Qiran al-saʿdayn 8: The Author speaks of himself.

8

"I, who had been in the service of Khan-i Jahan, previous to this, received from him now greater kindness than ever. He took me to Oudh with him, and treated me with such consideration, that I forgot my own country. There I remained with him two years, and knew no sorrow or want. I left my family, to attach myself to him. My mother, who was old, and always telling her beads, remained at Dehli, distressed at my absence. Night and day she was sorrowful that this worthless person was not near her, and used always to write letters inviting me to return. Though my heart was wounded at her grief, I did not like to ask her to come to me. When I was deeply grieved at these perpetual remonstrances, and my heart was greatly unsettled, I mentioned the circumstances to my master, and showed him my mother's letters. He, with his usual greatness, granted my request, and allowed me leave to return to my home, and sent me two trays of gold to enable me to proceed on my journey, which I prosecuted with the rapidity of an arrow, as my mother's grief had filled my heart with anxiety."
"I had travelled a whole month, without drawing rein, and arrived in the month of Zi'l-Ka'da at the city. Smiling like a flower in a garden, I visited my friends, and thus fulfilled my heart's desire, and was restored to life after death. I placed my head at the feet of my mother, who, when she saw me, embraced me with tears in her eyes, and when relieved from her solicitude, fulfilled the vows which she had made, in consideration of my safe return."
"Two days after, the news of my arrival was conveyed to the king, and the chamberlain came to call me to his presence. I went and placed my face upon the earth, while my heart was in trepidation. I drew out from my waistband the panegyric I had written, and read it out with a loud voice. The king was greatly pleased at my verses, and honoured me in the eyes of my companions. He treated me with great kindness, and gave me a dress of honour of his own wearing, and two bags of dirhams, and enrolled me amongst his special attendants. My heart was replete with joy, and my poor house was filled with gold. His majesty said, 'Oh, most perfect of poets, whose very crumbs other poets are glad to pick up, if you will, the wish of my heart can be accomplished. I will give you as much as you like, and no desire of yours shall be left ungratified.' I bowed to the ground, and replied, 'Oh, king, what am I capable of, but writing a few laudatory verses, that I should be treated with such condescension? Your majesty bestows everything upon the needy; what need then can you have of such poor services as mine? My imagination is not lively, and I have no accomplishment, but that of being able to write some indifferent Persian. If the wish of his majesty can be gratified by such poor attainments, I am ready to be honoured with his commands.'"
"When I had thus offered my excuses to the king, he thus addressed me: 'It is my desire, that you should undertake the trouble of writing in verse an account of the interview between the two kings, namely, my honoured father and myself.' When he had said this, he pointed to the treasure before him, and told me to take it away, bestowing upon me at the same time a dress of honour."
He determined to effect what the king desired, and after giving the subject much consideration, and secluding himself from all society, and trusting in God, after revolving the subject in his mind for three months, he completed the poem in six months, in 3244 verses, in the month of Ramazan, 688 A.H. (September, 1289 A.D.), and in the 36th year of his age.
Verses upon his pen, inkstand, and paper. Entry of the king into city of Dehli. Conclusion, in which he expresses a hope that his errors may be leniently dealt with.