Untitled

EARLY STRUGGLES OF M,u'izzi t '47
this sum in Ni'shapur coinage was ibrthwith brought and placed
before me. So I returned mightily well pleaded, and made my
preparations for Ramadan, and at the time of the Evening Prayer
went to the entrance o5 the King's It chanced that
pavilion.
'Ala'u'd-Dawla arrived at the very sarr^e moment, and I paid my
'
respects to him. Thou hast done excellently well,' said he, 'and
hast come punctually.' Then 1
he dismounted and went in before
the King.
"At sun-down the King came forth from his pavilion, with
a cross-bow in his hand and 'Ala'u'd-Dawla on his right side.
I ran forward to do obeisance. Amir 'All continued his kindnessesfand
they then busied themselves in looking for the moon.
The King, hbwevep, was the first to see it, whereat he was mightily
son of Burhani, say
pleased. Then 'Ala'u'd-Dawl& said to me, ' O
something original about this moon,' and I at once recited these
two :
couplets
'
" Methinks, O Moon, thou art our Prince's bow,
Or his cumed eyebrow, which doth charm us so,
Or else a horse-shoe wrought ofgold refined,
Or ringfrom Heaven's ear depending low."
""When I had submitted these verses, Amir 'Ah' applauded
'
much, and the King said, Go, loose from the stable whichever
horse athou pleasest'; for at that moment we were standing close
to the stable. Amir 'All designated a ho^se which was brought
put and given to my attendants, and which proved to be worth
three hundred dinars of Ni'shapur. The King then went 'to h"is
oratory, and I performed the evening prayer with him, after
which we sat, down to meat. At the table Amir 'All said, 'O son
hast not yet said anything about this favour
of Burhani ! Thou
(
conferred on thee.,by the lord of the world, (tr) Compose a
quatrain at once! I thereupon sprang to my feet, did obeisance
and irrynediately 'recited these two verses just as they came
to me: ^ ,
'
JUJU dlw tj
" The King beheld the fire which in me blazed':
JMefrom low earth above the. moon he raised:
From me a verse, like waterfluent, heard,
And swift as wind a noble steed conferred."
J\ Oj+.
*