1. At night a moon lit up the sandy hill,
Illuminating the desolate mound.

2. A moon cloaked in the wings of night
Spreading, though none but I took note.

3. It wandered through the valley to visit us -
Strange, when it was not in our thoughts.

4. A white smile amid the meadow's blooms
Appearing, then vanishing behind the thickets.

5. It went away, leaving my watcher to its imaginary form -
My memory of it is as if it never went away.

6. Welcome to a visitor who, had she not come
From a thoughtful mind, would not have visited this shrine.

7. I bid her stay, and caused no bloodshed,
Nor broke the fast, by her absence.

8. I answered the call of youthfulness towards her,
And so met my usual Thursday eve appointment.

9. And perhaps I preferred what I had not found
Until I attained what I did not choose.

10. So cease blame, for I have turned from passion,
And woken up, except for the dreamer's rapture.

11. O brother, I have tested men, and found
No loyal friend in times of woe.

12. Truly, acts of goodwill in the world
Are the seeds of affection and hearts' amity - consider.

13. And if you seek the love of a people, spurn it,
Yet guard yourself if you gain a low person's love.

14. Say to the finest one, none has equaled him -
An oppressed man among his folk with none to help.

15. Why do I see you set apart from the world
In your two states, with injustice and tyranny?

16. If you seek a favor from one who has shown none,
Or do a favor for one who shows no thanks,

17. Why not complain to the Minister and his justice?
Of what you faced from the many and diverse.

18. For he is the one who will protect you, not neglecting,
And he is the one who will favor you, not vexing.

19. He is the refuge for whoever seeks his shade
From every unjust and arrogant foe.

20. A king whose eyes the people have lulled to sleep,
Secure, while to his own eye he said "keep watch!"

21. And the minister of sincerity has attained the highest
Rank of each empowered and honored realm.

22. The latter age has given him his due, while
Ministers of all eras fell short of his stature.

23. As if they were horses charging the battlefield,
While the victory went to the one who came last.

24. No wonder - before him the ministry
Has faltered between inadequate and failure.

25. With a miserly one, inept in stinginess,
Or a recluse, heedless of condemnation.

26. Or one frivolous, exceeding the bounds,
Or ignorant, in the worst of confusion.

27. Until the affairs came to fruition
With the victorious Mansur's banners coming forth.

28. The elevated were adorned with the finest decorations,
And the world shone with the best spectacle.

29. You attained the highest rank of God's religion -
Reached its summit, though you do not boast.

30. They fell short of it, nor were humble,
While you gained it, and were not arrogant.

31. You extended your palm in plenty, folding
Together openhandedness and pouring rain.

32. You gained fair renown in this fleeting world -
He who does as you do will be remembered.

33. Your hand rescued a hostage from the claws
Of a ferocious lion after being caught.

34. You returned an untrammeled rule to its people,
And set up in the enemy's breast a barrier.

35. Until you are like the Persian Ardashir
When he conquered Alexander's companies.

36. The nations cannot claim to have arrived
At the greatest open triumph but you.

37. Before your army your fame went forth preceding,
To the foes, surpassing the assembled troops.

38. The sun, before rising from its horizon,
Dispels the gloom with the radiant dawn.

39. Your well-omened right hand that encompassed them
With its good fortune was enough, though absent.

40. No white-crowned head disobeyed your command
Unless a swarthy spineless one took its place.

41. No war of yours since then but is like a fruitful cloud
Announcing the bearing of heads taken in war

42. And the waving of a crimson meadow of corpses,
A wonder that five fingers of your hand

43. Became five oceans that the unblemished
Exposes himself to tasting until plunged into the precious essence.

44. Pens nearly touch their depths and coil back
Around the oft-used green parchment.

45. Say to the one who has surpassed all people - incumbent
Is the care of the elder for the junior kinsman.

46. I am like the lost deer, so gather me in,
O bowl loud called, to the son of Na'sh made to see!

47. How long this wandering through the lands futilely,
Perplexed, bringing my watering place nearer to my source?

48. I plunge into the deeps of oceans along with thirst
Only to return with the darkest skin.

49. When fickle fortune changes, the world changes -
Though it itself does not change - frequently.

50. Between a ruler's command that none carries out,
And a subject's obedience no one commands.

51. I have come to your courtyard, so give me to drink
From the overflowing cup of your hand the greatest sins.

52. My wish is that you live a life of luxury,
Bounteous, and remain enduringly long in life.

53. That you live for the kingdom which you have restored,
And last in it like an ankle ring on a leg.