1. None but the tireless champion merits praise,
The questing knight, or warrior sleep disdains,

2. ‘Tis no resolve when sickness makes men pause,
No care when darkness all their power restrains,

3. Yet bearing hurt, beholding him who dealt it,
Proves food by which the body thrives and gains.

4. How sad when men the lowly lot begrudge
To many a life that lighter is than down!

5. Forbearance without might wins no regard,
Weaklings and cowards seek it for their crown.

6. Whoever bends shall wear the yoke of shame;
No dead man feels the living wound’s sharp pains.

7. Straitened my lot, an envious age denied,
Yet bounteous souls grant me their large domains.

8. Below my feet I see the sphere of fate,
And under mine the tread of all men’s feet.

9. Confessed the sweetest thing by sage possessed,
And aspiration is the goal I meet;

10. Though Hijaz shine not, Nejd and Iraq’s plains,
Nor Syria gleam with Kanah and Shan.

11. The day shone bright in dust when Ali rode,
The pure, the eloquent, the brave, the polished knight

12. Sagacious, splendid, elegant in form,
True, noble, who still his jealous foes did smite,

13. With lavish generosity he cures the ill
That oft great riches bring, as if they blight;

14. Fair in his enemies' eyes at break of day,
More so than any guest their tents did light.

15. Were he the death-doomed noble’s guard, vain were
The emissary, and frustrated his might.

16. In bowls of glory I have dipped my pen,
After Qais signing, peace unto him! Sa’d’s son,

17. Sharp thorns, though camels spurn them, these men are;
Their night and day - all flame and smoke in one.

18. The lofty enterprize attained by them
Soars beyond what imagination known.

19. Valiant the souls that riding forth to war,
Their onset comes before their lances gone.

20. Their breasts defensive bulwarks have become,
As though the onslaught were resignation meet.

21. Chiefs of each band and steed the bridle know,
The housing have encased them and the fleet.

22. They trip on heads as speech aye trips on Tá’s,
Thy mispronouncing them indeed is long.

23. The paper sheets enough of men contain,
Paper for writing exhausts pens ere long.

24. Thy varied gifts the reflective thought transcend,
And inspiration finds in thee its bound.

25. A horse whose owner risks his life, is sold
For ruin, yet none cry ‘Shame!’ at such a wound.

26. One beggar’s glance thy bounty riches gave;
So crowned thy beggary is with gifts renowned.

27. Though heads best limbs, feet by thy grace prevail,
Who aye directest feet where heads are bound.

28. Short have I fallen, crowds the approach impede
And gifts to give press on from every side!

29. Holding thy right I feared the envious might
Seize me, when thou thy largess dost divide.

30. Prudence though absent, is by distance known,
By slow advance the swiftest storm outvied.

31. Say, how much treasured verse in order set
Desires no better lot than with thee tied?

32. Fearing thee, night and day would cease to be
Didst thou appoint them not their course and tide.

33. God grant thee right, misleading and misled
Together, in thy presence purified!

34. Why fear'st thou not the future’s sequence fell
Beyond this world wherein thou dost abide?

35. What loved friend thine excuse can not refute
Whom thou dost blame, such thy fair acts provide?

36. High character raised thee above him, yet
Thy heart is tempted by his speech of pride.

37. Some poesy is madness, nothing more,
And some wise judgments for our spirit’s guide

38. From it a wondrous art did draw its life,
And masterpieces there conspicuous glide;

39. Others mere colorist’s affectations,
Pigments and brush the painter’s skill deride.