2 Life and Writings 
the life and writings of an ingenious Persian 
Poet, whose name is, by Oriental scholars, 
always mentioned with applause, but whose 
works are but imperfectly known, may not 
prove altogether uninteresting. 
Ferdoosee was born of respectable parents 
at Tous, a town of Khorasan, a province of 
Persia, about the middle of the tenth century 
of our era. He. early gave indications of 
uncommon talents, and most probably en- 
joyed the advantage of an excellent education, 
under the best masters of his native place. 
His ardent love of knowledge attracted the 
attention of the poet Assedi, who assisted 
him in his studies, and encouraged his rising 
genius; and to whose instructions he proba- 
bly owed his taste for poetry, and that inti- 
mate acquaintance with history, which led 
him afterwards to employ his muse in digni- 
fying and embellishing the popular traditions 
of his country 
At this period, India was governed by the 
celebrated Mahmood of Ghezni. The poets, 
whom he patronized, have sung his praises, 
and ascribed to him the possession of every 
virtue. He was certainly fond of literature ; 
and learned and ingenious men found a flat- 
tering reception at his court. His chief 
