Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/86

 IIISTOIIV OF 1NI>IA.

[liOOK 1.

Mahraood's character.

His treat- ment of Ferdusi.

A.D. loso. bestcnv any of tliem as fiirewell presents, and sirnply caused them to be taken back to the treasury. The next day he ordered a review of the anny, and, seated on his travellin;^ throne, saw all his elephants, camels, horses, and chariots pass before him. He fesisted his eyes, but could not witisfy his heart, and once more burst into tears. The day after, he- lay on his bed a lifeless corpse, and an impressive example of the vanity of human wishes.

Avarice, which was one of his ruling pa.ssion.s, is generally supixj.sed to be incompatible with true greatness ; and yet it is impossible to deny that Sultan Malimood, the founder of the Mahometan Indian empire, po.ssessed in a high

degree many of the qualities which have procured for otlier sovereigns the name of Great. He gained signal victories, made conquests, and by the ability of his govern- ment retained them, adorned his capital with magnificent buildings, and ke]jt a splendid court, to which he attracted many of the most distinguished writers of his time. He must thus have been a munificent patron of literature and art, though one of the greatest blots on his reputation was his treatment of Ferdusi. That celebrated poet long lived at his court, and was commissioned to write a poem, for which he was promised at the rate of a dinar a line. There can be no doubt that a golden dinar was understood; but Mahmood, on making pajTnent, had the meanness to take advantage of the ambiguity in the term, and gave only silver. Ferdusi quitted the court in disgust, and took his revenge by launching at its sovereign a stinging satire. Mahmood was magnanimous enough not _. =^s^^^i- only to forgive him, but to endea-

"" ^ s^— ■. .-d — vour to make amends for the past,

by sending him a rich present. It was, imfortunately, too late, for while Mahmood's messencrer enter- ed at one door, Ferdusi was beinor carried out on his bier at another. Mahmood does not figure as a

legislator, but several anecdotes are told, Avhich show that he had a high sense of justice, and occasion- ally made great sacrifices of personal feeling in administering it. One of these anecdotes will bear repetition. An inhabitant of Ghuznee, unhappy in a hand-

GoLD AND Silver Coins of Mahmood.'

Exterior of Sultan Mahmood's Tomb. — Hart's Afghan Scenery.

' Gold coin of Malimood - A.H. 33-5, British Museum.

-weight, 76'8 grains. On reverse, "Maho-

med, the apostle of God whom he sent with instruc- tion and the true faith, that he might exalt it above