1. She gave me an aged wine, a potent brew,
When dawn had cast off its cloak at daybreak’s hue.

2. She came by night all radiant, circling round,
So intimacy revolved, where she was found.

3. When the cupbearer brought it by night,
The night returned at that moment daylight.

4. A goblet parts the darkness like a flame,
As though a fire were kindled in the night’s gloom.

5. She made the wine for us a bridal draught,
And wreaths were what the wine cups brought.

6. Passion crowns her with Khusraw’s diadem,
When she is wed, clad in a bracelet’s gem.

7. Before she’s mixed you’d think her ruby wine,
Mixed, she is like the brightest star that shine.

8. She made our melancholy cares to cease,
And put to flight whatever she brought of peace.

9. The temperate learnt repentance thro' her power,
For passion raging rampant in their heart.

10. O how many joys have made me weep, since we
Estranged them, driving away the revelry!

11. My youth excuses my intoxication,
A lover who could never show moderation.

12. How excellent this wine is from the hands
Of a fair cupbearer, like the moon's bright bands.

13. By my life that graceful sprig I do adore,
Though he affect aloofness evermore.

14. Where is the roe beside these glances' lure?
Who vies in turning with such flirt demure?

15. She glanced, and with her eyes' intoxication
Set aflame a heart through fascination.

16. Fair one, how sweetly she torments her lover,
Who cannot find in her rigor recovery.

17. I'll ne’er forget that morn of drinking, when
Her gaze and cheek were drunk without wine's bane.

18. O healer of the sickness of my eye,
Wounded by fervor, incurable its scar.

19. My heart is broken, like your glance's blow.
Both croon their breaking, beyond healing's scope.

20. My love for you was never by my choice;
Passion allows not optional voice.

21. Those revels now are past, those heat is over,
But should youth come again, I shall recover.

22. By life! I shall remember well the days
Of play we squandered, howso brief their phase.

23. I left off verse when sorrow donned on me
Its robes, and made my days its livery.

24. But for my praise of our lord Ali,
I ne’er had shown my skill in poesy.

25. Noblest of nobles in repute is he,
Loftiest, and purest pedigree.

26. Tend'rest of heart he is to the distressed,
Quickest of all men to every good behest.

27. Open of hand, no peer in liberality,
A sea of bounty, boundless his facility.

28. The great look to his height, and see themselves
As small beside his splendor’s magnitude.

29. He left behind the lofty in degree,
Nor in the heights had any kin with he.

30. The clouds made war on him, but he was brighter
Of hand than they, and vaster in his might.

31. How oft, when rain has failed us in the year,
Has he from bounty sent us moisture sheer?

32. How oft, when straitened in the days, have I
Found ease through him, and seen abundant supply?

33. In his munificence we hope have sown,
And through his fortune's sun rich harvests grown.

34. How many a virgin treasure reserved
Has he revealed to men, a prize unserved, -

35. Degrading what his hands did most esteem,
Exalting one as low to height supreme?

36. Are you not in truth the people of the line
Excelling ever in your birth divine?

37. On you the verses of the Book did first alight,
And that suffices you for pride and light.

38. You are the pillar of this faith erect,
And for the seeker you its course direct.

39. You were rewarded for mankind entire,
Chosen, selected out from all their choir.

40. By my life you are the noble scions sprung
From Hashim, granting refuge when implored.

41. Firm is your hand upon misfortune's hilt,
Swiftest of all to draw it from its tilt.

42. The poetry in us flows from your vein;
We declaim it to your glory clear and plain.

43. Our themes are garlands that around you twine,
As sweet as any gracing concubine.

44. We've robed ourselves in eulogies to you,
Too costly to be borrowed or sold anew.

45. Its fragrance in each assembly is diffused,
As the spring wind has Najd’s meadows strewed.

46. Still may your days be feast days without end,
Never in Fortune’s Wealth a dearth portend!