252 A brief notice of the Persia??, poets. [July 



celebrity and formerly preceptor to Anseri, fell into his 

 hands, and was about to be put to death, as a punish- 

 ment for some lampoon he had written against the 

 Sultan ; when Anseri who was in great favor with the 

 monarch generously interceded and saved his life : and 

 moreover shared with him a magnificent present be- 

 stowed on him by the Sultan. Anseri's disinterested 

 and warm patronage of his great rival Firdousi reflects 

 the highest credit on him. 



Abu al Ferek Runi UstdcL 



This poet is also known under the title of 

 son of fire, he was cotemporary with Sultan Malek 

 Shah Seljuki and was a native of Khorassan^ he died 

 A. H. 482. 



Anwari. 



Hukim Anwari was a native of AbiCird in Khorassan, 

 and studied poetry under Abu al Fereh Runi, who, on 

 account of his celebrity as a teacher, obtained the title of 

 UstdcL Anwari however soon surpassed his preceptor. 



Herbelot relates the following anecdote of Anwari : — 

 " During the time he was pursuing his studies at the 

 Mansuriah college in the city of Toos, Sultan Sanjar 

 passed by with a numerous retinue. Anwari was seated at 

 the door, and on seeing a person well mounted and equip- 

 ped, whose appearance particularly struck him, he en- 

 quired who he was. On finding him to be one of the 

 Sultan's poets, he felt convinced that poetry must be 

 held in high estimation at the Court of this prince, in 

 order to enable a poet to maintain such a costly appear- 

 ance ; and that it might prove advantageous to himself 

 to apply to the culture of so profitable an art. This 

 idea made so lively an impression on hi.i mind^ as to 



