Let it not remain unknown to the intelligent reader that the author of this work was for a long time hesitating where to insert the lives of the philosophers, so as not to incur criticism; having, however, been unable to arrive at a decision, he submitted to the sunlike mind of the exalted Amir, that if Eskandar and Aristo were now living, they would imitate him in the protection of learned men and philosophers, whereon his highness — flattered by the compliment in conformity with his good nature—immediately replied: ‘As most of the celebrated philosophers, such as Aflatûn [Plato] and Aristo, were contemporaries of Eskandar, and in personal attendance upon him, because he cherished them more than any former kings, therefore it will be suitable to append also their biographies to his own.’ As the author fully agreed with this opinion, he commences the task, and premises the following two distichs, alluding to our excellent Amir:
Though coins do not bear your name,
It is imprinted on our hearts;
Sea and land pervades your fame
Without the herald’s clumsy arts.
As the Emâm Shams-ud-din Muhammad Shaharûzzi— may Allah give rest to his spirit—the author of the Târikh Hukmâ, begins his work called Nuzhat-ulqulûb [Hearts’ Delight], which contains the biographies of philosophers, with the lives of Adam, of Sheth [Seth], and of Edris [Enoch], the author of the present work has followed his precedent without dreading to incur the reproach of iteration.