110
ʾILÂM-EN-NÂS.
"A WONDERFUL TALE OF ANOTHER
PERIOD."
IT is said that when Bahrâm[1] succeeded to the kingdom of Persia after his father, he gave no heed to his government or his subjects, but devoted himself to amusement, and enjoyment, and pleasure, and sport; until at length the towns threw off his yoke and fell into ruin, and cultivation diminished, and the treasuries became empty.
And one moonlight night, he was riding out towards Seleucia and Ctesiphon, where he had certain pleasure and hunting-grounds. And he sent for the Maubadz—who is amongst the Magians as the High-priest amongst the Jews, and the Bishop amongst the
- ↑ "Bahrâm the son of Bahrâm" was the third of that name among the kings of Persia. He was the fifth of the dynasty of the Sassanidæ, and was only the adopted son of his predecessor. Ibn-Batrîk says that this prince was a contemporary of the Emperors Gordian and Gallienus, which would bring his reign somewhere between A.D. 237 and A.D. 268, or somewhat less than four hundred years before the time of Muhammad.
