1. O you who blame incessantly from dawn till dusk,
You blamed me for dwelling on those who vilified me,

2. Yet I did not decide to be their target.
Blame is more deserved by fate apart from you,

3. I see in it no pleasing companion.
How often did time show me before you one with whom

4. I was intimate, but he turned away.
I have always been forbearing of its failings,

5. Else, had it saddened me, I would be a fool.
If a friend had kept faith, and blackness of hair

6. Had visited my temples since I was a boy,
It would have kept away when I fell into error

7. In days when I was a wanton youth.
We asked for your loyalty but despaired

8. Of ever seeing from you a gentle gift.
We grew weary of your cures and realized

9. That within the ribs lies an internal wound.
It promises righteousness, then defaults.

10. When it appoints a day, it comes with evil ready.
You justified yourselves with a pretense of good

11. And left hidden the secret thoughts of your hearts.
So one tried by us will not repeat

12. His enemy's act however friendly.
Can I forget those who preserved honor

13. And were gentle to me long ago?
They warded blows off me and dammed

14. The day the unwanted befell me.
They stood between them and my enemies-

15. Both tall and glorious protectors.
How much their enemies afflicted them!

16. Yet they met blameless, pure repute.
Their way refutes the hostile speech

17. Or the slanderous tongue about them.
You see their promises and expenditures-

18. This meagre, that ample.
The strong man among them is weakened

19. At truth though mighty in battle.
You see him shameless in war's turmoil,

20. Yet modest in asking.
May God not favor me when their pact

21. No longer rages in my breast,
I am one who knows not to ride

22. A lofty, prancing horse,
And when part of earth lacks room for me

23. I move on quickly,
And when talk requires it, no word

24. Finds me at a loss.