Kitāb-i Yamīnī (=Tārīḫ-i Yamīnī) - The Kitāb-i-Yamīnī of Al Utbi

The whole of the company who were assembled at that place and who listened to that speech admired the eloquence of that harangue and the splendour of that citation, and uttered exclamations of wonder at his great intellect and at his gentle disposition, and at his sincere faithfulness, and at the wideness of the plain of his generosity, and at the loftiness of the summit of his thoughts, and at his benevolent nature. And Sáhib Káfi, after that, greatly promoted the welfare of Tásh, and the preservation of his comforts, and the advancement of his prosperity, and used the utmost exertions to obtain his approval. And Tásh remained, for the space of three years, at Jurján, and all his mind was devoted to the service of Núh-Mansúr, and he felt grieved and anxious at his estrangement from His Excellency, and desired to be forgiven and redeemed from every mark of disobedience and every breach of fidelity. And he conjectured this, that he might, perchance, cease his harsh demeanour and rise up from the pretext of such determinations and blameable conduct, and determine to let down the rope of obedience and approach the side of fidelity. And he sent Abú-Said-Shíbí to Fakr-Addoulat, and requested assistance, in order to return to the Court of Khurasán. And he nominated Asfar-Ibn-Kardawayah and sent two thousand cavalry out of the army of Dilam, to accompany him. And he wrote to Nasr-Ibn-Al-Hasan-Ibn-Firúz, that he should enrol himself amongst the body of those troops, and arrange for their command and government, and that they should proceed to join His Excellency Tásh, and should pay due and ready obedience unto his orders, and in all things acknowledge their subjection to his commands and to his standard. And he spent much money in equipping his army, and, by means of half of those gifts which had been presented to him from Kurkan, sent supplies to the whole, of treasure, and necessaries, and arms, and presents. And when Abú-Said arrived at Koms, which was then the residence of Nasr, it happened altogether unto him as it happened to Ibn-Al-Hazar, at the banquet of the sons of Tamín.^* For Nasr commanded that they should cut asunder with the sword the left and right parts of these forces, and should entirely cut up their limbs and their quarters. And he confined the army in subterraneous caverns and removed all openings which could allow them to breathe, and applied fire, so that all of them perished in the anguish of that suffocation. And as to the auxiliary forces which were with them he took them almost all, but some, who were the gleanings of the people and the remnants of the sword, fled and arrived at Ray. And Fakhr-Addoulat became extremely confused and agitated at the arrival of this news, and the occurrence of this unfortunate event, and set off on his march towards Koms, with a design of revenge and an intention of retribution, and he summoned Tásh from Jurján, in order that, by their joint assistance, they might obtain a victory worthy of that which had been done to them, and in proportion to the events which had occurred. And when they came to Koms, Nasr saw the spectre of death opening his jaws, and the eagle of fate drawing her wing around him and sharpening his claws (against him). Therefore he saw no expedient except in coming to terms, apologizing, and seeking pardon. He made, therefore, Tásh his intercessor, and Fakhr-Addoulat, when he saw this behaviour and submission, took compassion upon his old age, and the mediation of his kindred with respect to him became successful, and he gave up all intention of revenge. And he directed his attention to Khuzistán, and to that quarter whence came the sound of war from his nephew Bahá-Addoulat-’bn-Azd-Addoulat, on account of the uncomfortable differences which had lately fallen out between them. Therefore he proceeded towards Khuzistán with that brave army. And Badr-’bn-Hasanawayah, with an army raised from the people, returned to his service and to his standard, and brought back with him the commonality and all the public officers of Khuzistán. And he sent Firúzan-’bn-Al-Hasán to Basrah, in order that he might also take possession of Basrah and add it to the number of his auxiliary cities. And when Firuzán passed over the river of Moses^* the whole of the population of Basrah rose up to assist the army of Baha-Addoulat, who were stationed in the city. And they broke down the dykes of the reservoirs, so that the whole of the plain was filled with water and the roads became entirely obliterated, and they were caught in the mud (produced by this water) and they found no means of exit. And a great army came from Mousel, in support of the people of Basrah, and when the army of Firuzán beheld their numbers and their bravery they extricated themselves from these whirlpools (fords) and, in a broken and confused manner, they returned unto Fakhr-Addoulat, and complained before him of the extreme suffering of that condition and the misery of those muddy places, and, in conclusion, began to put forth a petition for maintenance and for pay, and for various other advantages. And Fakhr-Addoulat became wearied with their continual application and their numerous questions, and began to condemn their weakness and debility, and want of energy and of resolution, and their imposition upon good nature, and began to regard it as disgraceful and odious to seek for men to do an affair not done. And, following out this thought he began to entertain the design of a truce, and came to Hamadán and from that place set forward to Ráy. This event happened in the year 379, in which year a terrible plague broke out at Jurján, and the greater number of the soldiers of Tásh, and the chief officers and the most eminent of his privy counsellors and scribes perished in that plague, and at the last Tásh became involved in this misfortune, and his life, through that suffering, departed to the other world and thus yielded to the weakness of old age, to the anxiety caused by foreigners, and to his separation from his associates. During the period of his residence at Jurján much oppression took place, from his troops and armies, and much injury was done, by extortions and requisitions, and a commencement was made of oppressive exactions, which debilitated it. And when the news of his death was published all the populace of the city arose, and the mob began to attack his officers and to murder his nobles and his wise men, and to carry forth and plunder his property, wherefore the officers and chiefs of the army, being compelled to repulse them, were unable to fulfil the usual ceremonies of mourning or to attend to the care of his interment.

