232 The'Kirdn-us-Sd'dain of Mir Khusrau. [No. 3, 



he is joined by several Zamindars with their contingents, among 

 them by Chahjui the Amir of Karrah,* and the Khan of Awiz 



The father now determines to send a messenger to try his son's 

 temper, to see if his thoughts be those of peace or war, — he accordingly 

 sends a trusty ambassador named Shams Dabir. An interview takes 

 place between the messenger and Barbik, but of course little but idle 

 compliments and threats passes between them. In the meantime the 

 king continues his leisurely marches varied with the same round of 

 festivities. At lensrth he reaches and crosses the Granges and enters 

 the province of Oude. The sun at the same time enters Gemini, and 

 we have a very elaborate description of the hot weather, but the poet 

 represents the army as marching on without suffering any inconve- 

 nience, ' not a soldier knew aught of the heat of the sun, under the 

 canopying shade of the king, the Shadow of God !' He at length 

 reaches the city of Oude and encamps by the river Gogra. 



Here follows a striking incident, — the first meeting of the father and 

 the son. The son is on one side of the river with all his troops,the father 

 with his troops on the other. The father bursts into tears as he sees his 

 son in the distance and sends a messenger across in a boat. " Carry," 

 he bids him, " the news of a father's tears to him who is dear to that 

 father as the apple of his eye." The son recognises the messenger from 

 the opposite shore, but a feeling of evil pride rises in his bosom and he 

 shoots an arrow at him, forbidding him to advance, and the messen- 

 ger has to return without delivering the message. Thus ends the 

 first interview. 



The father then sends a more official ambassador who delivers a 

 formal speech, chiefly upbraiding the king for his youth and indiscre- 

 tion, and trying to recal him to a sense of filial duty. This message 

 is delivered in full durbar, and the young prince haughtily answers 

 it, — his claim is that crowns come not by inheritance but by fate, 



* We read in Ferishta that " Mullik Jujhoo, the nephew of Ghaias-ud-Din 

 Bulbun, assumed royal privileges in Ms government of Karrah" during the con- 

 fusion which followed the accession of Jalal-ud-Din Khilji. 



