1. She glanced at me and drew away,
As if I were a leper to be fled:

2. Can eyes that daze man's very soul
Be called mere human eyes?

3. In all my days I have not seen
A girl so lithe and proud, a shape

4. So fragile, nor a shooting star
Fly hissing through the night.

5. No rider ever bore a lance
So straight and slim, no belt encircled

6. A waist so sleek as hers. My love
Has gathered up its shafts and fled,

7. Not deigning to withdraw the veil
To face a true and valiant knight.

8. I have not seen another day
Of parting like the day she left.

9. I bore her camel's litter when
The trail was straitened by the crowds.

10. Out of our brimming hearts welled words
Beyond restraint; but crafty spies

11. Came between us, and she stole my heart
With a lightning glance, consenting so

12. To her insistent lover's will.
Am I to find a cure for love

13. From the hand that is stained with my blood?
Had I been wronged by hardy tribes,

14. My bravery might win reprieve;
But hers are murderous fingers which

15. No mail can turn aside. My chiefs,
Had they but seen her chain mail flash,

16. Would have bowed down to earth before her.
Ask me not if I pardoned her

17. My blood; for love exceeds such laws.
I care not what became of all

18. The censure due to beautiful eyes.
The sword glance of her eyes held sway

19. Over my life; those favored of fortune
Wield power absolute. Sorrow enough

20. That none accuses me of my pain
That I might vent it! My friends are mute,

21. Bound by a spell of love like mine.
O you that blame a love so passing blame,

22. Have you seen passion frenzied as is mine?
Grant that I keep my eyelids free

23. To guard her image from all rivalry;
For jealousy admits no partnership

24. Of love, though love is fellowship!
A vision of my idol was revealed

25. By stealth to my heart's core till break of dawn.
The morning star appeared to my unrested eyes

26. More true than sunshine glittering on pearls
That graced the soft and swelling throats

27. Of maidens who awoke my sudden doubt--
Could this clear splendor be the gleam

28. That flashes from a sweetly sculptured cheek,
Or was it rather the smile of my beloved

29. Shining between clouds of tumbled hair?
I saw the sprays of wild rose glooming

30. In the wadi where yesterday I found
Anemones, but nothing to revive

31. My soul except narcissi wrapped
In kohl-dark petals, which I saw

32. Unclose their lips to sip the dew
Kissed from their teeth by gentle breeze....

33. Were these the gleaming pearls that graced
My darling's throat Where gold beads clustered dim?

34. Yes! The fair omen of your safe return
Makes full the moon that lacked but little some.

35. You rose into the sky the most auspicious hour
And luck inspired your steps from the first stride

36. That brought you back; while men and beasts and birds
Received you joyfully with souls elate.

37. Kings can but give their treasures borrowed light,
While yours is light creative and innate.

38. A sun for prostrate souls your advent was, and they
Who dwelt in deepest night sprang up to see,

39. Clouds of your bounty's rain soaked all the land
Till flowers burst from granite, sterile stones,

40. And what seemed lightning's incandescent fire
Flashed glory on your standard's streaming fold.

41. Blessed the faith you kept as ransom for our land,
And blest the flood of graces you unfold!

42. We learn that earthly crown and rule obey
Alone the laws of God. So wisdom guides

43. Your steps aright while fools mistake the way.
Two your bright swords attend you side by side,

44. Like planets drawn together through the night,
Twin fires whose shine inquiring glances fan,

45. No swords but Scorpio's giant sign swept from the stars
And tamed to carry out some wondrous plan.

46. White steeds surround you, patterned as with stars;
Their plumes held high and motionless attend,

47. While golden reins slack in the squires' hands
Grace youths as beautiful as images

48. That breathe desire at mirror's prompting glance.
High spirited, the patient creatures stand,

49. Their forelocks tossing, champing silver bits--
Light rippling through the awakened night.

50. Good fortune's self described their high descent
The day their sires' advancing steps you blessed.

51. As each approached to prove his loyalty,
The honored neck was lowered for your grasp.

52. Though night enshadowed still each during absence,
Raising his head next morn a star defined,

53. Fair in the dress of figured brocade reserved
For your companions though reserved from sight,

54. Their darkness changed, to suns they wheeled their course;
Their standard victory at every turn.

55. May triumph bless the arm raised up for God!
Let sharp tongues file themselves against your sword!

56. Keys and seals of office wait your firm decree;
Yours to decide the justice they insure.

57. Dawn does not rob the moon of light she borrows
Though evening quarters envy equal shares.

58. Aspiring to a task beyond all mortal reach,
Were this small globe stretched flat before your gaze,

59. You would but smile and say: "When this is done,
An ampler stage remains for my emprise."

60. O Pole Star of all wanderers! Hear my call!
Though cloudy skies eclipse, oh, dawn again!

61. The storm has buffeted me long enough;
Wean me, harsh nurse of recor current woes!

62. My first fruits offered to your generous hand
Skip to the measure sung by poets' choirs.

63. I have forestalled older bards' imaginings,
And on the brow of Time engraved my sign.

64. My madrigals match well bright jewels' fire;
No necklace can compare with their design.

65. Let mouths repeat your praise in ages hence!
For glory fades, and fame is but a chance.

66. Wealth is a plucked flower, a gathered fruit;
Divided or retained, its date is brief.

67. But liberality and bounty, thine;
Translates the pregnant silences of rain.

68. True horses whinny at the very sight of you--
Else their obedience would not be so spurred--

69. And clouds, before they empty buckets down,
Wait your command and are no longer glum.

70. Live long the prop of Faith against its foes!
By keenest planning work, and sharpest swords

71. Protect the Divine Law now manifest through you;
And aid true merit as most fit reward.

72. Raise me to some high place, secluded, cool,
For which my soul has pined this weary while,

73. Where I may rest, escaped from Fortune's blows--
She fights me now in anger hot and hostile.

74. Long after long year was my portion, pain
Increasing ever till no more could come;

75. Nurse of my weeping, Fortune, I have drained
Your udder dry; 'tis time you weaned your young!

76. Sweet nurselings, virgin songs, I brought before
In best array, lest they arrive too late;

77. Wild thoughts or mares no rider yet could tame
Come crowding through the gate.

78. Receive them! Let their figures charm the eye,
Bright jewels fit to grace a well wrought chain;

79. Or tapestries as intricate as verse
Where steady purpose still repeats refrain.

80. Eternal be the people's praise of you!
For glory fades, fame totters to a fall,

81. Wealth feels dividing hands, and palaces
Stand empty--or another wears their pall.

82. But grace and favor, yours all bounds exceed.
Yours is the liberality, thanks yield.

83. Ours what the rain clouds spend; and when they dole
Their treasure out, each word translates their yield.

84. The fairest-blooded mares were moved to hear
Your silver bits ring sweet civility,

85. Else never had they learned such seemly steps--
Their hooves keep time to stormy symphony.

86. Live long, and may your sword defend our faith,
Keen edged to bring the gospel's gathering host!

87. True merit still rewards encouraging;
And bounty welcomes most the noble ghosts

88. Of chiefs and warriors fallen before fate
But proved in action valiant and steadfast.

89. The fame our clan enjoyed in days gone by
Revives whenever glorious deeds amass,

90. As promises of bygone years come true.
My pilgrimage of hope leads to your door

91. That I might raise my head, and in good time
Regain lost happiness....

92. Raids threatened by ill chance have held me back,
Lest my slim manhood split in facing fear.

93. Grant me the eyes of peace; for warring now
Engrosses all, no heart can boast it clear.