Then the year 562 AH began.

In that year: the Franks advanced in great hosts toward the Egyptian domains, and the Egyptians helped them, so that they gained control of several districts. News of this reached Asad al-Dīn Shīrkūh ibn Shādhī (1). He asked King Nūr al-Dīn for permission to return there—he was exceedingly angry (2) with the vizier Shāwar. Permission was granted, and he set out in Rabīʿ al-Ākhir, accompanied by his nephew Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb. It was widely believed that he would take possession of Egypt, and on that subject the poet ʿUrqula, called Ḥassān (3), declaimed these verses in the sarīʿ metre:

I say, (4) while the Turks have firmly resolved
on Egypt to wage war against the Arabs,
Lord, just as Thou gavest it to Joseph the Truthful,
son of Jacob,
let it in our age be ruled by Joseph the Sincere, (5)
son of Ayyūb,
he who has ever struck (6) the enemies’ heads in truth
and hewn their hamstrings.

When the vizier Shāwar learned that Asad al-Dīn was approaching with his army, he appealed to the Franks, and they came from every distant valley. When word of their movements reached Asad al-Dīn (7)—and he had only two thousand horsemen with him—he consulted the emirs who were in his company. All of them advised him to return to King Nūr al-Dīn because of the Franks’ great numbers, save one emir, Sharaf al-Dīn Bazghash, who said, “Whoever fears capture (8) and death should stay at home with his wife, but whoever has consumed the Muslims’ wealth (9) must not surrender their lands to the enemy.” His nephew Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb ibn Shādhī voiced the same opinion. Allah then strengthened their resolve, so they advanced against the Franks and fought them in a fierce battle; they smashed and routed the Franks and killed (10) multitudes whose number is known only to Allah—exalted is He. All praise and thanks belong to Allah in every circumstance.