1. I fell ill, and my friends' spirits saddened,
With grief for me, would that I could ransom them!

2. They appear before me whenever sorrow closes my eyes,
In groups, in pairs, and alone.

3. Sometimes I see them wandering as though they were
Asleep, having strayed upon the earth and slept,

4. And sometimes I see them in fear as though
They dread the darkness will disperse them.

5. Greetings to them, greetings!
My senses rush eagerly to them

6. As the lost man rejoiced seeing the light and was guided,
And I give my hearing wherever they whisper

7. As the eager ear takes in the lone voice.
And sorrow overcomes me when they depart

8. As flowers are sad when the dew abandons them.
I hated the night ending fearing their end,

9. And I accustomed my eyes to sleep until they grew accustomed.
And if they stole to my bedside while I was awake

10. I would protect my sorrowing eyes and live tearful,
And if their imaginations had not been accustomed to the like from me

11. Their fancies would have been fettered.
Oh would that I were a specter free to come and go,

12. And would that they could fetter themselves!
I wasted away until I almost denied my own image

13. And I fear that because of the intensity of my illness I will moan.
My nightly sojourn is like a frightened fox,

14. And I fancy myself beyond description and range.
It is as though the threads of the cradle were scorpions

15. And my pillow had become solid.
The fever has come in full strength

16. To straighten my twisting ribs.
It depicts to me the figure of imagination as reality

17. And I take one person to be many.
It has shaken me though keeping still, nor did

18. The turning of fate shake me when it turned.
When I prop my head in my hands

19. It casts me off with that which enfeebles the hands.
Its burning penetrated my thin body

20. So that had I not cast off my clothes it would have ignited.
I saw that which people do not see in sleep

21. And I toured the lands East and West in slumber.
The diver says, "If you had endured but an hour you would have pearls,"

22. Would that I could endure to have pearls!
Whispering goes on around me and they point the finger and accuse;

23. Some of the ignorant disparage and deride.
I am hurt only by the gloating of a company

24. In whom I hoped for aid in adversity.
I did them no wrong! Nay, they did wrong, for I thought them

25. Of gentle nature and without rancor.
A people loved privation because I tasted it

26. And loved it so it would be envied and rivaled.
And some wished that destruction would hurry me

27. As though I hoped to be immortalized by them!
They are not guaranteed against death, but

28. He whose night is sleepless wishes the sun to set.
If the night wearies him in contending with the dawn

29. He wishes that the morn would dawn black.
Yet I, though sickness eats my marrow,

30. See disgrace - the greatest disgrace - in envying the rival!
For what is in the body must inevitably pass away

31. While what is in the nature cannot cease forever.
If the rabble gather around me and are vulgar

32. How many vilified Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad!
It is no wonder if an ignoramus hates the free

33. When the owl is angered by the warbling of the songbird.
In suppressing the foe and his evil

34. I tread the smooth, paved road,
But I pardon, and anger has a rein

35. With which I train my enemies in clemency and bounty.
Oh, how much rancor harbored doubt in itself

36. But when it saw me it saw the sea raging!
So it began to fear me though I was silent

37. As it used to fear me when I was chanting,
And my name terrifies it if mentioned in its hearing

38. As the hyena dreads the strongly redoubled letter.
He who gained the sword bare of blade

39. Fears to cast his glance at the sheathed sword.
I love the noble free man who bears no malice,

40. And disdain the abject vile of spirit however intimate.
And between my ribs is a heart that has not

41. Rebelled against the daughters of fate except with rebellion.
And if she I love prolonged her coquetry

42. I would forbid her love to go beyond bounds with me.
Let fate vie with fate with me, for I

43. Have left sport and lovemaking to those who want them.