IN short, I led a tranquil life in Isphahan until, in the year one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven, as I before mentioned, my learned father, light be the earth on his tomb! arrived in the vicinity of the mercy of God.* In consequence of this event, confusion made its appearance in my affairs. Two years afterwards, my mother also died. My grandmother, on my mother's side, with the whole of our dependents, remained in the house; and my two brothers also, who employed themselves in study, were exceeding worthy and well-behaved young men, and, in their conduct towards me, shewed kindness and propriety. By these fatal events, my mind became disturbed, and to tarry in my paternal mansion, disagreeable. I again travelled to Shiraz, and staid some time in that city; though here also circumstances were changed, by the death of most of my former friends. However, I consoled myself, as well as I could, and, by my rule of habit, sometimes I spent hours in the society of the learned, or in writing on various subjects; at other times, whether I would or not, my mind was invaded by a crowd of verses, which I again, during my stay at Shiraz, collected together, and formed into a third Divan, consisting of three or four thousand couplets. But my mind was so horror-struck with the world, that I could familiarise myself with nothing; and though young, I regarded the world and its pleasures with so much contempt and detestation, that my heart was altogether inaccessible to their approaches. From the conquest which solicitude and care had made over me, that affection and violent love for science, and for teaching and writing on the sciences, which I had formerly nourished, became cold and feeble; and my constant desire was, to put on the habit of the Dervish, and to choose a retirement in some corner: but through my connexion with my father's relicts, and their destitute condition, this project was impracticable.