They succeeded, however, in escaping from the confinement of the city, unto the open space of the desert, and proceeded to consult upon the choice of some one as his successor, who should hold the chief command, and the unanimous choice of all of them fell upon the sister’s son of Tásh, whom they accordingly placed upon the seat of government. And he distributed among them the treasures and the possessions of Tásh, and, through his firmness, obtained such authority that he made all fear him, and all content with him, and to adhere firmly to his service. But a clamorous crowd arose from the city, and their cries of “help! help! to the rescue!” rose to the skies, for the mob of the city stretched forth the hand of violence, with open murmurs, and, forsaking the limits of law, permitted themselves audaciously to break the bond (of restraint) and to tear up the foundations (of propriety) and to lay aside all reverence (for authority). And they set out by the way of Bikarábád, to repress them, and some of these dogs and mob of wolves came in from the city, to fight against them, and when they had thrown their moth into the fire of destruction, and that army turned in from its ambush, many of that mob, coming into collision with the horses, and into distress from the camels, were defeated and retreated to the city, and a great number of these dwarfs and mob perished, and the belly of the wolves was filled with the carcases of the dead. And unto the people there happened, after this event, a fate such as had never happened to any people since Yazid-’bn-Ahnuklib. And when the affair (of massacre) had arrived at its utmost degree the Imáms, and the learned men, and the devout men, and the worthy men asked pardon and brought forward the glorious Korán, as their intercessor, so that the cry of distress arising from tumult was suppressed, and the soldiers held their hand from slaughter and returned unto their residences and barracks. And they began to reflect upon the consequences of their condition and upon their present lot. And their opinions became changed upon this subject, so that the more select portion of the older officers became inclined to Khurasán, and the royal army and the troops of the country chose the service of Fakhr-Addoulat. And Sáhib-Káfi sent a letter and gave unto them all assurances of attachment and promises of good, and was willing to augment their pay and their rank; and he requested them that some of them should arrange that Abú-Alí should become their Inspector^* and should enrol their names on the muster-list, and that he would pay the chief part of their allowances and wages. To this they did not consent, for their love of their homes and their affection to their abodes at Khurasán held back the bridle of their will, and they they went to Nishapúr, and became enrolled in the army of Abúl-Hasán-Símjúr, who was at that time governor of Khurasán, and they made him Lieutenant-General of the army of the country, until an inspector should come. And the Inspector carried their names with great respect to Ray. And when they came to His Highness, Fakhr-Addoulat, he caressed them greatly and appointed two territories as a gift unto them, one (consisting of) the subjects of the parts belonging to Tásh, as a means of gratifying their service and augmenting their body.^*

And when the Lord Abú-Alí came to Jurján and beheld the impertinence of the mob, and the exaltation of the common people, consisting of the remainder of the populace who had laid hands on the army of Khurasán, and had become drunk with wickedness, and carried away with folly and iniquity, he occupied himself in attending to that business, and he arrested all of them, and put to death nearly three thousand men of the poor thieves and evil-doers of that mob, and, moreover, put to death every one who, during his whole life, had for one day taken up an iron weapon or had made use of bakers’ shovels, or such things, for the purpose of offence. Some, therefore, he fastened upon trees, and some he made a mark to shoot at with arrows, but the body of them he passed over the sword, and thus, by his severity and violence, that affair was settled, and the insurrection of these base creatures and originators of injury and malice came to an end. But God knows what is just.

When Tásh, in his flight from Abú Alí and Faik, came to Jurján the Vizír Abd-Allah-’bn-Aziz was extremely importunate with Abúl-Hasan-Simjúr that he would consent to attack him, and, on account of his indifference respecting the right of the Khutbah of the country of Korkan, and on account of his slothfulness in the matter of Tásh, and on account of his permitting his frontier-line to be diminished, he blamed him. But he, in this matter, continued to act as became his old age, and to observe the usual duties of mildness and gravity, so that he let the matter rest, and, upon various pretexts abstained, obtained his end and repulsed these suggestions; for he thought that if he were to lay the foundation and commence any quarrel with the army of Dilám he would not arrive perfectly at the object of his wishes and would not be advancing towards the desired result. And it might happen that he might become struck with the evil eye, and that the same accident might befall him as befell Tásh at Karkán, and the misfortune of that error and the injury of that affair might afflict all his remaining years, and his ancient kingdom and his well-established province for this cause might become disturbed, and its settlement be called in question.

