O Lord grant that which will afford repose, and will not finally bring penitence*²⁰⁶⁷.

The door of kindness to Nizāmī open, place him within the shelter of Your door.

(As) at the first You gave him good repute, give him a happy issue at the last.

Since in reflection and the test (of gold)*²⁰⁶⁸ the coin of this fine Grecian treasure shines*²⁰⁶⁹,

I have attached to it a royal name*²⁰⁷⁰, that the inscription may exalt my hand*²⁰⁷¹.

Some stories, these, no hand has writ before, ’neath silken petals virgin rose-bud’s face.

A hemistich of gold and one of pearl, void of pretension and of meaning full,

That they may know that of my valued thoughts I can reduce to two words what I will.

And when adorning with adornment full the seven treasuries of secret thought*²⁰⁷²,

(My) aim is that by (such) adornment given the eyes may by its fullness be regaled.

Why look to this that freedom I have given to ears and eyes to range a broad expanse?

I have some narrow-eyed fair ones of art, who veil themselves from those of narrow sight:

Each beauty like a closed-up treasury,—the treasure-door=key fastened ’neath her locks*²⁰⁷³.

He will find gold who opens back the door; he who can find the door will gather pearls.

I, writer with a reed of sugar-cane, strew from the palm-tree of this writing, dates*²⁰⁷⁴:

A king of Grecian raiment, Chinese crown, to whom Greece land-tax, China tribute pays*²⁰⁷⁵;

The fortune of the Law, in root and branch*²⁰⁷⁶, has gained the beauty of accord through him.

The sky’s on foot to bow before the king*²⁰⁷⁷; before his grandeur all creation’s prone.

Adorned and ordered as the (starry) sky, his banquets are as (Rustam’s) Seven Feasts*²⁰⁷⁸.

From earth to fiery sphere*²⁰⁷⁹ are dregs and scum; he pure, since he is eminence itself.

In that beneficence of musky scent which turns the dusky earth to lustrous pearls*²⁰⁸⁰,

The Egyptian gold he gives to him who asks outnumbers (all the grains of) Meccan sands.

His sabre treats the hardness of the rock as fierce impetuous fire (treats) poplar chips.

His arrow with (its) hair-dividing point has from the (musk-deer’s) navel shot the gland.

His coat of mail has lances snatched from dawn*²⁰⁸¹; his lance from mail-clad moon bears off the ring*²⁰⁸².

The world entire is through his armour armed*²⁰⁸³; the seven skies are by his lasso noosed.

O you, in whom Nizāmī places hope, who have the ordering of the turns of fate*²⁰⁸⁴,

The earth regards you from (your) power as sky; the sky its threshold as your threshold high.

You, as the sky in water, far and near, keen, steady as the sun in mirror seen*²⁰⁸⁵;

You, steadfast in your charge of all the world, (your) steadfast namesake prostrate at your*²⁰⁸⁶ hands;

O’er all men like the sky conspicuous, excelling all men as the angels do;—

’Tis fitting I address this book to you, for through you one may reach to high renown.

Since rubies have been set into its crown*²⁰⁸⁷, to you through fear of pillage ’tis addressed.

If hearing it (you find) it please your heart, ’twill be exalted (even) as your throne.

I’ve given you from the garden of my brain fruit rich and sweet like honey (mixed) with milk.

The seeds of it afford the taste of figs; the almond-kernels are contained inside.

It’s outside will the superficial please; within it is the kernel for the deep.

(The work) presents a locked up case of pearls, the key to which is (wrapped) in metaphor*²⁰⁸⁸.

The pearl glides (freely) on a string to which the loosening of knots has served as key*²⁰⁸⁹.

All that is in its verse of good or bad,—all is allusion, hints, and subtle thought;

Each single separate storey has become a house of treasures through (my) magic art*²⁰⁹⁰.

That one whose body was in stature short,—I added to its stature by my verse.

(And) that whose length exceeded limits due,—by my artistic skill I shortened it.

I set forth this choice work in happy style,—how sweet the marrow in so choice a bone!

With every art I have adorned (the work), that to its beauty you may give a glance.

The reed, my pen, has from the field of art conveyed to Mercury fresh ears of corn*²⁰⁹¹.

Virgo has taken to herself these ears*²⁰⁹², though “Story-teller story-teller hates”*²⁰⁹³.

Since from the fort of my contented state*²⁰⁹⁴ I’ve offered to the king a store of pearls,—

Regarding pay (for these) in current gold, the Brazen Fort*²⁰⁹⁵ my debtor (still) remains.

(Such) debt is not from want of will to give; a fort from want of silver may be brass*²⁰⁹⁶.

The sword has scattered from that Rocky Mount rubies and diamonds o’er a hundred leagues*²⁰⁹⁷:

The rubies, as is fit, for hands of friends, the diamonds for the feet of enemies.

A fort! nay, ’tis the Ka‘ba of Islām; the shrine of spiritual travellers*²⁰⁹⁸.

It compasses the earth from “Qāf” to “Qāf”*²⁰⁹⁹; nay, in its vision penetrates beyond*²¹⁰⁰.

It is the gold nails of the steed, the world; its name of Brazen Fort (but) from its strength.

Sacred, secure through it is Mercy’s Mount; and strengthened by its crown Abū Qubais*²¹⁰¹.

May the line of this circle last for aye through that high sun which holds (its) central point*²¹⁰²!—

When they besiege a fortress, the besieged will tie a missive to a pigeon (soon),

In order that the bird on joyous wing may bear it to the person who can help.

(So) I, confined in my own town and land, and barred around from all ways of escape,

Have tied a missive to a pigeon too, which if it to the king convey I’m saved.—

You, at whose gate the sky’s an ear-ringed slave*²¹⁰³, offence-condoner of Cathayan dress*²¹⁰⁴,

Since your exalted state has favoured me, behold the sorcery that I’ve displayed.

Five hundred ninety-three of years conjoined, this missive I, as one of fame, composed*²¹⁰⁵;

The day, the fourteenth of the Month of Fast, when four hours of the day had passed in full.

As long as on this lofty throne you sit, through this my com­position be you blest*²¹⁰⁶!

Drink from these verses of the Stream of Life: live ever through the Stream of Life like Khiẓr*²¹⁰⁷!

O you, whose rule I pray may last for aye, (your) rule with life, glad, joyous too that life*²¹⁰⁸—

If it offend not, in humility, a nicety, with leave, I would submit:

Though gorgeous are the banquets which you hold, this is a banquet which for ever lasts.

All things which gems and treasure have been called give naught but pain, and this alone brings ease.

Those things though they should last five hundred years— May you live long!—will not escape decay.

But this rare store, which really makes (your) Court, to all eternity will be with you.—

And now these words by wisdom entertained, with prayer (for your well-being) I will end:

May you be prosperous where’er you be! attendant at your stirrup be the sky!

By the (true) Faith be increase to your State, and by felicity affairs be sealed!

To this prayer every moment an “Amen!” from angels to the highest heavens attains.