The reign of Mu' izz-uddin. 
209 
1871.] 
from the world and look on tankas and jetals as on snakes and 
scorpions. A king should enquire on matters of religion from 
sages such as these, and guide his labours by the judgment of 
God-fearing men. Now, my son, you have served in your grand¬ 
father’s presence, and have seen to what extent he occupied him¬ 
self in fasting and prayers, in works of absolute duty and works 
of supererogation,* There was no sage or reverend man who had 
such strength to fast and pray as the Sultan Balban, your grand¬ 
father. If he heard that one prayer had been omitted by my 
brother or myself, or that we had overslept ourselves, and had 
neglected to offer up our morning prayer in the congregation, he 
would not speak to us for a month ; and if he heard that any one 
had once omitted a prayer, whenever that person came into his 
presence, he would turn away his face from him. I have heard 
from many holy men that whoever eats during the fast of the 
month of Eamazk will die young, and the man who does not pray, 
cannot be counted a Musalman nor addressed as such, and it is no 
sin to spill his blood. 
“ And, 0 my son, forasmuch as it is a hard thing to die, especially 
for a king who has to leave so many things that make life plea¬ 
sant, and harder than all for a king to die young, carrying with 
him a wistful regret into the other world,f listen to your father’s 
last precept. Do not eat during the fast of the Bamazan, and offer 
prayers in every way you know, and remove not from near you one 
wise God-seeking man, for while thousands care for the world, he 
will care for your religion.” 
Such were the good counsels of Sultan Naqir-uddfn; and he 
wept aloud, and clasping Sultan Mu’izz-uddfn in his arms, bade 
him farewell. 
And in that last moment, while kissing his son’s eyes and cheeks, 
and embracing him again and again, he whispered in his ear, 11 Be 
quick and put Nizam-uddm out of the way. If after this, he finds 
an opportunity, he will not leave you on the throne a day.” 
With these words he turned away weeping, and as he went, 
twice or thrice repeated this verse : 
* Jity, Nawdfil. 
f Or az zamm td dsman may mean simply ‘ to an excessive degree.’ 
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