ABSTRACT
Sultan Mas'ud was a ruler with kingly glory and splendour, a mighty hero, lion-hearted, merciful, generous and just. In the Saljuq family there was no ruler with his stature, figure, power and splendour. He was the adornment of the throne and the ornament of the field, the glory of the garden and portico. He would defeat an army with one attack and a lion with one blow. He was good tempered. He liked mirth and joking. He was fortunate and brought good luck. In his time, the peoples of the world were at rest and the door of wealth, pleasure and happiness was open for the people of the world. There was a well-equipped and provisioned army, and a peasantry in the refuge of security, tranquility, and repose. He was a learned one who liked ascetics and gave to the poor. He liked social contact with the sincere-hearted, mad ones and caged birds, and he actually spoke to them with his very tongue. In sum, he was far from comfort-seeking, extravagance, ease and haughtiness. He was never sated with hunting, and he was brave and skilful in going alone to kill lions, in such a manner that no creature was his helper and assistant. And in the lines of battle he charged himself; he yielded place to none. His treasury was empty most of the time, and he gave away at the audience the loads of revenue which arrived from the various regions.
