1869.] Translations from the Tdri/ch i Firuz Shdhi. 209 



march into distant countries and wage war there ; bidding them plun- 

 der and lay waste all the territories of Hind, and spare neither the 

 wealth, elephants, nor horses of its kings and princes, but bring them 

 all under the royal subjection, after which their lands and principali- 

 ties can be restored to them, on condition that they agree to furnish 

 an annual tribute to your Majesty in money, horses, and elephants." 



After giving vent to the above opinions, 'Alaulmulk made obei- 

 sance and continued thus : " What your humble servant has recom- 

 mended can never be brought about, unless your Majesty will refrain 

 from drinking wine to excess, from holding constant convivial and 

 festive assemblies, and from indulging both day and night in the plea- 

 sures of the chase, nor until you take up your permanent residence in 

 the centre of the kingdom and allow the affairs of the state, and mea- 

 sures of government to be transacted agreeably to the advice of your 

 faithful and sagacious councillors. Your Majesty's excessive indulgence 

 in wine occasions delay and detriment to all measures, and nothing 

 can be effected conformably to the true spirit of good government ; 

 while from your constant pursuit of field sports, there is danger of 

 treason and sedition from deceitful and treacherous individuals, and the 

 royal life is in jeopardy. As soon as it becomes well-known among 

 the populace both high and low, that the Sovereign is absorbed 

 day and night in the pleasures of wine, and of the chase, the due re- 

 verence of royalty will no longer remain implanted in their hearts, 

 and the gates of sedition will be thrown open to traitors. If you 

 cannot do without indulging in wine and in the chase altogether, you 

 should drink only after the hour appointed for the second prayers, 

 when you are alone without any party of boon companions, nor should 

 you take so much as to get intoxicated ; and for sport, you ought to 

 have a villa erected at Siri, on all sides of which spacious and exten- 

 sive plain there should be, where you could take your hawks and fly 

 them. In this manner you should satisfy your longing for field sports, 

 so that the disaffected and ill-disposed characters in the kingdom 

 may not have the opportunity for malevolent designs against you. 

 Your Majesty's life, and the stability of your government are most 

 clear to me ; for my own life and that of my whole family and house- 

 hold depends upon the royal existence ; and should this kingdom fall 

 into the hand of another, which God forbid, myself, my wife and 

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