[4] From Griffith’s “Specimens of old Indian Poetry,” p. 98.
[5] From Edwin Arnold’s translation of the “Gita-Govinda,” p. 24.
[6] Edwin Arnold’s translation of the “Gita-Govinda,” p. 28.
[7] Amru-l Kais, was an Arabian poet and King of Kindah, living shortly before the era of Muhammad. He was the author of one of the seven Mullakats, or poems, which were inscribed in letters of gold, and suspended in the temple of Mecca. Pocock and Casiri give an account of the Arabian poets before Muhammad, and the seven poems of the Caaba were published in English by Sir William Jones.
[8] An Arabian poet who lived after Amru-l Kais.—See “Casiri,” i. pp. 71, 72. Casiri calls him Tarpha.
Chapter VII.
Secret Meetings.
Faizi’s excuse for refusing the Prince’s invitation was no feigned one, for at the moment when Salim’s guests were assembling he was awaiting very different company in the private apartments of the Emperor. Preceded by a servant a man entered, by whose garb any one from the West would at once have recognised a Catholic Priest. It was the Padre Rudolf Aquaviva, head of the Jesuit Mission, and deputed to the court of Agra by the Father Provincial.[1]
“You are welcome, worthy Father,” said Akbar, returning his greeting; “welcome in the name of the Great Being whom we both worship, although in different ways. I hope,” he continued, “that the journey has not wearied you.”