'A General Sketch of the History of Persia' [‎185] (236/636)

LIFE OF TlMUR
185
When the man child was born to the chief of the
tribe of Barlas, he took it, with its mother, to pay
their respects to the holy Shaikh SMm&u-'d-Din; 1 who
was reading the 67th chapter of the Kuran, and
repeating this verse,—•' Are you sure that he who
dwelleth in Heaven will not cause the earth to swallow
you up ? and behold it shall ' The
Shaikh then stopped, and said, ' We have named your
son Timur.' 2
In his seventh year Timur's father took him by
the hand, and led him to school, where he was placed
in charge of the Mullah 'Aly Beg. The mullah having
written the Arabic alphabet on a plank, placed it
before the child, who was much delighted, and con
sidered the study as an amusement. In his ninth year
he was taught the daily service of the mosque, and
always read the 91st chapter of the Kuran, called
the Sun.
The child very early began to entertain an innate
feeling of superiority, and a sort of presentiment of his
future greatness. He himself afterwards described
his recollection of this feeling, in quaint terms: ' At
twelve years of age,' he says, ' I fancied I perceived in
myself all the signs of greatness and wisdom, and who-
1 Teragay was devoted to the society of this worthy, who was a
famous pir, or religious man.
2 Timor's titles, in the height of his power, were SuMn Kamran
Amir Kutbu-'d-Din Timur Kurkhan Sahib Karan. Sultan
means 4 lord; 7 Kamran, 1 successful; * Amir, i commander ;'
Kuthu-d-Din, 1 pole star of the faith;' Timur, i it shall shake; '
KurlcJidn, 1 of the lineage of sovereign princes; 7 and Sahib Kardn,
* master of the grand conjunctions/— D'Herhelot.