THE Decipherers of the Talismans of the Treasures of Mystery, and acquainted with the Paths of the Recesses of Secrecy, having explored this lately-discovered Manuscript in the Records of ancient Time, have thus impressed it on the Pages of Narration.

In days of yore, there reigned in the extensive and populous empire of Hin­doostan, emblematic of Paradise, a Sovereign who, like the universe-illum­ing Sun, comprized the world within the beams of his dominion; and who, by the rays of the lamp of his impartial justice, enlightened the gloom of the earth. From the superiority of his aspiring genius, he placed the foot of contempt on the heads of the bears;* and, from conscious pride in his own power and dignity, regarded contem­porary monarchs as grovelling in the caves of non-existence. The azure skies* wore the ring of subjection to his power, and the twins* bore upon their shoulders the badge of submission to his authority. Time had resigned to the check of his guidance the reins of direction over the mottled and wild-pacing steeds of vicissitude; and success, like an approaching slave, bowed the fore­head of humility at his threshold.

However, in the chamber of his prosperity there was not a lamp, so that the recess of hope might be illumed by the rays of its brightness; and the tree of his being had no fruit that could give the relish of enjoyment to the taste of life: on which account he was con­stantly sad and lonely, like a dot in the circle of regret. Daily did he entreat the supplications of the pure-minded masters of the heart, and nightly make request in prayer at the throne of the Bestower, who looks not for recompence. At length, under the auspices of the favourable aspirations of the religious, their midnight petitions and early devo­tions; after long anxiety and impatient wishes, the rose-bush of hope put forth a blossom, and the tree of expectation bore fruit. The gloom of his condition was brightened by the lamp of prosperity, and the night of suspense was succeeded by the dawn of success. The sun of empire, with a thousand world-subduing splendours, and globe-pervading bril­liance, having appeared from the horizon of birth, enlightened the expanse of his father’s expectations, and the, till now, dark chamber of the hopes of mortals.

The emperor, having prostrated the forehead of humility on the dust of thanksgiving, in grateful sense of this invaluable blessing and instance of divine favour, offered up prayers and praises at the throne of mercy; and, to evince his joy at such a bounty, having set wide the doors of his treasury, enriched a world by his gifts and largess, and delivered the friendless and necessitous from want and dependance, by his liberality and munificence.

This pearl of the sea of dignity and high fortune was, in an auspicious instant, distinguished by the glorious title of Jehaundar Sultan;* and a vir­tuous nurse of wakeful star exalted by the charge of such a brilliant gem.

When four years and four months had passed in the cradle of prosperity, and on the bosom of his noble nurse, agreeably to the rules of Islaam,* he was entrusted to a celebrated tutor for education; and experienced superinten­dants, and wisdom-loving servants, were appointed to direct aright his ingenuous dispositions; so that he might occupy his gracious time in studying the arts of government, learning the arcana of dominion and policy, and make himself master of the ceremonials of royalty and institutes of command.