LETTER XIII.

TO my son Mahommed Khan the light of mine eye, the well disposed, who art dear as my soul, yea dearer, be it known from Ahmed Khan, after prayers for your happiness and length of life, that I am well, and the welfare of that sum of my desire is constantly prayed for from heaven: may God preserve my son in health! Spend your precious life, which like water that is past never returns, in reading and writing; and be not a moment idle from this important business and inimitable employment, for the learned have said.

DISTICH.

“Acquire accomplishment that you may be respected by the world; for a person without accomplishment, my friend, is worth nothing.”

Upon this subject what should I urge farther. May God lengthen your life!