And, in the year 377, they removed Abd-Alláh-’bn-Aziz from the office of Vizír and banished him to Khwárazam, and gave that dignity to Abú-Ali-Damagání. And he used his utmost exertions to transact his business effectually, and he put a stop to those corruptions which had found admission in some districts of the State. But his strength and authority became diminished by this circumstance. The greater part of the country remained in the grasp of the dependants, and the Vizír was unable to remove them, and the army, at the instigation of a malignant person, became intractable, and the Turks found assistance, and the influence of Vizírs suffered detriment, and, disturbances having arisen, they removed him also, and gave the office of Vizír to Abú-Nasr-Záid. He was a man of great efficiency in business, a man of great good sense and perfect intelligence, well known and distinguished for his great eloquence, and for his skill in applying his mind to affairs, and ennobled amongst the most eminent of his age and the excellent of his time. But, in a short period, they gave an order for dismissing him also, and restored the chief office to Abú-Alí-Damagání. And, in these days, Abul-Hasán-Ibn-Simjúr went from Nishapúr and proceeded upon a journey of recreation, and took with him one girl out of all the women of his seraglio, and died suddenly whilst amusing himself with her.

And his son Abú-Alí occupied his throne, the chieftainship of the family of Simjúr and the bailiwick and lordship of Khurasán were conferred upon him, on the ground of being heir and on the ground of merit. And all laid their necks before him and unanimously girded up the loins of service and obedience unto him. But, on the part of His Highness of Bukhárá, they nominated Fáík as governor of Herát. And when this news came to Abú-Alí he sent a letter to Fáík, and in this letter alluded to the rights of former friendship and past attachment of regard in various services, and said, “Have the former intercessions made for me, and the zealous pleas offered for me by your father, and the obligations of my own service, imposed such a debt of gratitude upon you that, at the time of his decease, you should thus inflict such a wound upon me from the most distant and unexpected quarters? Or, otherwise, how is it that you have drawn the hand of covetousness over my provinces and my portion? it would rather have become you to have refrained from this violation of honour and fidelity. And yet, with regard to me, thou hast overlooked the observance of treaties and of former attachment; otherwise this outrage and this attack upon my hereditary kingdom and ancient right would never have occurred, and this scorn and contempt would never have proceeded from you.” And, after many words, they came to this agreement, that Herát should belong to Fáík, and Nishapúr and the command of the army to Abú-Alí.

Accordingly both of them set forward to their own country and to their own provinces. And they caused to be dispatched, from His Highness of Bukhárá, the commission and the robe of honour, such as is usually given to the generals in the army. And Abú-Alí imagined that they had sent them for him, but, when they had conveyed them some stages and had arrived at the top of the two roads, they conveyed them towards Herát, whence it became known to Abú-Alí, with respect to Fáík, that their former agreement had been set aside and particularly it appeared evident that Fáík designed to reap the harvest of these gifts, and it was clear that, if this treachery should reach its mark and this thought be carried on to action, and if he should be at all remiss in opposing this attempt and in maintaining the dignity of his family, his standard would again receive injury (lit., be pecked at). And lest, by any means, any offence should be committed, to the detriment of his condition and to the troubling himself and his family, he used the utmost diligence in the matter and ceased not to examine into the affair, from beginning to end (Verse)

And when the news came that Fáík had departed from Herát he pursued him and met him between Herát and Búshaikh,^* and defeated him completely, with the loss of many killed and wounded, and Fáík fell back in confusion to Merúrúd,^† and a body of the army of Abú-Alí went after him, as far as the bridge of Merúrúd. But he was prepared for them and arranged his army to receive them, and he made prisoners of some of the troops and carried them to Bukhárá.

And Abú-Alí went to Merú, and sent some one to His Highness of Bukhárá, with an humble offer of allegiance, and proposed to regard himself as bound to His Highness by the rules of servitude, and to gird himself to his service as one of his devoted attendants, and to strengthen him by means of his kindred and his friends, and he made an earnest request that they should confirm his father’s office unto himself and should not suffer to pass away those ancient rights of patronage (on the one hand) and of clientship (on the other) which had so constantly existed between the royal house of Sámán and the family of Simjúr, and should not expel him from the list of servants and the body of dependents, and that he should not listen to or receive the reports stirred up by troublesome persons against his fidelity, and that he should not account anything as lawful which might be a cause of abuse and of despair. Núh-’bn-Mansúr listened to his words with favour and satisfaction, and determined that his request should obtain its object, and he confirmed to him the command and gave to him the surname of Imad-Addoulat. Therefore he returned to Nishapúr with the object of his wishes, and by every good method and popular measure occupied himself in arranging and setting in order his affairs, and in regulating his business. And the means of his glory and the degree of his honour became so increased that unto his other surnames they added the name of Amír-Al-Umara-Al-Muwayyad. And (the poet) Abú-Bakr-Khwárazmy says thus, in his eulogy (Verse)

