1. I swore by what fills the wine-pourer and what fills me,
I have given up reproaching the fair reproachers busied

2. When my heart calls “O House of Mihrāq,”
My thoughts call back “O sons of Dhahal!”

3. With my soul I court the deadly glance,
My eyelids on the day of drink increase it reason.

4. I complain of the riddler’s pain of love to him,
And the cure of love for me is what they say, with riddles.

5. I seek refuge for his tooth that bites, his freshness, his saliva,
By Him who has come in light, ants, and bees,

6. And I yearn for the magic that is in his sleepy eyes,
Though indeed I know it will bring about my death.

7. And I fill the scrolls of the post-riders with messages,
Yet those traits refuse union.

8. And I love the sand of the astrologer in his name,
That being nothing but love of him who halted amid the sand.

9. Perhaps the zephyr will send me a message,
Since the tongues of messengers between us have grown weary.

10. The course of the winds makes excuses for me, and
The lovers have long made excuses with the wind before me.

11. And blame me who feels no passion, while my tears
Are as useful as the precedents of ʿImad al-Dīn.

12. When the precedents of al-Muʾayyad trail their skirts,
The pride of merit is covered by that merit.

13. O king, when we hurl the praise of his glory,
Our pens flow while his descriptions dictate.

14. He renews the days of praise and wine,
Repelling the days of complaining and decline.

15. And sending them forth to war bared like swords
As if the blood of heroes were boiling beneath them.

16. When they hover over the bodies they take the place
Of every brow like the new moon instead of a sandal.

17. When war calls him “O killer of foes,”
Munificence calls him “O killer of havens.”

18. If you come to him seeking knowledge and generosity
O what an abundant sea of merit and judgment!

19. He brings honor to the name of the noble ones
As grammarians place the name before the verb.

20. Even the stars serve him out of love,
And for this reason stars are attributed to reason.

21. He climbs high above the firmament with resolves
That know how high they may rise to glory.

22. If not for the aid of al-Dīn he would be unmatched in sublimity—
How excellent the intimacy of al-Ghadaanfar with the cub!

23. The scion of lofty ones whose facets of glory
I espied, which indicate, like the blade, the Indian sword.

24. There looks well on him, when he frowns prohibition,
A gentler necklace than what looks well in form.

25. In him you may recognize traits from his father
And grandsire and forebears from the family.

26. Time has comprised from his lofty ancestors the noblest copy—
Let it confront, on the day of vying, the original!

27. As if, O shadow of nobles, in his person
Were confronting you for the sublime one like a reflection.

28. May God grant you empowerment and permanence
And bestow on you such of the ranks of merit as you wish,

29. Until He shows you elevated in the dusts of glory,
Lofty, with the banner of fame spread, exercising justice.

30. On my days the like of you—majesty and bounty!
You have stood for so many days peerlessly.

31. And meeting from me praises I accustomed,
Whose choice pieces in your station existed before.

32. From them I fashion, annexing to his progeny,
Thus uniting praise of ancestry, father, and son.

33. I ransom you, a king in his aid and good tidings—
A cloud for one asking increase, a dawn for one seeking light!

34. I singled you out over all mankind, and it delighted me
To replace some of the lovely ones for the whole.

35. And I reposed my hopes in you, as you
Are nobler than the clan of al-Muhallab in rank.

36. The pronouncements of my tongue grow splendid by his splendid gifts
Thus improving laudations of splendor with splendor.

37. May God water the days of al-Muʾayyad with ease
If the times are watered withsetValue and rainclouds!

38. You have secured us from the harm of each misfortune,
And left us to luxury and gentleness.

39. None does wrong among us but the pacing she-camel
Or tyrannizes but the languid eyes.