264 THE BEGINNING OF HUMAYUN'S EEIGN
- When this humble and insignificant slave Ghiyas-
ad-din ibn Humam-ad-din, whom men commonly call Khwandamir may God aid him to surmount all diffi- culties! obtained the honour of meeting the great emperor Humayun and the rays of royal kindness shone on the surface of his hopes and circumstances, he con- ceived the desire and entertained the idea in his mind that he would describe, as a memorial for future days, some of the works and inventions of this monarch; for the histories of kings, by means of the black water of ink, which has the effect of the water of life, are immor- talized, and the great names and writings of clever authors, by virtue of their praises of celebrated kings, are stamped on the page of time. For instance, the excellencies of Mahmud were described by Utbi and Unsuri, and the poems of Mu'izzi and Anwari cele- brated the character of San jar. "Who would remember Hakim Anwari, Had he not spoken about Sanjar and his works? Because Utbi conferred praises on Mahmud, Therefore he obtained the object of his desire. Sharaf was celebrated in the world Because he wrote the eulogy of Timur Gurgan." Although the compiler of this book withheld his tongue from commencing the history of this renowned monarch's exploits and deeds, since he had but little knowledge and was endowed with no ability, and did not allow the pen which possesses two tongues to de- scribe the character of this most prosperous king, yet he always entertained that desire in his faithful heart
