True it is that kings are the shadow of God and able to accomplish all by the help of their Master.
As long as in the heavens the Lord shall reign,
May our King’s rule upon the earth remain;
For surely so long will a shadow last
As He by whom the shadow’s self is cast.[23]
Many other feats, too, like this I’ve seen, up till now, the year 1285[24] (of the Flight).
Sixty-four years of my life have now passed, all spent in hunting and shooting. I have had no hobby but sport, no recreation but it.
This slave of the King’s Court, Taymūr, desired that like the ant he should present his offering to the Court of the Solomon of the Age,[25] that is, compose a treatise on Falconry and its branches, and on the various species of hawks and their treatment in health and disease.
Although the old Falconers have written treatises on this subject, still in my humble opinion those old writers were by no means experts in their science and should not be classed as masters in their art. I, therefore, thought of myself writing on the subject and leaving a memento for all lovers of the sport, whether tyros or experts. When these are seated by a stream, refreshed and rested after the morning’s sport, I hope they will recall the writer in their prayers and pass over the shortcomings of his work.
I have honoured my book with the auspicious name of His Majesty the King, and have named it the Bāz-Nāma-yi Nāṣirī and have divided it into several bābs.[26]