Original content

English translation

After this, other masters of masters, Of this court and the sun of the army, Masters dominant in science and knowledge, Their pens having the standing of swords. All of them painters of meaning with their reed pens, Inserting pearls and gold into their scrolls. From their countenances and writing pens, full of patterns, The head of the court from each is like spring. Their chest is like a pearl-scattering casket, Their pen, like their state, rich with gold. Their face makes death step back, Their scent makes the intellect intoxicated. Their soul, like the place of religion, full of noble qualities, Their self like a seashell, its womb full of pearls. For the sake of the cypress of the stream of righteousness, They have made eyes like a water-filled cloud. Like Jesus, from mind and pen, They have shown life-infused designs in their writing. Making greed in this modern world, Their pen, strong as digestion-mastic. They are like Abraham, accepting of fortune, They are like Ishmael, true to their promise. They are men of work, possessors of intellect and insight, Their chest a sky, and their thought a star. Their intellect is a fire-catching sky, Their body like a vulture-catching spider. So that they can make the adversary weak, They are all filled with heart, like a pomegranate. Their wealth in their eyes is but dust, Their speech, like their state, is pure. Whatever the mine yielded of gems, gold, and silver, Is entirely surrendered before them like a submissive person. Delight and bounty rain from their pen, The hands of enemies matched with thighs in despair. The world of intellect is bewildered by their heart, The form of the soul is aversion to their clay. The splendor of the chief seat and the ornament of the court, Demons have fled from their pen. Look at their structure, the flowing pen, Which gives generous gifts to the soul constantly. The sun and moon are dazzled by their encounter, Light and fire are darkened by their value. Masters of speech, brave riders, Their pen has become allied with the sword. All skilled in calculation and calligraphy, All victorious in expressing the truth. The world is brighter from the light of their counsel, Their intellect commensurate with their expression. From error, their pen is ever protected, None can say: 'Why is this?' or 'How is that?' In the world of transaction, each of them, When they gallop their pen at full speed, The description of any of these prominent figures Cannot fit in a single leaf out of two hundred volumes. For each, through knowledge and action, Is a companion of intellect and fulfiller of hope. The cheek of one is a treasury of light, The face and counsel of another is the provision of houris. The pen of this one chews mastic-like, Whatever events the revolving heavens display. The face of that one laughs like lightning, The hand of this one binds the foot of mischief. The dominion of this one tells of the Hand of Moses, The pen of that one is the miracle of the Breath of Jesus. When the hand sets to writing, The pen of each becomes an ebony fortress. The pierced pearl of each is Noah's Ark, The subtle point of each is the treasure of the soul. It turns when the heaven becomes a carpet, It exists when the earth seeks the Throne. The king, the minister of the king, and the army of the king Have become aware of the depth of their counsel, As they are altogether far from treachery, They are both trustworthy and not arrogant. They do not draw a single breath except by command, They are all men of action, not women. Their hearts are entirely clean and devoid of betrayal, The knowledge of both worlds is fully acquired by them. From the generous, well-reputed King of Kings, They have deserved a thousand favors. All have received robes of honor from the sovereign, The humble and the noble alike have obtained fame and bread. As well as horses, harnesses, gold, and silver coins, Nothing whatsoever is lacking for any of them. The king is comfortable and glad because of these masters, The kingdom has become prosperous through these masters. The hand of the oppressor is shortened from the kingdom, The lion of his enemies is made a laughingstock to the fox. The wolf is paired with the sheep in the desert, Justice has awakened, and mischief has gone to sleep. Be glad, O King of Kings of justice, Because of all these well-wishing masters. When the king is just, and so is the minister, And the masters of this manner are all approved, The world is at peace from deceit and sedition, Ghazna has become the abode of justice. As long as the world exists, may the life of the king endure, May the garden of his justice always be free of weeds.