And when his affairs had arrived at a great height of power he took into his service a body of men from the country and the villages of Khurasán, and began to divide his property and his taxes amongst his followers; and when Núh-’bn-Mansúr requested of him that he would set apart some portion of his territory for the supply of the royal Treasury he refused his consent, and gave answer, “This province is to be regarded as a collected whole, without division, and the means of the treasury must not be drowned (overwhelmed) in expenses upon the dissipated, and the whole extent of this province would not suffice for them. Therefore it would be necessary that His Highness should order me some additional allowance, and add another province to those which I already possess, as a means of maintaining hospitality.” And thus, during this affair, he vacillated between obedience and disobedience, and exhibited the ill-disposed (mind) behind the curtain of sincerity. ^*And Abú-Alí began to make arrangements for raising money and stimulating payments, and began to stretch out the hand of oppression, and he reduced the better part of the revenue of Khurasán to its lowest point, and made demands upon the people for money, whether they could or whether they could not comply with them, until the blood of both the upper and lower classes oozed out. They afterwards presented a paper accusation against the Collector to the Diván, and put him to death with the greatest suffering, exposing him to the torture upon the rack and to the blows of sticks. And a messenger was sent to Harún-’bn-Ilák-Khán, the Turkish Prince, who was appointed to arrange with him plans of agreeable intercourse, and settle a treaty of alliance and hospitality. And they made a secret agreement with him, that they should divide the kingdom of the family of Sámán with him that Bukhárá and Samarkand, and all the country beyond the river Jihún should be his, and that the half part thus divided by the Jihún should be settled upon Abú-Alí, and that both of them should agree upon a mutual alliance and assistance. With this proposal he was dazzled and became more confirmed in his desire to possess the kingdom, and he therefore entertained a design of blockading Bukhárá with a considerable army. Thus it happened according to the saying, “For Muhammád they drew the swords of Muhammád, and struck down with them the chiefs of Muhammád.”^* Yet Abú-Alí, in appearance, still supported the pretensions of Núh, and, in his province, introduced the title of that Prince into the public prayers, and struck money in his name, but, notwithstanding, he began to turn aside towards the path of perfidy and falsehood, and to incline towards the direction of faulty and blameable conduct. And when the beginning of this misfortune became apparent, all the nobles of Máwarannahr became inclined to the sweetness of novelty and change, and expressed their weariness of the long duration of the dynasty of the family of Sámán, and ceased to regard themselves as bound to be attached to those princes. Thus the Amírs rose up in disaffection and employed all their efforts to influence his opinion, and stimulate his determination, that so he might cut off in plunder the borders of that kingdom, and might behold the success of his wish and the attainment of his object. Thus resolved upon his secret business he arrived at the clouds (of ambition). And Núh sent, to encounter him, his Chamberlain Ibikh, with a distinguished army and officers. A severe struggle ensued, so that the brilliancy of day became darkened, and from the darkness of the day the stars emerged from the curtain of calamity, and the field of battle became a well-furnished table for beasts and birds. And Ibikh, who was the pillar of the kingdom and the column of the State, was taken prisoner, with many of the officers and chiefs of the army. Thus the covetousness of the Khán, for the kingdom of Khurasán and the throne of the family of Sámán became confirmed, and his eagerness to obtain the free enjoyment of his wishes and the complete possession of that province became augmented.

Faik, after his defeat by Abú-Alí, retreated to Marurúd and there took up his abode, and occupied himself there in arranging his affairs and in obviating difficulties, and preparing provisions and necessaries for the army. And when his affairs began to arrive at some order and to be settled he set forward towards Bukhárá, without having obtained permission from His Highness, and invited him to enter into consultation with him. And Núh, from that circumstance, conjectured something wrong, and came forth from Bukhárá, and sent out his chief officers of the army, with his special officers of State to fight against him. And they defeated him and they slew and destroyed, in various ways, his officers and chief men; and Fáík, when he came to the bank of the Jihún, found no boat, but escaped from the talons of death by his own skill, and passed over the water, and came unto the side near Balkh; and, after some days, he arrived at Termad, and wrote a letter to the Khán,^* and told the whole story respecting his opposition to and his making war against Nuh. And Nuh sent a royal order to the prince of Jurján, Abu-Al-Hareth-Farigúní, that he should assist in repulsing that enemy. And Abú-Al-Hareth collected together a considerable army and made war against him, and Fáík sent back, to oppose him, Arslán, known by the name of Akhir-Sálár (Lieutenant-General) with five hundred chosen cavalry together with Turkish and Arab soldiers, and they fell like a wolf upon the flock, and they utterly destroyed the army, and took possession of their property, and their arms, and their horses, and returned with ample booty to Balkh.

