Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/183

 and there was none who could soothe the spirit of the Emperor in his later years as his friend and adviser, Abul Fazel.

"Sing to me from the lays of Faizi, the gifted poet who solaced my younger days with his song. Or sing some of your own verses, Abul Fazel, for to you is given the skill of wedding deep thought to musical words, such as few possess on earth."

Abul Fazel recited some of his verses, which may be thus rendered:

"Long will be your quest, Abul Fazel, for a true man is rare indeed. Deep is thy thought, my friend—such wisdom as we find in the poetry of olden times, and not often in the polished verses of our days."

"The ancients, sire, lived more in touch with Nature, and interpreted the secrets of Nature. We live much in a world of our own creation."

"The stirring verses of our immortal Ferdusi,