The history of the life of Nader Shah, King of Persia. Extracted from an Eastern manuscript, which was translated into French by order of His Majesty the King of Denmark ... / With an introduction ... and an appendix ... By William Jones, esq.

  • Mahdī Khān Astarābādī, active 1733-1759.
Date:
1773
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the life of Nader Shah, King of Persia. Extracted from an Eastern manuscript, which was translated into French by order of His Majesty the King of Denmark ... / With an introduction ... and an appendix ... By William Jones, esq. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    virtues to the more dazzling, bat lefs pleafing, fcenes of victories and triumphs. A great northern monarch, who vifited this country a few years ago, under the name of the Prince of Travendal, brought with him an Eajlerh manufcript, containing the life of NA¬ DER SHAH, the late Sovereign of Ferjia^ which He was defirons of having tranfiated in England. The Secretary of State, with whom the Danijh Minifter had converfed upon the fubjedt, fent the volume to me, requefting me to give a literal tranflation of it in the French language ; but 1 wholly declined the tafk, alledging, for my exeufe, the length of the hooky the drynefs of the fitbjeel, the difficulty of the jhky andy chiefly, my want both of leifure and ability to enter upon an undertaking fo fruit- lefs and fo laborious. I mentioned, however, a gentleman, with whom ! had not then the pleafure of being acquainted, but who had diftinguifhed hnnfelf by his tranflation of a Ter fan Hiftory, and was far abler than myfelf to fatisfy the King of Denmark’s expectations. The learned writer, who had other works upon his. hands, excufed himfelf on the ac¬ count of his many engagements; and the ■ application to me was renewed : it was hinted, that my compliance would be of no fmall ad¬ vantage to me at my entrance into life, that it would procure me fome mark of diftindtion, which might be pleafing to me, and, above all,