IappearedinGhazniwhenBookofKingspoetFirdusipletedthefinallineofaquatrainwiththemostintricateofrhymes,bestingthecourtpoetsofShahMahmud,whoridiculedhimasbeingnothingbutapeasant.IwasthereonthequiverofBookofKingsheroRüstemwheraveledfarandwideinpursuitofhismissingsteed;Ibecamethebloodthatspewedforthwhehenotoriousogreinhalfwithhiswondroussword;andIwasinthefoldsofthequiltuponwhichhemadefuriouslovewiththebeautifuldaughterofthekingwho’dreceivedhimasaguest.Verilyandtruly,I’vebeeneverywhereandameverywhere.IemergedasTurtraitorouslydecapitatedhisbrotherIraj;aslegendaryarmies,spectacularasadream,clashedoeppes;andasAlexander’slifebloodshimmeredbrightlyfromhishandsomeerhesufferedsunstroke.Yes,ShahBehramGürspenteverynightoftheweekwithadiffereybehdomescolorfromdistantlands,listeningtothestoryshereted,andIofitofthestrikingmaidenhevisitedonaTuesday,whosepicturehe’dfallenih,justasIappearedfromthetothecaftanofHüsrev,who’dfallenihShirin’spicture.Verily,Iwasvisibleuponthemilitarybannersofarmiesbesiegingfortresses,upoableclothsctablessetforfeasts,uponthevelvetcaftansofambassadorskissiofsultans,andwhereverthesword,whoselegendschildrenloved,icted.Yes,handsomealmond-eyedapprenticesappliedmewithelegantbrushestothickpaperfromHindustanandBukhara;IembellishedUshakcarpets,wallorion,thebsoffightingcocks,pomegrahefruitsoffabledlands,themouthofSataleatlihinpictureborders,thecurledembroideryos,flowersbarelyvisibletothenakedeyemadefortheartist’sownpleasure,blouseswornbystunningwomenwithoutstreteckswatgthestre