1. Faults flee his glory, fearing his perfect traits,
His manners gentle, virtues sweet abound,

2. No fleeting youth for one of wisdom great,
Nor greedy hands where generous gifts redound,

3. No coward he whom war itself awaits,
Though past defeats have brought his spirits down,

4. No pacts he'll break, though promises he makes,
His days and works by honor's law are bound,

5. His care protects the absent from all harms,
As if he dwelt where those he misses dwell,

6. If passion makes the ignorant take up arms,
Pacified by his patience wise and well,

7. His foes will grant that he excels in might,
When stir his steeds and flash his swords for fight,

8. In dearth his bounty saves where famine fell,
The King's bright crown is Abu Ja'far's right,

9. A vizier, when you need his stalwart aid,
You'll find a trenchant blade by skill made bright.

10. His mercy comes if you ask his gentle aid,
Modesty guides him ever to do right.

11. My stream of largesse, from his bounty fed,
Repaid him well with all the gifts I might,

12. And songs of praise flowed back for his fair deed,
That roused his liberal hand from slothful plight,

13. As the sea-shells produce their pearls, so he
Outpours the rain of spring with gifts bedight,

14. The silent ostrich turns her ear to hear
His lofty words, so wondrous is their might,

15. His sheltering care, his gifts that disappear,
Are feared and hoped for, lauded with delight.