94
It is not generally known that Nizamat Jung
translated into English verse in 1919 nearly a
100 Urdu Ghazals of His Exalted Highness
the Nizam, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur,
who graciously wrote to him as follows :
" Your knowledge of English is admitted by all; and
I have also heard that you are interested in poetry.
So if you can translate some of my Ghazals into English
verse your work will remain after you as a monument.
It is of such a nature that it cannot be performed by any
man of ordinary ability."
" I appreciate the devoted manner in which you
are translating the poems of my Dewan (collection).
Certainly there is no one else at present who can do it
equally well........I leave the selection of the Ghazals
to your choice ; but it would be well if the number was to
be a hundred and fifty or so, for making a fair-sized
volume........"
Commands were received afterwards, reducing
the number to a hundred, and the work was
finished in the course of the year.
As specimens of his workmanship I shall give
a few taken at random :
" But behold ! a lamp is burning
In the flame of every flower ;
Envy burns the heart of Bulbul
While it owns to Beauty's power."
* i)C *
Life and death ! they are but curtains
That conceal the conjuror's art;
And this world itself illusion,
Where none come and none depart.