Khalif had sent for him and enjoined him to eloquence and self-possession and pleasant speech. Then she clad him in a rich habit and gave him much money, bidding him be lavish of largesse to the household of the Khalif, when he went in to him. Presently, Jaafer arrived, riding on his Nubian mule, and Ghanim met him and kissed the ground before him, wishing him long life. Now was the star of his good fortune risen and shone, and Jaafer took him and brought him to the Khalif. When he entered, he looked at the viziers and amirs and chamberlains and deputies and grandees and captains, Turks and Medes and Arabs and Persians, and then at the Khalif. Then he made sweet his speech and his eloquence and bowing his head, spoke the following verses: Long life unto a King, the greatest of the great, Still following on good works and bounties without date! Glowering with high resolves, a fountain of largesse, For ever full; 'tis said, of fire and flood and fate, That they none else would have for monarch of the world, For sovran of the time and King in Kisra's gate.[FN#119] Kings, salutation-wise, upon his threshold's earth, For his acceptance lay the jewels of their state; And when their eyes behold the glory of his might, Upon the earth, in awe, themselves they do prostrate. This humbleness it is that profits them with thee And wins them wealth and power and rank and high estate. Upon old Saturn's heights pitch thy pavilion, Since for thy countless hosts the world is grown too strait, And teach the stars to know thine own magnificence, In kindness to the prince who rules the starry state. May God with His consent for ever favour thee! For steadfastness of soul and sense upon thee wait: Thy justice overspreads the surface of the earth, Till far and near for it their difference abate.