et el 
Of Ferdoosee. 3 
amusements were poetry and history. He 
had made large and valuable collections rela- 
tive to the ancient annals of Persia, and it was 
his’ wish to possess a series of heroic poems 
composed from these materials. This appears 
to have been a favourite idea with some of 
the ancient Persian Monarchs. ‘The poet 
Duqeequee was employed for this purpose by 
one of the Princes of the race of Sassan; or 
with more probability, for the accounts vary, 
of the family of Saman; but he dying by the 
hand of a slave, after having written only 
two thousand verses, the design was aban- 
doned. It was afterwards resumed by Mah- 
mood, who wished to add another glory to 
his reign by procuring the completion of this 
great work under his own auspices, and he 
accordingly entertained several poets at his 
court with this intention. 
Ferdoosee, conscious of his genius, was 
inspired with an ardent desire of enjoying the 
reputation, which would necessarily follow 
the successful accomplishment of so arduous 
an undertaking, and he describes, in anima- 
ted language, the anxiety which he felt lest 
another should anticipate him in his purpose. 
He communicated his plan to his friends at 
Tous, and, encouraged by them, composed an 
heroic poem, on the delivery of Persia by 
