1. The eyes betray all beauty save their own,
As warriors on the battlefield attest.

2. They drew their swords and we encountered them;
Ask not today what fate befell the rest!

3. Though loth, for love we would break idols' hearts
As idols in their worship break our hearts.

4. The martyr in his death rejoices that
He'll see the houris mingled with the slain.

5. Does a new passion every day arise
To sap our strength with eyes both bright and vain?

6. My eyes, weep on after the army's gone;
Bemoan them as befits all you've seen and done.

7. The morning that we left, we captives swore
To ransom every heart left in their train.

8. When we returned the old love to recall,
Each told how love and time him did constrain.

9. We paid our debts in full save one alone -
A pledge unredeemed, those eyes that remain!

10. Thus we rejoiced while jealous rivals frowned,
Not knowing what they knew or what they feigned.

11. No fault have we save that we proved too chaste;
The rabid censurers but accuse in vain.

12. Covenants are over, leaving but the words
That bitter change inflicted bitter pain.

13. How oft I've led the fair maid's train behind;
For mad love, all the mad have thought me sane!

14. I've borne the Christian's child and pilgrim's too
Within my body, fruit of tree and plain.

15. My exploits under mounted flags unfurled
Make centuries of months seem brief and few.

16. And no reproach is his, save that, when eyes
Gaze up to him, his lashes give them rain.

17. His glances slay or give the spirit life
Like breath blown into pipe or trumpet's strain.

18. He knots his eyebrows, pierces me with darts,
Till from their star his tears wash out my stain.

19. I've kissed his chin and mouth, but not the hand
That traced in Mīm a letter shaped Sīn.

20. Within my heart caged ringdoves have their nests;
My heart's become a thicket for love's pain.

21. Branches above whose birds once were my thoughts;
Those birds are now but nesting dove and crane.

22. I journeyed for a goal my soul had set,
With steeds that gallop heedless of my rein.

23. I've courted mirages across the wastes;
I ask the rising dawns if they remain.

24. Each fresh disaster garbs the hills in light;
For every piercing woe comes piercing rain.

25. I've broken with my tribe, rejected rest;
What can I hope for from unfaithful men?

26. Can Time engender fealty in a race?
Where are the sires so he bequeaths it, then?

27. Once I indulged body and soul; then came
The best of mankind shining like a moon.

28. When I achieved him, matchless in perfection,
Detractors who had censured now fell mute.

29. They swore "By cloud revealed to give us shade
Thou art ennobled by the deeds you've done."

30. To honor's summit and religion's glory
I've turned my face; reproach me not again!

31. Could I exchange one hour of his embrace
For an eternity with others spent,

32. I'd count myself the world's most wretched fool.
His virtues excel what our praise can attain!

33. His palace doors are open to the vile
While horses stand there ready bridled, too.

34. Where can another noble youth be found
Who aids the guest ere he can ask or sue?

35. He is the sun; his glory is himself;
Dawn but reflects his radiance in its dew.

36. Whene'er he wills, his fingers can be clouds
To gentle showers that give the world its hue.

37. The sea itself would think his script its waves
If he should send the high clouds to pursue.

38. Since he appeared the palace of the Caliphate's
Become a sanctuary for all who blew.

39. And through him conquest without end has come,
Never betrayed by fortune or untrue.

40. His father's triumphs are his heritage;
Why should the timid fear his blade of flame?

41. He's mercy sheathed in mutual kindness yet
There's kindled in his wrath consuming fire.

42. So too the wheeling sky looks still all o'er
Though we perceive its restless motion plain.

43. O moon of kings, what garment will you don
To match your soaring crown and ever gain?

44. The stars and moon weep glittering tears for you
To see you don the Caliph's robe again.

45. For glory of your name, the crescent bows
And circles round to trace the letter Nūn.

46. If statecraft asks your counsel on some thing,
Fate hides within your judgement its decree.

47. If kings seek refuge 'neath the shield and towers
Quaking with dread or sheltered in their forts,

48. No shields for you but blades the armor be,
No fortress for you but your stallion's back!

49. What bliss that the world's rescuer for you
Should turn to blissful rain in time of drought!

50. Before that succorer was his noble sire;
From him you gained the place that you now hold.

51. Bequeath unto this latter age from you
Counsels sincere, of sound and upright mode.

52. Your first clear signs of glory and repute -
All works match that which you have thus foreshown.

53. The seat of Caliphate and rule o'er men
From you draws sanction for what else seemed vain.

54. Just yesterday, those discontent you quelled
By solving well what evil had been sown.

55. While sickness plagued affairs in darkest woe
As if the iron of events had flown.

56. Until you came and then the waters flowed
And all returned to how it once had grown.

57. What threatened ruin boding ill to all
Was turned aside by what your hands have done,

58. And discord between Truth's defender here
And all the Guardians his acts have drawn -

59. Just as in olden times 'tween prophet and his kin
Dissent appeared, conflict clearly shown.

60. Each side may claim excuse for what they did;
So deems the right-minded man of pure belief.

61. There were wars - but hearts cannot discern their source,
Though tempers, like the swords, may have been prone

62. To controversy. Yet from this dissent
Will tribulation weed out what was sown?

63. If you would hear from me, Majesty
Words to please your ears however shown,

64. I say: Our Sultan of compassion showed
God's guidance in the choice of you as friend.

65. You were created as the buttress for
The crown that was Adam, from dust newly grown.

66. The angels there saw you - so bowed down low
Before him, overwhelmed and overthrown.

67. They said: "By right of one for whom's decreed
The Caliphate," and so their awe was known.

68. Long we have known authority entwined
With counselors who propped the ruling throne.

69. But your election - you without a peer -
Confirms traditions we have always known.

70. Make plain to us what he should know - and do
What will please both religion and the world.

71. Meanings collected in one word you said
But declined to make your full intent be known.

72. You spoke the verse on "Chooser of His friend"
And said: "Now you're empowered, trusted, shown."

73. So you compared him to the prophet who
Was made vizier to Egypt's kingship's throne.

74. You meant: fulfill for us what was fulfilled,
And be as he was - compliant to be shown.

75. While he craved counsel, now we crave from you
To be counseled, taught, toward reform be prone.

76. But are you not his brother, for whom we'd give
Fortress impregnable, defender of the throne?

77. Brother of Manẓar, brother of Makhbar -
How facile, auspicious, the work you have shown!

78. Your face brings happy fortune; judgment wise
Suffices people for long centuries.

79. Yes, let whoever climbs the riding beast
Or circles round the fane in pilgrim band

80. Abide as long as there is pact in place
Joined by the pledge of clasping hand in hand.

81. What vizier you have chosen! And what friend!
How excellent the comrade you have known!

82. All learned in the tales of nations past;
While his own tales with wisdom's spirit shine.

83. As if this youth had lived throughout all time
And known entire its tribes in their wide scope.

84. If he recounts the vanished prophets' lore,
He's eloquent to join their hallowed line.

85. Thus these have painted him for those long gone,
And those portray him for the age's hope.

86. Who has such knowledge, and magnanimity,
Has lived, though one life, with all mankind at once!

87. O indigo nights! Why, when kings
Were mantled in your darkness, did you shun

88. To cover any but the noblest men?
For you the stars weep, that they do not run

89. Like planets to exalt his constancy;
The moon's eclipsed save where his name is known.

90. The crescent bows so low his name might shape
Its very curve to symbolize the Nūn.

91. When Time seeks your wise counsel, destiny
Is guided by the insight you have shown.

92. When sovereigns trust in armor and high walls
Shrinking from fear, or sheltered in their holds,