Folio 4b

…in gatherings and assemblies I used to delight my listeners by relating choice properties and stories. By the grace and favour of God Most High, my attachment to that gate of fortune was a source of pride and joy to me among my peers.*1*2

His excellency, prudent as Asaf and of matchless might; the valiant, world-conquering counsellor, prudent against the enemy; the light of the garden of realm and community, the light in the pupil of the seat of state, the shining sun of the sky of majesty, the great star of the garden of good fortune; the lone rider of the field of valour, the horseman of the racecourse of glory and power; he who cuts the veins of oppression and injustice, who lays the foundation of the edifice of justice and equity, the recipient of the endless favours of the Supreme Majesty — the most eminent and greatest of viziers, Murtaza Pasha. May God lengthen his life and his fortune, and keep his glory and power until the Day of Resurrection.*1*2*3

In the presence of his abundant fortune and his envied eminence, I would roll up the sleeve of effort to relate wondrous reports and rare tales.

Then that valiant, world-conquering lion I have named turned the reins of the steed of his high-ranking resolve towards learning and knowledge, and the halter of his felicitous will towards perfection and virtue. Spending his blessed hours, night and day, in examining and solving the difficulties of the sciences was his constant good custom.

So from time to time he would revive with his gracious words the ruined garden of hopes of this servant, bought with the gold of his kindness and favour, and would make the corner of my sorrowful, moaning heart flourish with the coin of his pearl-scattering, blessed speech. Morning and evening I had a share of his abundant table of generosity and favour, and my prayer for the continuance of his fortune in both worlds was the amulet of my soul.

I remained steadfast in that service. Then his felicitous nature, soaring like the huma bird, urged me to search into the subtleties of the secrets concerning the wonders of created things. Since dealing with the difficulties in the miraculous meaning of the Arabic words, and the burdens of worldly ties, stood in the way, and since Turkish speech is more easily understood, a lofty and glorious command, which must be obeyed, was issued that I should occupy myself with translating the book I have mentioned.*4*5

Despite the smallness of my stock and the shortness of my reach, in obedience to his great command I gave free rein to the bay steed of my broken pen on the field of writing, and the book was composed and set out in the Turkish words in common use. The gracious, merciful glance of those of high worth is hoped and expected from those concerned; and kindness and…*6