and Hindoostan. The chronicle was afterwards continued to the time of Yuzdjird. In the tenth century, one of the Kings of the Samanian dynasty directed Duqeeqee to versify that extensive work, but the Poet only lived to finish a thousand distichs, having been assassinated by his own slave. Nothing further was done till the reign of Sooltan Mahmood Subooktugeen, in the beginning of the eleventh century. That illustrious conqueror with the intention of augmenting the glories of his reign, projected a history of the Kings of Persia, and ordered the literary characters of his court conjointly to prepare one from all accessible records. While they were engaged upon this laborious undertaking, a romantic accident, which it is unnecessary to describe, furnished the Sooltan with a copy of the BASTAN-NAMU, the existence of which was till then unknown to him. From this work Mahmood selected seven Stories

or Romances, which he delivered to seven Poets to be composed in verse, that he might be able to ascertain the merits of each competitor. The Poet UNSUREE, to whom the story of Roostum and Soohrab was given, gained the palm, and he was accordingly engaged to arrange the whole

in verse.

Firdousee was at this time at Toos, his native city, where he cultivated his poetical talents with assiduity and success. He had heard of the attempt of Duqeeqee to versify the history of the Kings of Persia, and of the determination of the reigning King, Mahmood, to patronize an undertaking which promised to add lustre to the age in which he lived. Having fortunately succeeded in procuring a copy of the BASTAN NAMU, he pursued his studies with unremitting zeal, and soon produced that part of the Poem in which the battles of Zohak and Fureedoon are described. The performance was universally

read and admired, and it was not long before his fame reached the ears of the Sooltan, who immediately invited him to his Court,

When Firdousee arrived at Ghuzneen, the success of Unsuree in giving a poetical dress to the Romance of Roostum and Soohrab, was the subject of general observation and praise.* Animated by this proof of literary taste, he commenced upon the story of the battles of Isfundiyar and Roostum, and having completed it, he embraced the earliest opportunity of getting that

* A singular anecdote is also related in the same Preface. When our author reached the capital, he happened to pass near a garden where Unsuree, Usjudee, and Furrokhee were seated. The Poets observed him approach, and at once agreed that if the stranger chanced to have any taste for poetry, which they intended to put to the test, he should he admitted to their friendship. Firdousee joined them and hearing their proposal, promised to exert his powers. Unsuree commenced with an extemporane

pus verse:

Poem presented to the Sooltan, who had already seen abundant evidence of the transcendent talents of the author. Mahmood regarded the production with admiration and delight. He, without hesitating a moment, appointed him to complete the SHAHNAMU, and ordered his chief Minister* to pay him a thousand misqals

The light of the moon to thy splendor is weak, Usjudee rejoined:

The rose is eclipsed by the bloom of thy cheek; Then Furrokhee:

Thy eye-lashes dart thro' the folds of the joshun.† And Firdousee :

Like the javelin of Gu in the battle with POSHUN. The Poets were astonished at the readiness of the stranger and ashamed at being totally ignorant of the story of Gu and PosHUN, which Firdousee related as described in the BASTAN-NAMU. They immediately treated him with the greatest kindness and respect.

* Uhmud Mymundee.

+ Joshun, armour.

for every thousand distichs, and at the same time honored him with the surname of Firdousee, because that he had diffused over his Court the delights of paradise.* Unsuree liberally acknowledged the superiority of Firdousee's genius, and relinquished the undertaking with out apparent regret.

The Minister, in compliance with the injunc tions of Mahmood, offered to pay the sums as the work went on; but Firdousee preferred waiting till he had completed his engagement, and receiving the whole at once, as he had long indulged the hope of being able to do something of importance for the benefit of his native city.

It appears that Firdousee was of an independent spirit, and not of that pliant disposition which was necessary to satisfy the expectations and demands of the proud Wuzeer, who offend

* Firdous signifies paradise.