A good many men who wrote verses happened to be present.  During the party the following verse of Muhammed Salikh was repeated:—­

What can one do to regulate his thoughts, with a mistress possessed
of every blandishment?
Where you are, how is it possible for our thoughts to wander to
another?

It was agreed that every one should make an extempore couplet to the same rhyme and measure.  Every one accordingly repeated his verse.  As we had been very merry, I repeated the following extempore satirical verses:—­

What can one do with a drunken sot like you? 
What can be done with one foolish as a she-ass?

Before this, whatever had come into my head, good or bad, I had always committed it to writing.  On the present occasion, when I had composed these lines, my mind led me to reflections, and my heart was struck with regret that a tongue which could repeat the sublimest productions should bestow any trouble on such unworthy verses; that it was melancholy that a heart elevated to nobler conceptions should submit to occupy itself with these meaner and despicable fancies.  From that time forward I religiously abstained from satirical poetry.  I had not then formed my resolution, nor considered how objectionable the practice was.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE YEAR 904 [A.  D. 1498-99]

Having failed in repeated expeditions against Samarkand and Ardejan, I once more returned to Khojend.  Khojend is but a small place; and it is difficult for one to support two hundred retainers in it.  How then could a [young] man, ambitious of empire, set himself down contentedly in so insignificant a place?  As soon as I received advice that the garrison of Ardejan had declared for me, I made no delay.  And thus, by the grace of the Most High, I recovered my paternal kingdom, of which I had been deprived nearly two years.  An order was issued that such as had accompanied me in my campaigns might resume possession of whatever part of their property they recognized.  Although the order seemed reasonable and just in itself, yet it was issued with too much precipitation.  It was a senseless thing to exasperate so many men with arms in their hands.  In war and in affairs of state, though things may appear just and reasonable at first sight, no matter ought to be finally decided without being well weighed and considered in a hundred different lights.  From my issuing this single order without sufficient foresight, what commotions and mutinies arose!  This inconsiderate order of mine was in reality the ultimate cause of my being a second time expelled from Ardejan.

* * * * *

Baber’s next campaign was most arduous, but in passing by a spring he had the leisure to have these verses of Saadi inscribed on its brink:—­

       I have heard that the exalted Jemshid
       Inscribed on a stone beside a fountain:—­
     “Many a man like us has rested by this fountain,
     And disappeared in the twinkling of an eye. 
     Should we conquer the whole world by our manhood and strength,
     Yet could we not carry it with us to the grave."