emained with the king _Azad Bakht_, and in the
end the young merchant of _Yaman_ was made head steward to his majesty,
and _Bihzad Khan_ generalissimo of the army of the fortunate prince
_Bakhtiyar_; whilst they lived, they enjoyed every felicity. O God! as
these four _Darweshes_ and the king _Azad Bakht_ attained their wishes,
in like manner grant to all hopeless beings the wishes of their hearts,
through thy power and goodness, and by the medium of the five pure
bodies, [411] the twelve _Imams_, and the fourteen innocents, [412]
on all of whom be the blessing of God! Amen, O God of the universe.

When this book was finished, through the favour of God, I took it into
my mind to give it such a name, that the date should be thereby found
out. [413] When I made the calculation, I found that I had begun to
compose this work in the end of the year of the _Hijra_ 1215, and
owing to want of leisure, it was not finished until the beginning
of the year 1217; I was reflecting on this circumstance, when it
occurred to me that the words _Bagh O Bahar_ formed a proper title,
as it answered to the date of the year when the work was finished;
so I gave it this name. Whoever shall read it, he will stroll as it
were through a garden; moreover, the garden is exposed to the blasts
of winter, but this book is not; it will ever be in verdure.

When this _Bagh O Bahar_ was finished, the year was 1217; do you
now stroll through it night and day, as its name and date is _Bagh
O Bahar_; the blasts of winter can do it no injury; for this _Bahar_
[414] is ever green and fresh; it hath been nourished with the blood of
my heart, and its (the heart's) pieces are its leaves and fruits;--all
will forget me after death;--but this book will remain as a _souvenir_;
whoever reads it, let him remember me. This is my agreement with
the readers; if there is an error, excuse it; for amidst flowers lie
concealed the thorns; man is liable to faults and errors, and he will
fail, let him be ever so careful. I have no other wish except this,
and it is my earnest prayer. O my Creator, that I may ever remain
in remembrance of Thee, and thus pass my nights and days! That I
may not be questioned with severity on the night of death, and the
day of reckoning! O God, in both worlds shower thy favours on me,
through the mediation of the great prophet!

SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE

It must be allowed, that the author has displayed great adroitness in
the "denouement" of his t