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happy mother turned her face to the wilderness, "often turning round to gaze on Subooktugeen. "He is said to have seen during that night, in a "dream, the Prophet of God, (on whom be peace!) "who said to him, That generosity which you "have this day shown to a distressed animal has "been appreciated by God, and the kingdom of Ghizny is assigned to you in this world as your "reward: let not thy power, however, under"mine thy virtue, but thus continue the exercise "of benevolence towards mankind.' "

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It is stated, also, in the Maasir-ool-Moolook, that his son Mahmood, having built a pleasurehouse in an elegant garden near the city of Ghizny, invited his father, whenit was finished, to a magnificent entertainment which he had prepared for him.

Mahmood, in the joy of his heart, desired the opinion of Subooktugeen concerning the house and garden, which were much admired on account of the taste displayed in their formation. The king, to the great disappointment of his son, told him that he viewed the whole as a bauble, which any of his subjects might raise by the means of wealth; observing, that it was the business of a prince to raise more durable fabrics to fame, which might stand for ever, as objects worthy of imitation, but difficult to be surpassed by posterity. The poet Nizamy Oorazy of Samarkand makes upon this saying the following reflection: "Notwith"standing the numerous palaces built by Mah"mood, who vaunted of their beauty and mag"nificence, yet we see not one stone in its proper

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place; though the poems of Oonsurry* still "remains a splendid monument of his talents."

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It is related in the Turjooma Yemny, that a short time previously to his death, Ameer Nasirood-Deen Subooktugeen held a conversation with Sheikh Abool Futteh of Boost. He observed, “In "the exertions we make to avert disease with the hopes of recovery, I am forcibly reminded of "the condition of sheep and the butcher. In "the first instance, the sheep is brought into a "strange place, is bound by the feet, and is appre"hensive that his end is approaching. After much "exertion he submits; and, on being shorn of his "fleece, is allowed to get up and be at liberty; "this ceremony is more than once renewed during "his life; and, lastly, when the moment of death "arrives, he permits himself to be quietly bound, "and resigns his throat to the knife, while he firmly hopes he is only thrown down to be shorn. So

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"we become, in the course of time, accustomed to "the bed of sickness; we have recovered so often, "that we have no apprehension of danger, till at last "death comes suddenly upon us, and throws his "noose round our necks, and we are in an instant "throttled." It is said this conversation occurred only about forty days before the King's death.

Oonsurry a celebrated poet who resided at the court of Mahmood.

AMEER ISMAEEL.

Ameer Ismaeel succeeds Subooktugeen during the absence of his elder brother Mahmood.-Mahmood proceeds to Ghizny to assert his claim. Ismaeel is defeated and taken prisoner.

SUBOOKTUGEEN dying suddenly, and his eldest son Mahmood being at Nyshapoor, his second son Ismaeel prevailed on his father, in his last moments, to appoint him his successor. Ismaeel was accordingly crowned with great solemnity at Bulkh. In order to acquire popularity, he opened the treasury, and distributed great part of his father's wealth in presents to the nobility, and in expensive shows and entertainments to the people. He also augmented the pay of the troops, and rewarded small services with unusual profusion. The soldiers, however, perceived that this generosity arose out of apprehension of his brother, and they accordingly raised their demands, and became mutinous and disorderly.

When intelligence was brought to Mahmood of the death of his father, and the accession of his younger brother, he wrote to Ismaeel a letter, which he sent by the hand of Abool Hussun Jumvy, stating, that since the death of his royal father, he held no one upon earth so dear as his beloved brother, but that the art of government required the maturity of experience, wisdom, and age. That if Ismaeel were competent to so great a charge, it

might have induced him not to interfere; but it must be evident that their father Subooktugeen, in vesting him with the control of the kingdom, was influenced alone by a consideration of the great distance at which his eldest son then was. He advised Ismaeel, therefore, seriously to reflect on his situation, to distinguish right from wrong, and to give up at once all pretensions to the crown; in which case (Mahmood said) he was willing to cede to him the government of the provinces of Bulkh and Khorassan.

Ismaeel rejected these proposals, and Mahmood saw no remedy but war. Having gained over to his interests both his uncle Boghraz and his own younger brother, Ameer Nuseer-ood-Deen Yoosoof, Mahmood advanced to Ghizny; while Ismaeel hastened also from Bulkh to the same point. As the armies approached, Mahmood endeavoured to avoid coming to extremities, and having in vain tried to effect a reconciliation, was at length induced to form his troops in order of battle. Ismaeel also drew up his army, supported by a number of elephants. Both parties engaged with vigour; the action was bloody, and the victory long doubtful; Mahmood at last charged the centre of the enemy in person, and wholly discomfited it, compelling the fugitives to seek refuge in the citadel of Ghizny. Ismaeel was shortly after reduced to surrender, and to deliver up the keys of the garrison and treasury to his brother. Mahmood, having appointed a new ministry, proceeded with his army towards Bulkh. It is said, that a few days after the submission of Ismaeel, he was asked by his brother what he intended to have done

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