* Pool (Ḥauẓ-i-Sulaimān). When they assembled, hunting, more majorum, was resumed, and here they spent some time also in playing* polo and in archery.* On this day as the archery was keen (lit. the qabaq-bāzār was hot) Bairām Beg received the title of Khān and Ḥājī Muḥammad Kōkī that of Sulān. At the close of this reunion the list* of the 12,000* horse who had been designated to march with the Shāh's son Prince Murād as the king's auxiliaries was presented to his Majesty together with the list of supplies which were to be despatched along with his Majesty Jahānbānī. The following is the list of the exalted persons who were appointed to take part in the great expedition:—
1. Mīrzā Murād.
2. Badāgh Khān Qājār,* the Mīrzā's tutor.
3. Shāh Qulī Sulān Afshār, governor of Kirmān.
4. Aḥmad Sulān Shāmlū, son of Muḥammad Khalīfa.
5. Sanjāb Sulān Afshār, governor of Farāh.
6. Yār ‘Alī Sulān Taklū.
7. Sulān ‘Alī Afshār.
8. Sulān Qulī* Qūrcībāshī a relation of Muḥammad Khān (governor of Herāt).
9. Ya‘qūb Mīrzā, aghāī (maternal uncle) of Sulān Muḥammad Khudābanda (ahmāsp's eldest son).
10. Sulān Ḥusain Qulī Shāmlū, brother of Aḥmad Sulān governor of Sīstān.
11. Adham Mīrzā, son of Dēō* Mīrzā.
12. Tahamtan Mīrzā, son of Dēō Sulān.
13. Ḥaidar Sulān Shaibānī.*
14 & 15. His sons ‘Alī Qulī and Bahādur.
16. Maqṣūd Mīrzā Ākhta Begī, son of Zainu-d-dīn Sulān Shāmlū.
17. Muḥammadī Mīrzā, grandson of Jahān Shāh Mīrzā,* known as Shāh Yezdī* Beg.
18. Kacal Istajlū.
19. ‘Alī Sulān Culāq,* sister's son of Muḥammad Khān.
20. Abū'l-fatḥ Sulān Afshār.
21. Ḥasan Sulān Shāmlū.*
22. Yādgār Sulān Mōṣlū (i. e., of Mōṣul).
23. Aḥmad Sulān Alāsh Aghlī Istajlū.
24. Ṣāfī Walī Sulān, descendant* of the Ṣūfīs, Khalīfa of the Rūmlū.
25. ‘Alī Beg Ẕūlfiqārkush.*
26. Muḥammadī Beg Kitābdār (librarian) Qājār.
Likewise there were nominated 300 cuirassiers of the Shāh's bodyguard* with fitting equipments. After the conclusion of this reunion an order was given that there should be a third hunt* in Āq-i-Ziyārat which is the last stage before the summer-quarters of Sūrlīk.* Various rejoicings and festivities occurred, and all the paraphernalia of delectation were gathered together. In the charming spot of Miyāna,* which is famous for its salubrity, the Shāh came to his Majesty Jahānbānī's quarters, and wished him god-speed and the two sovereigns bade adieu to one another with mutual respect and in an auspicious hour.
His Majesty Jahānbānī proceeded from thence to Ardabīl and Tabrīz in accordance with the precedent* set by his Majesty Ṣāḥib Qirānī. The litter of her Majesty Maryam-Makānī, together with her attendants, was sent by the straight road towards Qandahār, Ḥājī Muḥammad Khān being put in charge of the troops and sent to wait on the litter of the cupola of chastity. The 12,000 horse who had been appointed to attend on the victorious stirrup were sent away to get their accoutrements, &c., so that when his Majesty Jahānbānī arrived at the Hilmand the Prince (Murād) might join him there with the army. His Majesty Jahānbānī first proceeded to view Tabrīz, and when he came near it the governors and grandees came out to welcome him at a dam* which Mīrzā Mīrān Shāh had constructed on the stream which comes to Tabrīz from the slope of the Sahand.* In accordance with the Shāh's orders the governor put the city in fête, and decked* her for his Majesty's enlightened gaze, and himself performed the rites of hospitality. The games of hockey* and wolf running* for which Tabrīz was famous, but which had been interdicted on account of riots, were revived by the Shāh's orders for his Majesty's delectation. His Majesty visited the splendid buildings, the memorials of ancient kings—and the pleasure-parks of the city. Fresh illustrations were thereby brought to his mind of the bypast (guẕashtagān) monuments of the earth, of the revolutions (sargashtagān ), of the mansions of the skies, of the passing away (guẕashtagī) of the inconstant universe, and of the breaches (gusistāgīhā)* of the unstable earth, and they brought to his lips truthful words about compassing the favour of the Creator. He became wrapt in some old verses, and in ecstacy he recited aloud this quatrain:—