The fourth period, which began at the close of the thirteenth century and continued until the beginning of the fifteenth, represents the highest development of lyric poetry and rhetoric, although these were stormy times in the political and literary world. During this period Persia had many men of culture, and, indeed, she boasted of one literary king. Sultān Ahmed Ilkhāni, who reigned over Bagdad, Azerbaijān, and some parts of Asia Minor, conducted his court with great pomp and splendor. He was one of the most accomplished men of the age, being an artist and illuminator as well as a musical composer. His beautiful calligraphy, in various languages, was highly celebrated, and his poetical productions, in both the Persian and Turkish tongues, were considered very meritorious. His moral character, however, presented a sad contrast to his intellectual attainments, and his remorseless cruelty made him an object of detestation to his subjects. He was entirely merciless when intoxicated with opium, and on these occasions he would put people to death on the most trivial pretenses. His conduct provoked the enmity of the influential families of Bagdad, and at length the public sentiment against him became so strong that letters were written by the principal men, inviting Amir Timūr (Tamerlane) to the conquest of their country, and pledging him their assistance. The invitation was gladly accepted, and when the hostile intentions of the conqueror became known, the poetical Sultan sent him the following message: “Why should we bare our neck on the block of misfortune? Why should we despond at every trifling attack of adversity? Like the Sīmūrgh, let us pass over seas and mountains And thus bring the earth and water under our wings.” The sentiment was given in Persian verse, and Timūr soon found a poet who could write a suitable response, when the following answer was returned: “Place thy neck on the block of adversity, and move not thy head. Thou canst not consider trifling a most severe misfortune. Like the Sīmūrgh, why shouldst thou attempt to climb the mountain, Qāf? Rather like the little sparrow, gather in thy wings and feathers and retire.” Soon afterward Timūr approached Bagdad,[272] and he not only captured that city and province, but he proved to be the veritable scourge of the Orient. The country had scarcely recovered from the ravages of Genghis Khān when Timūr conquered the whole of ancient Persia, and, flushed with success, he invaded India and sacked Delhi, where he obtained the richest spoils of his campaign. It was said that he erected towers of human heads,[273] waded through streams of blood, and marched over the ruins of burning cities, in order to achieve his triumphs. Such men are scarcely calculated to encourage the science of letters, but it is claimed that he was friendly to scholars, and it is certain that history was developed during this period. HĀFIZ.