14 Translations from the Tdrikh i Firiiz Shake. [No. 1, 



judgment, I shall have to enter into hell." The Sultan replied: 

 " State whatever is authorized hy the divine law, and I shall not harm 

 you." Then said Mughis : u If your Majesty intends following the 

 example of the virtuous Caliphs, and desires the highest honours of a 

 future state, you should take for your own use and that of your family 

 just as much only as you have assigned to each of the soldiery, 

 viz., 234 tankahs. But if your Majesty prefers following a middle 

 course, and considers that that sum would not suffice to maintain the 

 dignity of your exalted position, you might take for your own use 

 and that of your family as much as you give to the chief dignitaries 

 of your Court, such as Malik Qiran, Malik Qirbak, Malik Naib 

 Waki'lidar and Malik Khag Hajib. Or should your Majesty adopt 

 the opinions of the sages of the world, in taking a sum from the 

 national treasury for your own use and that of your family, you should 

 take a portion that is larger and better than that of other nobles of 

 your Court, in order that a distinction may be drawn between your- 

 self and others, and the dignity of your exalted position may not be 

 lowered. Whatever your Majesty takes from the national treasury 

 however, in excess of these three modes which I have represented, and 

 for all the lakhs, and krors, and gold jewels you bestow on your 

 family, you will have to answer for at the day of judgment." 



Sultan 'Alauddin flew into a passion, and exclaimed : " Do you 

 not fear my sword, that you dare to say, all the wealth which is spent 

 on my family is unauthorized by divine law ?" Qazi Mughis replied : 

 " I dread your Majesty's sword (I assure you), and lay before you 

 my shroud, which is my turban ; but your Majesty having asked me 

 a question on divine law, I have replied to it according to what I 

 know. Were your Majesty to seek information as to its political ex- 

 pediency, I should say that whatever is expended on your family 

 should be increased a thousand fold, in order that the royal dignity 

 might thereby be enhanced in the eyes of the people ; for this enhance- 

 ment of the royal dignity is essential to political expediency." 



After discussing the aforesaid questions, Sultan 'Alauddin said to 

 Qazi Mughis : " After the way in which you have stigmatized my acts 

 as contrary to divine law, listen to this : I have even established a 

 fine of three years' pay for every horseman, who does not stand muster ; 

 I cast into prison all who indulge in wine or sell it ; when any one 