And, at this conjuncture, Zahir-’bn-Al-Fadhl had taken forcible possession of the coast of Saganyan, from Abu-Al-Muzaffar-Ibn-Ahmad, and, by force of arms, had taken up his abode in his territory. And Abu-Al-Muzaffar, when he had thus been driven out from his land, betook himself to the protection of Fáík, and requested assistance from him, and Fáík felt strongly inclined to grant all that was necessary, considering that his truth and his excellence, and the greatness of his kindred, and the splendour of his rank, and the illustrious records of history, relating to his family, were remarkable, and, moreover, that with regard to him, he had been specially connected with the Amírs of Khurasán, by race and by benefits; therefore he sent his army to his service. And Zahir, hearing of the slender resources of Fáík, of the small number of chiefs who were attached to him, and of the deserted state of the whole plain of Balkh, began earnestly to covet the possession of Balkh, and came, with all his forces, into the citadel; and the people of the city came from Balkh, and began to fight against him; and one of the Arab troops knew Zahir, and, by casting a javelin at him, threw him from his elephant, and, coming down, took his head.

And when the army heard the news of this event they were thrown into confusion, and every one of them went to his own province and became entirely dispirited.

And when the affairs of Ibekh^* came to such an extreme point of necessity as has been described, and they carried him prisoner to Turkestán, the kingdom of Bukhárá became disordered, and its odious corruption became evident, and the back of the chiefs of the State became broken, and neither regard nor veneration for the throne of that royal house remained. And, in the midst of this confusion, he began to incline to Fáík and called him to the service of the throne, and to the support of His Highness; and, when he came to Court, His Highness conferred upon him increased gifts and favours, and sent him to Samarkand, with all needful supplies and provisions, in order that he might exert himself in guarding the precious deposit of the State, and in preserving the passes of the kingdom. And when he arrived at these boundaries Baghrakhán^* attacked him, and Fáík, being without perseverance or sufficient knowledge of affairs, came to Bukhárá, routed and in confusion, and he left his comrades and the chief officers of the Sultán to the pleasure of the sword, and placed them beneath the dragon’s tail (Verse)

And it seemed very likely to every one that his flight from Samarkand had been determined beforehand, and that he was induced to commit this treachery through his odious disposition and corrupt meanness, and his ingratitude to the author of his prosperity, which was the cause that the vigour of the State was exhausted and this ancient royal house given to the winds. And Núh, hearing the news of this unfortunate affair, and of this great event, became alarmed and confused, and deserted his capital, and settled in some retired spot. Truly God is omniscient!

