Part 13 (1/2)

On the reat event was to happen (a day which had been duly settled as auspicious by the astrologers) the note of preparation was heard throughout the whole of Mirza Ah?s tent-pitchers had taken possession of the saloon of audience in which he was to hold his court, where they spread fresh carpets and prepared the royal nificent shawl They threater over the court yard, set the fountains playing, and fitted on a new curtain to the front of the building The king?s gardeners also came and decked the premises with flowers On the surface of the pool of water, i the spot where his majesty was to be seated, they spread rose leaves in curious devices Around the eneral appearance of freshness and cheerfulness was given to the whole scene

Then the cooks, a numerous and most despotic band, arrived with such accompaniments of pots, pans, braziers, and boilers, that the doctor, out of all patience, inquired of the head of the kitchen, ?what this meant; whether it was intended that he should feed all the city, as well as the king?

?Not quite all? was his answer; ?but perhaps you will recollect the words of Saadi:

If fro an apple craves, Doith it root and branch, exclaile egg require, Lo! thousand spitted birds revolve before the fire

They took possession of the kitchen, which did not contain one-quarter of the space required for their operations, and consequently it was necessary to erect te court, where the braziers were placed, and in which was boiled the rice that is distributed on such occasions to all present Besides the cooks, a body of confectioners established themselves in one of the apartments, where the sweetmeats, the sherbets, the ices, and the fruits were prepared; and they called for so redients, that the doctor had nearly expired when the list was presented to hiers and musicians, and the _Luti Bashi+_ (jester in chief) acco over his shoulder

The ti?s prayer, which is made at sunset At that hour, when the heat of the day had partly subsided, and the inhabitants of Tehran were about to enjoy the cool of the evening, the Shah left his palace, and proceeded to the doctor?s house The streets had been swept and watered; and as the royal cortege approached, floere strewn on the path Mirza Ahmak himself had proceeded to the royal presence to announce that all was ready, and walked close to the king?s stirrup during the cavalcade

The procession was opened by the heralds, ith the distinguishi+ng club of office in their hands, and orna?s approach, and marshalled every one on the road The tops of the walls were occupied by women in their white veils, and in the better houses they were seen to be peeping through the holes made in the screens which surround their terraces Then followed a great body of tent-pitchers and carpet-spreaders, with long slender sticks in their hands, keeping the road clear from intruders After this, walked a crowd of well-dressed officers of the stable, bearing rich es over their shoulders; then servants in the gayest attire, with gold pipes in their hands, the king?s shoe bearer, the king?s ewer and basin bearer, the carrier of his cloak, the comptroller of the opium box, and a number of other domestics As this was only a private procession, his majesty was preceded by no led horses, which usually forrand displays To these succeeded a train of running footold coins embroidered on their black velvet coats, others dressed in brocades, and others in silks: they immediately preceded the Shah in person, as attended by the chief of the running footmen, a man of considerable consequence, known by the ena rode a quiet a horse, richly caparisoned; but his own dress was plain, and only distinguished by the beauty of the shawls and other materials of which it was composed After hi?s sons, then the noble of nobles, the great master of the ceremonies, the master of the horse, the court poet, and th when the whole party were collected together, ere to partake of Mirza Ahmak?s substance, five hundred would probably be called a ate, the entrance being too narrow to ride through; and proceeded up the centre walk of the court to the seat prepared for hireat saloon Every one, except the princes, stood without, and the doctor himself did the duties of a menial

After his majesty had been seated some little time, the master of cere barefooted, appeared near the reservoir, the latter holding up breast high a silver salver, in which were spread one hundred toe The master, of ceremonies then exclaimed, in a loud voice, ?The meanest of your majesty?s slaves makes a hu of Kings, the Shadow of God upon earth, that Mirza Ah?s chief physician, dares to approach the sacred dust of yourone hundred gold to answered, ?You are welcoood servant The Shah has a particular share of condescension for you; your face is whitened, your consequence has increased, Go, give praises to God, that the king has come to your house, and has accepted your present?

Upon which the doctor knelt down and kissed the ground

Then histo his noble of nobles, exclaiood man There is no one like him now in Persia--he is wiser by far than Locman--more learned than Galen?

?Yes, yes,? answered the noble of nobles; ?Loc was he, or Galen? This also cos

Such a king Persia before never saw, and such a doctor for such a king!

Men may praise the doctors of Europe and of India, but where is science to be found, if it be not in Persia?--Who shall dare to claihtened by the presence of its Shah without co ?Persia is the country which, fro of the world to the present day, has always been faenius of its inhabitants, and the wisdo of the world, to lorious? India also had her sovereigns, Arabia her caliphs, Turkey her _Khon Khors_ (lit blood drinkers), Tartary her khans, and China her emperors; but as for the Franks, who come into my do me tribute of presents,--they, poor infidels! have a parcel of kings, of whose countries even the names have not reached our ears?

?_Belli, belli,_ Yes, yes!? said the noblelish and the French nations, which by all accounts are so in the world, all others are but little better than nothing

As for Moscovites, they are not Europeans--they are less than the dogs of Europe?

?Ha! ha! ha! you say true?, answered the king, laughing ?They had their _Khurshi+d Colah_,[54] their ?Head of Glory? as they called her, who for a woman was a wonderful person, ?tis true--and we all know that when a wo, _pena be khoda_, it is then time to put one?s trust in God; but after her, they had a Paul, as a pure ive you an instance of what his folly anted to march an army to India; just as if the _Kizzil Bashes_[55] would ever have allowed it A Russian puts on a hat, a tight coat, and tight breeches, shaves his beard, and then calls hioose to your back and call yourself an angel?

?Wonderful, wonderful,? exclaimed the head of the nobles; ?the Shah-in-Shah speaks like an angel Show us a king in Europe that would speak like him?

?Yes, yes,? was chorused by all the bystanders

?May he live a thousand years,? said one

?May his shadow never be less,? said another

?But it is of their wo, ?of e hear the most extraordinary accounts In the first place, they have no _anderun_[56] in their houses; ether; then the women never wear veils--they show their faces to whoever chooses to look at the tribes Tell me, Mirza Ahmak, you that are a doctor and a philosopher, by what extraordinary arrangement of providence does it happen, that we Mussulmans should be the only people on earth who can depend upon our wives, and who can keep the ironically, ?you I hear are blessed above all men in an obedient and dutiful wife?