verses,

"Who shall support me in calamities, * When fail all cures and
greater cares arise?
Exile hath worm my heart, my vitals torn; The World to foes
hath turned my firm allies.
O folk, will not one friend amidst you all * Wail o'er my woes,
and cry to hear my cries?
Death and it agonies seem light to me, * Since life has lost all
joys and jollities:
O Lord of Mustafa,[FN#73] that Science-sea, * Sole Intercessor,
Guide all-ware, all-wise!
I pray thee free me and my fault forego, * And from me drive mine
evil and my woe."

The jailor stripped off his clean clothes and, dressing him in
two filthy vests, carried him to the Wazir. Nur al-Din looked at
him and saw it was his foe that sought to compass his death; so
he wept and said, "Art thou, then, so secure against the World?
Hast thou not heard the saying of the poet,

'Kisras and Caesars in a bygone day * Stored wealth; where it is,
and ah! where are they?'

O Wazir," he continued, "know that Allah (be He extolled and
exalted!) will do whatso He will!" "O Ali," replied he,
"thinkest thou to frighten me with such talk? I mean this very
day to smite thy neck despite the noses of the Bassorah folk and
I care not; let the days do as they please; nor will I turn me to
thy counsel but rather to what the poet saith,