[ASTRONOMERS OF ṬABARISTÁN.]*

1. Gúshyár b. Lisán al-Jílí.

2. Awḥadu`d-Dahr ad-Dánishí, who compiled a complete set of astronomical tables (<Arabic>).

3. Bizíst b. Fírúzán, whose name al-Ma`mún arabicized into Yaḥya b. Manṣúr, and who compiled the Zíj-i-Ma`múní*.

4. Ustád 'Alí Pírúza, the panegyrist of 'Aḍudu`d Dawla Sháhinsháh Fanákhusraw. Hamadán is said to have been given to him in fief. The following verse in the Ṭabarí dia­lect is by him:

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One day both he and Mutanabbí were visiting 'Aḍudu`d-Dawla. He was bidden to sit down, while Mutanabbí was left standing. Mutanabbí, vexed at this, spoke scornfully of this “speechless (i. e. barbarous) poet”, but when the meaning of some of his verses was explained to him by 'Aḍudu`d-Dawla, he admitted their excellence, saying, “Honour is due to the meaning, which is, as it were, the spirit of speech, not to the language [in which it is expressed], which is but as its material body.”

5. Díwárwaz Mastamard (<Arabic>). The follow­ing account is given of the manner in which this poet obtained these titles. He came from Ṭabaristán to Baghdad to visit the Shahinsháh 'Aḍudu`d-Dawla, and (according to the proverb* <Arabic>) sought the assistance of his compatriot 'Alí Pírúza, who, however, fearful lest his eloquence and wit might make him a dangerous rival in that prince’s favour, made excuses for delay, hoping that the new-comer would weary of waiting and return home. After a while, however, Díwárwaz formed some idea of the truth; and, when 'Aḍudu`d-Dawla was one day drinking in a garden with some of his friends, he climbed over the wall and approached him. Some of the attendants, thinking him to be a robber or assassin, rushed upon him with blows and cuffs. 'Aḍudu`d-Dawla, hearing his cries, caused him to be brought before him and questioned him, where­upon he told his story, and how 'Alí Pírúza had treated him, after which he recited a qaṣída which he had com­posed. 'Aḍudu`d-Dawla, charmed with its grace and sweet­ness, expressed a doubt as to whether he was really its author, and, to prove him, bade him extemporize some verses on a singing-girl clad in blue silk who happened to be near. Thereupon he recited the following verses in the Ṭabarí dialect:

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'Aḍudu`d-Dawla was delighted, and gave him gifts, and caused his name to be inscribed in the register of his poets, and he received the title of Díwárwaz.

After the death of 'Aḍudu`d-Dawla he came to ´Amul, while Shamsu`l-Ma'álí Qábús was still reigning over Ṭabar­istán. One day he had been drinking with his friends, and, while returning home, passed the gate of the Shrine of Náṣir-i-Kabír, whence the clergy and custodians, seeing his state, came forth, seized him, beat him, and cast him into prison. Thence he made his escape, came to Gurgán, and described his adventures in the following Ṭabarí verses, which he laid before Qábús, who honoured and rewarded him, and gave him the title of Masta-mard:

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