1. If the blamer were fair in love's domain,
They'd not reproach whom I love or complain.

2. The phantom's perfidy suffices them
As substitute, so why blame the gentle dames?

3. Was not al-`Amari and others' fate
Only anguish and illness and weight?

4. O eyelids' slope in the cheek's incline
In ignorance, oaths, love, and pine!

5. Leave off versifying about the dove and his mate
A mate is a mate and a dove a dove.

6. And leave off importuning the encampments and their folk,
And questioning whence no query comes.

7. It's all the same if they depart and their band
Leaves it while others arrive to camp.

8. No use to stand in a shelter gone desolate
After the rain where quiet sleeps.

9. That was the wont for lovers whilom,
And time's days have wiped their deed.

10. No fresh meadow blooms in that ruin
Where the thirsty resort to drink joy.

11. Oh, but how sweet to stand in Daris
With a cup the cupbearers circle round.

12. On the mouth of each smooth-cheeked beauty
On her cheek and palm, wine circles round.

13. Who calls for war when his only arms
Are a spear, or else his swordblade bare?

14. An Arab in speech, the nun of his eyebrow has
Of mole and cheek, natural diacritics.

15. For shooting from him, and for the branches when
A viewer appears, erect in stance.

16. No drawing near in hopes of intimacy,
Nor does despair occur if pride forbid.

17. So if he draws near, his guide slopes away,
And if he pulls back, dreams draw him close.

18. Complaining of his disdain does no good,
Does one reproach a love that pains?

19. My eyes won nothing of him but copious tears
Seducing me, while my heart sighs and throbs.

20. Tormenting me unjustly without any crime?
Gently! Would the magnificent's neighbor be harmed?