1S60.] The Kirdn-us-Sa'dain of Mir Iihusrau. 237 



similar interviews are described, and in one of them the father takes 

 an opportunity of instilling into his son's ear some salutary 

 counsel as to his future reign, while in the parting visit he 

 is represented as warning him against certain evil counsellors.* We 

 know from the narrative of Zi'a Barni that such was actually the 

 case, hut the poet only gives us vague generalities where the historian 

 adds a contemporary edge. 



The Sultan returns to his capital in the rainy season, which is 

 described, as each of the other seasons have been, at great length. 

 Then follows a very pleasing and natural chapter of the poet's per- 

 sonal history, the best in the whole book. 



He had accompanied the royal expedition and had been an eye- 

 witness of many of the scenes described, but he returns with it only 

 as far as Kantipiir. His immediate patronf had just received a jaa-fr 

 in Oude, and the poet stays behind with him and remains two years 

 there. At last however he wishes to return to his family at Dehli, 

 and after some time he obtains leave, of which he gladly avails 

 himself. After one month of weary travelling, he reaches the im- 

 perial city in the month Zii'l Ka'dah, and he describes his joy at 

 meeting his aged mother and his friends. Two days after the kino- 

 hears of his arrival and sends for him to court, where he is appointed 

 to an office about the royal person. The king then in a private in- 

 terview condescends to ask a favour. The poet expresses his astonish- 

 ment at such condescension, and then the king bids him write in 

 verse the history of the meeting of the two Sultans, " the conjunction 

 of the two auspicious constellations of the time ;" that he may divert 

 his mind by its perusal while parted from his father, who of course 

 remains in his quasi independent province of Bengal. From this 

 command the poem itself took its birth. Khusrau tells us that it 



f His patron's name is given as 



j|y ,jh.^c Jl=». o)Lg.^. cjLi. 

 Amir Ali was Khusrau's patron at Dehli after the death of prince Muhammad 

 and we learn from Ferishta that in the beginning of Jalal-ud-Din Khilji's reign 

 Amir Ali was " holding the government of Oude under the new title of Hatim 

 Khan." 



