Verse.

Humāyūn becomes his kingdom's heir.*

It would be impossible even if volumes were employed to detail the perfections of this Holy One. Among them he possessed the eight essentials of empire, viz. (1) high fortune; (2) great designs; (3) conquering power; (4) administrative capacity; (5) civi­lizing faculty; (6) devotion to the welfare of God's servants; (7) the cherishing of the army; (8) the restraining it from evil.

And in acquired accomplishments, he was at the head of his Age. He held high rank as a poet and a prose-writer, and especially in Turkī poetry. The Turkī dīwān* (dīwān-i-turkī) of his Majesty is of great eloquence and purity, and its contents are charming. His book of Manawī which has the name of Mubīn* (clear) is a famous composition and is mentioned with great applause by critics. He versified the Risāla-i-wālidīya* of Khwāja Aḥrār which is a pearl from the ocean of knowledge, and very excellent it was. He also wrote his Acts (Wāqi‘āt) from the beginning of his reign to the time of departure with fidelity and in a lucid and eloquent style. It is an Institute for all earthly sovereigns and a manual for teaching right thoughts and proper ideas. This Institute of dominion and fortune was, by the world-obeyed commands of the king of kings, translated into Persian by Mīrzā Khān Khān-khānān, son of Bairam Khān, in the 34th year of the Divine Era, at the time of the return of the standards of glory from the roseate vernal abode of Kashmīr and Kābul, so that its exquisite bounties might moisten the lips of all the thirsty and that its hidden treasures might be beheld by those whose hands were empty of learning.

His Majesty was also eminently skilled in music and composed charming verses in Persian. Among them the following quatrain is a product of his bounteous muse.

Verse.*

Though I be not related to dervishes,
Yet am I their follower in heart and soul.
Say not a king is far from a dervish;
I am a king but yet the slave of dervishes.

The following two Mala‘ are also sparkles from his enlightened mind.

Mala‘ I.

Parting from thee were perdition,
Else could I depart from this world.

Mala‘ II.

Whilst my heart is bound with her cypress locks,
I am free from the griefs of the world.

His Majesty was also famous for treatises on prosody, and among them is a book called Mufaṣṣal which is a commentary on the science.

His Majesty left four sons and three daughters:—(1) His Majesty Jahānbānī Naṣīru-d-dīn Muḥammad Humāyūn Pādshāh, (2) Kāmrān Mīrzā, (3) ‘Askarī Mīrzā, (4) Hindāl Mīrzā.

The daughters were:—Gulrang Bēgam; Gulcihra Bēgam; Gul­badan Bēgam, all three by one mother.*

Among the illustrious men, courtiers and companions who attained to felicity in the field of honour of his Majesty Firdūs-makānī, there were:—

(1). Mīr Abū-l-baqā* who was of lofty rank in learning and wisdom.

(2). Shaikh Zain Ṣadr, grandson of Shaikh Zainu-d-dīn Khwāfī.* He had acquired practical sciences (‘ulūm-i-muta‘ārifa)* and had distinguished abilities. He was skilled in prose and the art of letter-writing. He was distinguished by his long association with his Majesty. He* was also noted in the time of his Majesty Jahānbānī Jannat-āshiyānī.

(3). Shaikh Abū-l-wajd Fārighī,* paternal uncle of Shaikh Zain. He was a pleasant companion and of good disposition. He wrote poetry.

(4). Sulān Muḥammad Kūsa (beardless.) A pleasant man and a critic of poetry. He was a companion of Mīr ‘Alī Shīr* and lived in the glorious society of his Majesty.

(5). Maulānā Shihāb Mu‘ammāī* (the Enigmatist) whose poetical name was Ḥaqīrī.* He had an abundant share of learning, eloquence and poetry.

(6). Maulānā Yūsufī the physician. He was sent for from Khu­rāsān. He was distinguished for good qualities, for dexterity as an operator* and for assiduity.

(7). Surkh Widā‘ī. An old and inartificial poet. He wrote in Persian and Turkī.

(8). Mullā Baqāī. He had a correct taste (salīqa-i-darast) in poetry. He composed manawī in the metre of the makhzan,* in the name of his Majesty.

(9). Khwāja Niāmu-d-dīn ‘Alī Khalīfa.* On account of his long service, trustworthiness, soundness of understanding and stead­fastness of counsel, he held high rank under his Majesty. He pos­sessed various qualities and excellences and in particular was a suc­cessful physician.

(10). Mīr Darwīsh Muḥammad Sārbān,* a favourite pupil of Nāṣiru-d-dīn Khwāja Aḥrār. He was distinguished for learning and social qualities and was much relied upon at Court.

(11). Khwānd Mīr,* the historian. He was learned and an agreeable companion. His writings are well known, e.g., the Ḥabību-s-siyar, Khulāṣatu-l-akhbār,* Dastūru-l-wuzarā,* etc.

(12). Khwāja Kilān Bēg, one of the great officers and who was allowed the honour of a seat.* Distinguished for gravity of manners and discretion. His brother Kīcak Khwāja* was keeper of the seals and was especially trusted and was allowed a seat.*

(13). Sulān Muḥammad Dūldāī, one of the great officers and of excellent morals.

I refrain from mentioning others as the design of this glorious work is to describe the lofty lineage of his Majesty, the king of kings, and I proceed to the holy traits of his Majesty Jahānbānī Jannat-āshiyānī. And in completing the accounts of those ancestors (buzurgān) I prepare myself for the description of the great one of realm and religion and lord of the visible and invisible.