Baghrakhán came to Bukhárá and Fáík returned to meet him, and became enrolled in the number of his special officers, and showed himself active in increasing his troops and followers, and vied with him (in activity) and for several years there existed much assured friendship and sincerity between them. And when Bagrakhán became settled upon the throne Fáík requested permission to go to Balkh, in order that he might collect the taxes of those provinces and discover the means of supply for the Treasury, and that he might cause his^* name to be inserted in the public prayers, and strike coin in his name, as a sign of his sovereignty over those provinces. And, with this excuse, he procured leave of absence, and came towards Balkh. And Núh, having ascertained his strength, came out, and, passing the Jihún, arrived at Amul-Shatt (i. e., the banks of the river). And many of the slaves and servants of the opposite party fell over to him there, and the others became confused and dispirited. And when they received intelligence of his arrival they became glad and joyful, and it seemed to them that fresh life and new happiness would result to them from his residence, and, having separated themselves from the neighbourhood of the army, attached themselves to him, until (at length) the whole of the army concurred, and Núh conferred the office of Vizír upon Abú-Alí-Balami, and committed unto him the administration of his sovereignty in those possessions. But he, in the regulation and the arrangement of this matter, displayed much confusion and want of sense, and was unequal to the task of guiding and ordering this business, at a time when the whole country was in the grasp of the enemy, and a great army had assembled, and he had not the means either of resisting them or coming to an agreement with them. Núh therefore summoned Abd-Allah-Ibn-Azíz from Khwarazm again, and placed him upon the chief seat of office in the kingdom, but, through the renewed rising of the constellations of contention and the commencement of the season of strife, Núh wrote letters to Abu-Ali-Simjúr, at Máwarannahr, and entreated his assistance and the fulfilment of the duty of generosity, and implored his aid, in averting the peril of the jewel of the State. But he, in this matter, completely deceived Núh, by his lying words and his treacherous ways, and, under pretence of increasing the army and augmenting his forces, he suffered the opportunity to pass away. Then he went from Nishapúr to Sarakhs, and from that place, after a long stay, he went to Merú, to await the arrival of Baghrakhan, and expecting the fulfilment of that stipulation which existed between them, with respect to the division of the kingdom of Núh. And all the officers of Abú-Alí employed their utmost exertions in settling this plan and in accomplishing this thought, and in arranging this proposal, and they appeared to incline to this opinion— that the royal house of Sámán had changed, and that the days of its prosperity and the period of its reign had passed away, and that the prevalence of its decline and the proofs of its weakness appeared at every glance of the eye, and that at every look new dissensions and fresh weaknesses appeared. And the wise have said, of old, “To abet the weak is to weaken yourself.”^* Since the period of prosperity has passed away and the turn of adversity had arrived, to help and to associate with Núh would be the cause of humiliation and the fruitful origin of misfortune. And when Núh came to Amul Shatt he sent a person to Abú-Alí, and said, “Our expectation hath exceeded all bounds, and the matter hath reached its utmost point, the enemy hath become victorious, and the house hath passed away from our hands. It is time that thou shouldst display some zeal in the duty of preserving it, and in fulfilling the obligations which you owe; and there are no means of preserving our empire, and maintaining the rights of our forefathers and predecessors, except by thy aid and assistance.” And out of all the letters which were upon this subject, from His Highness Núh to Abú-Alí, there is one passage which was composed by Abu-Ali-Damagháni, as follows: “Since the State hath great need of support, when it is evident that some persons are designing to disturb the foundations of its buttresses, therefore the State hath recourse to thy power for help, in the name of Heaven.” But Abú-Alí, according to his usual vile habits and worthless disposition, persisted in his hardness of heart, and, throwing away all thought of future consequences, cast aside all self-respect and shame, and exhibited nothing but impudence and wickedness, and preferred requests most unusual, and claims most uncommendable, and requested that his titles, as mentioned in the public prayers (Khutbah) should be higher than those of the predecessors of His Highness Núh, and requested that they should introduce the prayer at the beginning of his peculiar titles, between his name and his surname, and that they should describe him as deputy of the Commander of the Faithful, which title is the peculiar designation of the family of Sámán, and is one by which no other of the kings of the earth have been described. And the Prince Núh received all these pretensions with favourable replies, And one of the servants of Núh, a man an Aristotle in mind, had come to Abú-Alí, on a message. He heard this kind of demand, and saw his iniquity and obstinacy in these discussions, and he said, “This King, Núh, is at present so confused by distress, that if thou should’st demand of him that he should acknowledge thee as sovereign he would not care. However after to-day there is to-morrow, the affairs of fortune are ever changing. Do thou, therefore, so be and so speak that the people of the earth may be pleased with thee, and may speak well of thy name.” The eyes of those who were present at this interview were filled with tears, at the utterance of this speech and at the severe fortune of the Prince, and their hearts were roasted in the fire of this calamity. But Abú-Alí was still bent upon and carried away by that blindness and folly, and doubtless it was God alone who, without favour from man, satisfactorily settled the affairs of Prince Núh, and rendered his opponents hated and despised, and replaced him upon a settled throne, and in the royal dignity, and made the envy and malice of his enemies to be the cause of their own humiliation and disgrace. Thus, when anything is difficult, God knows how to set it right.

Account of the Return of the Prince Ridha^* to Bukhárá, after the Departure of Baghrákhán from thence.

