After Dárá, from the party of Abu-Ali, had translated himself to that of Prince Núh, he became attached to his service and a candidate for his munificence; and when his father, Shams-Al-Muálí, came to the head of affairs he still remained in contented obedience to his father, observing and preserving before him the affection, intimacy, and union of a son with his parent, until the latter sent him to Tabaristán. Here he was settled for some time, retaining his allegiance, governing well, and able to answer those who disputed his father’s authority, until he, on account of some suspicion that beset him, recalled and sent him to Astérábád. He obe­diently proceeded thither, and illuminated the royal diploma (and grant) of the country, so that his father accepted all his excuses and delighted to honour his advances. After some days he again summoned him, and Dárá became thoughtful. He took his seat to go to his father, but on the road he repented, and, seizing the reins, went into the depths of the forests of Tabaristán, towards Khurásán. They intimated this event to Shams-Al-Muálí, who dispatched cavalry after him. He proceeded the whole distance, and when he arrived on the frontiers of Khurásán, being safe from the vehe­ment winds of the fury, and the blasts of the fiery rage of his father, he attached himself to the Sultán, and found with him a settled home and sure abode, and was honoured with every atten­tion. But, through the giddiness of youth and want of gravity, he in the assemblies of the Sultán made light of Mahmúd’s kindred and rank. He thus became obnoxious to the rancour of the Sultán, and had cause to be alarmed at his jealousy, and therefore escaped under the star of the border of night. The Sultán sent persons in quest of him, but they attained not the place of the setting orb, for he came to the land of Gharsh, to the Shár-king, who, influenced by the long friendship which had existed between them, gave him an asylum at his Court. The Sultán sent a royal letter, in which he demanded him, and reite­rated promises and threats. The Shar, in alarm and terror at consequences, sent the Amir Dárá to the Sultán. He was for some time in prison, enduring the harshness of fortune. Upon one occasion, by some unknown means, he escaped, and if the destined duration of his sorrow had been accomplished he would have attained safety. However the rawness of his days of misery and the fated residue of the season of his calamity seized his collar, so that the spies of the Sultán laid hands on him and replaced him in a closer prison, with increased severity and hardship, until the force of the Sultán’s severity diminished and he forgave him, and he revivified him with fresh existence and new life, and issued an order to console and release him, and again conferred upon him his wonted benefits and favours, giving him the land of Tabaristán and Juzján. And he nominated Arslán Jazib to assist and aid him. And if the sagacity of Falk-Almuálí, in displaying allegiance and per­sisting in his contented good affection towards the Sultán had not put his affairs in a right train, his house and his kingdom would have fallen from his possession.* However, when that affair was arranged, the Sultán recalled Dárá, who then remained as one of the lords of the empire and associates of the Court. And, at all social meetings, hunting shows, private audiences, and every assembly whatever, he was never away from the Sultán’s eyes, until the time when the Amír Abúl-Fawarás-’bn-Azduddoulah came from Karmán, on account of the dispute with his brother, before the Sultán’s throne, in the hope of assistance against his brother’s oppression. One night Dárá and this Amir met in the Sultán’s presence, when some discussion arose respecting the dignity of their families, the precedency of their chieftains, and the depth of their genealogy, when Dárá spoke words which were inconsistent with the reserve due to his majesty and the wide reverence owing to royalty. And when the denial was given him he repeated the words in a more quarrelsome and insolent manner, and the matter came to such a point that the Sultán caused him to be removed from the company, and the next day imprisoned him in a certain fortress, confiscating all his property, real and moveable, until the Vizier interceded for him, when, in the month Muharram, in the year 400, his estates and lands were delivered to his agents, to be expended for his advan­tage.