AL-MALIK AL-NASIR AND HIS WAZIR.
There was given to Abú Ámir bin Marwán,[FN#177] a boy of the Christians, than whom never fell eyes on a handsomer. Al-Nasir the conquering Soldan saw him and said to Abu Amir, who was his Wazir, "Whence cometh this boy?" Replied he, "From Allah;" whereupon the other, "Wilt thou terrify us with stars and make us prisoner with moons?" Abu Amir excused himself to him and preparing a present, sent it to him with the boy, to whom he said, "Be thou part of the gift: were it not of necessity, my soul had not consented to give thee away." And he wrote with him these two couplets,
"My lord, this full moon takes in Heaven of thee new birth; * Nor can deny we Heaven excelleth humble earth: Thee with my soul I please and oh! the pleasant case! * No man e'er saw I who
