Then they ended up (1) like leaves grown dry (2) … tossed to and fro by the east and west winds (3). Yet the days (4) sport with a man, and—by my life!—within them are admonitions and material for reflection (5).

[Then came the year 590 AH]

When King al-Afdal, son of Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn, had assumed his father’s place in Damascus (6), he dispatched magnificent gifts—among them [tuhaf sharīfah] (7)—to the gate of the caliph al-Nāṣir. They included his father’s weapons and the horse on which he used to ride into the campaigns (8), together with many other items, among them the Cross of the Crucifixion that his father had taken from the Franks on the day of Ḥaṭṭīn (9). It contained more than twenty pounds of gold and was encrusted (10) with precious jewels (11), as well as four slave-girls from the daughters of Frankish kings. Al-ʿImād the secretary composed for him an ample letter offering condolences on his father’s death and requesting that the caliph confirm him in the kingship after him (12); the request was granted.

In the month of Jumādā al-Ūlā (13) al-ʿAzīz (14), ruler of Egypt (15), came to Damascus to seize it from his brother al-Afdal. He camped at al-Kiswah on Saturday, the sixth of Jumādā, and laid siege to the city; but his brother held him off and defended it. Consequently, the canals (16) were cut off, the orchards plundered, and conditions grew harsh. Matters remained thus until their uncle al-ʿĀdil arrived and effected reconciliation.