Baghrakhan was injured by the air of Bukhárá, although he had a great desire and base longing to injure the ancient lords and the noble family. And on account of the severity of his disease, they knew no means of curing him, except by returning to the air of Turkistán. Wherefore they carried him in a litter to the borders of Turkistán; and the people stretched the hand of vengeance upon the rear of his army, and they killed many of the people. And the road of his retreat was by the territory of the Gozz Turks, and these Gozz tribes went several marches behind him, and killed the stragglers of his army, and plundered their baggage and their provisions. And Baghrakhán, in one of these journeys, resigned his soul. And when this news came to the Prince Núh he determined to re-establish his authority, and the people of Bukhárá made rejoicings at his arrival, and the wise and great men of the city came forth to meet his stirrup, and they were as charmed with his fortunate arrival as the day-watchman at the rising of the full moon, or the thirsty traveller at the sight of the pure brook. And the princes of Bukhárá and Samarkand, and their allies, came to settle the Treasury affairs of the Prince Núh, and they placed his commands and his prohibitions upon their usual footing and upon their former authority. And thus all the causes of contention were cut off. And when Abú-Alí-Simjúr saw that the affairs of the kingdom of Núh were in course of settlement, and that the affairs of his own province approached to a blameable condition, and his wishes, through the confused times and through the troubled period, had produced no fruit, since his desire was broken and despised, and that the line of his desire upon the dice of fortune had become crooked (and askew), and, moreover, that the settlements which he held from Baghrakhàn, respecting the completion of the conventions, and the fulfilment of the verbal treaties which had been agreed upon between them, respecting the division of the province of Khurasán and of Máwarannahr, and also the settlement concerning its equal partition between them, had not been carried into effect, (for Baghrakhán, when he took the throne of Bukhárá, inserted the name of Abú-Alí-Simjur in the public prayers in the same list with the other generals of the army, and made no alteration with respect to him in the usual state of things); then Abú-Alí began to gnaw the fingers of vexation and repentance, and the brilliant light of his flag was destroyed in the darkness of his calamity, and the garden of his enjoyment withered in the cold wind of this event; whereupon he assembled the nobles of the state, and the counsellors of his court; and, in order to obtain their advice, asked them to enter upon the consideration of some remedy of this affair, and some means of escape from this misfortune. They all said, “The clay of which the royal house of Sámán was formed is made up with the water of generosity, and of a kind and forgiving temper; but the dissensions and the depressions of the princes of this family, through the errors of their servants and the blunders of their dependants, have become notorious every day. This is the only way of proceeding, that thou shouldest request this healing plaster of pardon from them, and shouldest request acceptance of thy excuses from their court. For, indeed, in this life-risking whirlpool, there is no possibility of arriving at the shore of safety, except in the boat of the assistance of Núh, and this inundation of disaster will never assuage, except by means of the fortunate empire of Núh, and it will be necessary to go under his protection, with sword and with shroud,^* and to cast yourselves upon his generosity and his pity, and thus to draw out the thorn, which has (unfortunately) lodged and broken in his breast, by the beak of humility and submission; and to remove the dust which unluckily had become attached to the border of the garment of his mind, by blowing the breath of kindness and union; and, since affairs have arrived at this extremity of inefficiency, it will be necessary to deserve approbation by their services, and to take hold of the course of service, and the rules of obedience; since there can be no better remedy for a broken head than the lint, or for sinners than an agreeable refuge; nor will he restrain from you the face of apology, acceptance, and pardon.”

Abú-Alí found this discourse to possess a just weight in the scale of good sense, and that it would comprehend the circle of his conveniences. He, therefore, collected together of his various possessions many presents and packets of precious stones, in order that he might send them by the hand of an ambassador who had an oily tongue unto Prince Núh, so that by this trick the perception of his base plan might escape the enlightened mind, and by the softness of craftiness the bird of kindness might raise up his wing, which had been wetted in the mist of dislike. But he again thought of the decreed word, “Resolution is equal to forethought.” He therefore tried another expedient, and said, “There is an old warning spoken (by the wise), ‘He that soweth thorns will never obtain grapes therefrom.’ If I have sown a piece of ground quite full of the seeds of wrong, how shall I measure it out in autumn full of the harvest of gratitude; and if I plant in my enclosure the young tree of opposition, how can I expect the fruit of concord; since to put a wounded snake into one’s bosom, or to taste the poison which is upon the bow, is not the action of a wise man; for the intelligent have said, ‘Kings have teeth in their bellies, like the crocodile,’ and they are like the sea, which although it be the source of the fountain of life, and although it contain all kinds of jewels and valuable things, nevertheless is sometimes like a whirlpool, which, in the twinkling of an eye, can destroy the world, and carry away mankind; and that ‘A king is a sea, in which we may be drowned even when it is at rest over its pearls, and when it swells we should beware.’”

