For my part, when I looked with the eye of prudence towards the event of this affair, I was reminded of my father's dying injunction, and became desirous to leave the city. At that time it was still possible to remove with one's family and furniture, the roads not being yet blocked up; and for two or three months afterwards, there was no difficulty in going out of the town. But my friends and relatives would not suffer me, and assailed me with speeches, that were foreign to the purpose. This was the juncture, when the removal of the King from the capital would have been productive of the best effects; for he had no means left there of standing up against the enemy; and might have retired with his family and cour­tiers, and as much of his treasure as he pleased, to any part of his dominions, the whole of the provinces of Irân, except Candahar, being still in his possession. Had he escaped from that scene of famine, all the various chiefs and armies of his kingdom would have joined him, and he might have applied a remedy to his distracted affairs. It is certain, that this was the only course advisable to be pursued at that time, and I made my opinion understood by some two or three of the Soltan's confidential friends, inciting them with all my might to abandon the opposite design. The liberation of Isphahan itself was included in my scheme; for, after the departure of the Shah, the enemy would have had no leisure to pursue his designs and efforts against that capital, but must have looked to his own safety: and the citi­zens would have employed every method to remove him from a situation to annoy them; so that he would have been compelled either to open to himself by time and labour a return to the established place of his authority, by the same road which he had come; or to prepare himself for battles with a powerful Soltan. In every point of view this plan of conduct was advantageous; and its adoption would have saved that immense popu­lation from perishing by misery and famine. But this was unsuitable to the fixed decree of fate; and certain persons of inconsiderate minds inter­fered to prevent it; so happened that which hap­pened. How apt, in this place, are the words of the wise Abo'L Casim Ferdowsi.

Lines.*

The earth is the shooting ground of fortune:

Our body is her butt, and her bow the sphere.

When fate approaches, it drives away caution;

When destiny moves, it closes every pass.

We are all equally the prey of death,

Whether the head be under a crown, or a helmet.

The occupation of the lofty orbit is thus:

In one hand it bears a turban, in the other a halter;

When a person sits delighted with his turban on his head,

It steals him away by the noose of the halter;

Whether his diadem be exalted as the clouds,

Or his bravery equal to the chase of the lion.

Every clod of earth, every brick has vegetation:

Happy is he, who has sown only good seed.

If the earth should disclose its secret,

And shew its end as well as its beginning;

Its lap would be seen filled with wearers of crowns,

Its bosom with the blood of noble cavaliers;

Its skirt, with learned men;

The collar of its shirt, with beauteous faces.

Let a diadem be on thy head, or a helmet,

It must be passed through by the point of the arrow of death,

Every person, who has a mind stocked with sense and judge­ment,

Will give his attention to the affair of another abode.

After three or four months, the circumstances of the besieged became greatly distressed, and pro­visions fell short* in that vast town, filled with such innumerable crowds of people. Gradually no provisions were at all to be found; for the Afghans beginning to mind every side of the town, raised a fort at every two parasangs or less, and left there a company of guards. Constantly also troops of horse relieved each other in riding round the walls. At this period, driven by want of victuals, persons were continually escaping from the town in disguise and secretly from every nook and corner; and the Afghans suffered them to pass without notice.* As within the city almost every kind of improper food was used, multitudes were daily attacked with leprous tumours and bowel disorders, which brought on their destruc­tion. But such were the liberality and generosity witnessed in the people of the city, that notwith­standing the loaf of bread rose to four or five ashrafis,* no individual, either foreigner, or native, was known to have died of hunger, or to have been reduced to mendicity. If any one really did perish by famine, it must have been that he con­cealed his condition from his friends. At last, however, things were brought to such a pitch, that no food was to be found; and then the people died in crowds. The few that survived, were weak and sickly; and of every class, the number of skilful, able, eminent, great, and noble men who died during that calamity, is known only to the Almighty. Amidst these circumstances my condition was such, and the fortune that passed over me so extraordinary, as the great searcher of secrets is alone acquainted with. Every thing, that the hand of my ability could reach to, I expended; and, except my library, scarcely any thing remained unsold in my house. Though of little or no utility in those circumstances, I distributed near two thousand volumes of my books; the remainder of my collection became the plun­der of the Afghans.

During the latter days of the siege I was attacked by severe illness; and my two brothers, my grandmother, and the whole of the dwellers in my house, died, so that my mansion was emptied of all but two or three infirm old women-servants, who attended me, till my disorder began to abate.