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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[APRIL, 192
INVOCATION.
Praise be to God who made Love the foundation of the world; God himself was the first lover for he loved the Prophet Muhammad. Praise be to the Prophet whom God hath raised from the dust of the earth to great dignity! God hath cleansed him from the sins of the world! When the Almighty desired his presence he sent a swift steed to bear him to Heaven and gave him Gabriel, chief of the Angels, to be his mossonger. Verily the power of the Prophet is great, whereby He broke the moon in twain with his finger. To the four Friends of the Prophet also be praise, even to Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman, and Ali. They are like unto four jewels sparkling on the hand of the Prophet. Each outshineth the other in beauty.
Let us also praise the holiness of Pirs; without the help of holy men our boat cannot reach the shore. Praise to Mohiudin tha Pir of Waris, the belovod of Allah. He can score out even the writing of the Pen of Destiny. Praise also to the beloved Pir Chishti Shakrganj. When Shakrganj made his abode at Pakpattan, the Panjab was delivered of all its troubles.
In truth it is meet and proper to praise God and invoke the help of Saints and Prophets before essaying this story of Love.
My Friends came to me and said : " Write for us afresh the forgotten story of the Love of Hir." So we have written it right cunningly and plucked a 'new rose in the Garden of Poetry. Even as a sweet smell cometh out of musk so is the fragrance of Love distilled from the beauty of our verse. We have awoken the forgotten tale of Hîr and Ranjha. Wo have bridled the stood of genius, bet Love on his back, and let him loose on the field.
CHAPTER ).
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(Ranjha quarrels with his brothers and their wives and leaves his home in Takht Hazara.)
Takht Hazára is a pleasant place on the banks of the Chenab. There streams are flowing and gardens smiling. It is as a Paradise on earth. It is the abode of the Ranjhas who live there in proud luxury. Their young men are hoodlous and handsome and care naught at all for any man. They lord it with onrringe in their cars and now shawls over their shoulders. They are proud of their beauty and each one out-rivals the other in his glory.
Manis Chaudhri was chief landowner in the villago. Ho had sight sons and two daughters. H. lived in wonlth and happinges with his family, osteomed by his brethren and honoured by all. Of all his sons Ranjha was tho most beloved by his father; and as his father loved him, so his brothren hatod him. For four of their father they would not wound him oponly but their secret taunte, pierced his heart, won a makos striko sleeping mon in the dark.
. . .
. . . Now it came to pass on the NIGHT OF NIGHT3 shat the louvor of the Tree of Lito were shakon and by the decree of God Manjd died. And Ranjha's brothors and their