And Fáík also, when he saw that the boat of Núh had arrived in safety, and at settled prosperity, lost all firmness of heart and quietness of spirit, and sought some safe refuge from the evil of this storm. At last he determined upon this weak plan, and this crude object, and this excess of impudence, that he should put a bold face upon the affair; and set off towards Bukhárá, in order that he might recover Núh to his interest, by means of contention and violence. But to be obstructed in our end is odious to all. The Prince Núh sent on before him the best portions of his private guards and chamberlains, and between the two armies various battles and horrible slaughters took place, and many were killed on both sides; and the birds and lions, and eagles and hyænas obtained from those who were slain in this assembly of sorrow, and from those who were found in this meat-distributing place, a merry feast and a table of delicacies. And Fáík, when he escaped with but a small part of his army from the sword of the people of Bukhárá, and had saved himself from the talons of fate, took to flight, and since he knew no refuge except the court of Abú Alí, or any place to fly to, went to Merú; and Abú Alí was rejoiced at his arrival, and considered the contraction of an alliance with him would be an affair of importance, based upon sound judgment, he therefore embraced his offer of help and support, and considered that his presence would enable him to dispense with the favour of Ridha-Núh-Ibn Manshir, he therefore sent Fáík the money which he had prepared for the tribute due to Bukhárá, and there was confirmed between them a complete unity, and a mutual association, and sincere affection, and an agreement to oppose all one-anothers’ enemies and adversaries. And they came together to Nishapúr, and occupied themselves in the preparation of arms, and in the arrangement of the means of service in the field, and in organizing matters for the day of battle. And the Prince Núh when he heard of their agreement to ruin and injure him, and when their combination to do him wrong became apparent, applied all his thoughts to consider by what forbearing skill he might compel these two young colts to become obedient to the burden, and by what power he might catch these two savage crocodiles in the snare of punishment, and by the assistance of what lion he might most completely seize in his claws these two crafty wolves. And after consideration the lot of his election fell upon Nasir-Addin-Sabaktagín,^* since he was well known, and of established reputation amongst the nobles of those provinces for his preeminence in all good ways, and his firmness in that which is right, and his careful regard for the happiness of the people, and for his support of religion, and his aid given to God. He therefore sent Abú-Nasr-Farsi to him, and signified the evil deeds, and the disgraceful actions of Abú-Alí and Fáík, and requested from his repelling arm, and his expansive benevolence, the remedy for this disease, and the means of mollifying this fury; and offered a request to him respecting the removal of this anxiety, and the taking away of this treachery, and said, “The way of hope from all other quarters of the kingdom, and from all other resources of the state, hath been stopped up, and there is no probability of meeting with any help, nor any hope of repelling these evils, unless by the powerful force and vigorous bridle of Nasir-Addoulat-Abú-Mansúr, and in the breast of thought there can be entertained no idea respecting the conferring this favour and the accomplishing this service from any other than from him.” And Nasúr Addin was refreshed in heart, and his bosom was gladdened that he was entrusted to expedite, and purify, and arrange in this matter of the wounded (state), and was jealously (indignant) on account of this attenuating consumption of the family of Saman, and abhorred the crimes and baseness of Abú Alí, and the meanness and low manners of Fáík. He therefore girded up his loins to transfer the empire from them, and to respond to the demand of the Prince. He speedily marched, and with eagerness to fulfil his duty, and in the ardour of his faithful disposition arrived at Máwaránnahr. The Prince Núh rose up, and went to the borders of Kash, to witness his arrival. Here they met with the greatest friendliness; but before the meeting Nasúr Addín had requested to be excused the trouble of dismounting, and the felicity of kissing the ground of obedience, on account of the weakness of old age and the burden of advanced years, and the Prince Núh for that reason accepted his excuse; but when the eyes of Nasír Addín fell upon the external appearance of the prince, his veneration for his king and emperor wrested the rein from his hand, and he alighted and kissed the stirrup of Núh. And Núh sent to meet him some agreeable presents, and attracted him by extreme honour and entire respect, and from the meeting of these two great men, and the association of these two kings, joy came to all hearts; and the rose of delight unfolded its flowers amongst high and low, and became so universally diffused that such a state of affairs has never been recorded or described in history. And the prince Núh opened the hand of kindness and generosity, and much gratified himself and his followers with various gifts and dignities; and in the end it appeared how the sincerity of his advances was worthy of his greatness, when during several days he sought his counsel, respecting the injury and damage of those two benefit-beliers, he exhibited perfect confidence, Nasir Addín was delighted, and offered his zealous service, and engaged himself to sincere obedience and allegiance, and requested a delay of some days that he might go to Ghazna, and make arrangements respecting the assembling an army, and the preparation of military necessaries; and with perfect zeal might betake himself to the sacred war against the wicked. The prince consented, and presented him with splendid robes of honour, and royal gifts and unlimited presents of various kinds of valuable articles, and both of them went to their own abode, and used their utmost industry in settling their affairs, and assembling soldiers, and in arranging arms, and in providing necessaries and horses for the expedition.

And Abú-Alí, when he received information of these things, became confounded and confused, and the sun of his judgment tended towards declension, and the culmination of his star (of good fortune) proceeded towards an eclipse, and his contemptible disposition lost the right road in the brightness of the intellect of the King. And this question was proposed to the council of his officers and favourites, and he endeavoured to increase his fire from the breath of every one, and having considered the means of getting out of the difficulty, the most excellent advice and the most approved opinion of all was this, that he ought to propose friendship and fraternity with Fakhr-Addoulat, and that his love would be an important handle (by which to obtain his objects) and his friendship an efficient supporter of his views. For he thought that it would be expedient to obtain the advantage of his alliance, before any alteration in his fortunes, “so that if (he said) we should happen to find difficulty in retaining the province of Khurasán, we might have in readiness an excellent resource and an eminent place of refuge.” And the volume of their wise counsels was arranged and sealed upon these conditions. And Abú-Alí proceeded according to this plan, and he appointed Abú-Jafar-Zulkarnain for this expedition, and sent for Fakhr-Addoulat, by his hand, some packages full of the fine productions of Khurasán, and of the export goods of Turkistán. And, in like manner, he entered into arrangements with respect to Sahíb-Kafi, and he felt assured that, by his means and his guidance, he should succeed.