1. O brother of determination whose course bends the tall spears
Surpassing the pace of storms in his march

2. Say to the well-mannered, excelling in merit and character
And to the eloquent, whether earnest or jesting

3. He who scatters pearls in the spread of his writing
At will, and strings them in verse when praising

4. His words inebriate even the sober—his eloquence—
Had one drunk on his excellence been aware, he would have recovered

5. The news came to you in Arabic, translating
On behalf of a loyal friend, whether he drew near in love or turned away

6. So listen—you never ceased hearing good things—
To a wonder the books have never explained

7. My lord, if he closed to me the door of his favors
Which always stood open to mankind in kindness

8. And found for me no glance of his gifts—
How he lavished me! How he heaped gifts upon me!

9. His pouring forth when my imaginations insisted
How it gushed with bounty and overflowed!

10. How many a hand from him I have in addition to
What ambitious hope requested and begged for!

11. The least I gained from his benevolence is wealth
After which no miser’s meanness saddened me nor any spendthrift’s excess

12. I have been enriched by him beyond need of him
As an abundant spring, once it overflows, is self-sufficient

13. Yet in my heart there is a care which compounds its image
A phantom that, when I say it hides, flickers into view

14. I fear in myself inadequacy in time of war and turmoil—
And does it have, apart from me, heroes, the pivot of the millstone?

15. So say to him, may God renew his existence forever
Whether dawn has rent the cloak of darkness or the day has shone clear

16. How many hopes have I sent to your sublime presence
Which you granted me! How many requests you fulfilled!

17. While you—if the world proffered itself to you entire
You would not be pleased by its offer, nor by its gift

18. You are cleared of the guilt of time and its caprice
Neither did it gather sins nor make mistakes