1. Beyond you my bliss was illusory; so cease to blame me,
Though formerly the fault was mine.

2. Had I not obeyed the command of the eyes,
The appointed hour would not have judged my fate.

3. The charms of enchanting youth and the self-display of adolescence
Are like the hopes and expectations of the dead.

4. The figure of the slender, soft and bashful youth
Equals in its seductiveness the figure of the rod that is bent double.

5. Do not deny that his glances have captivated my heart,
His flanks that cling together and his heavy thighs.

6. My heart is courageous in love; its nature
Is to love the valleys of swords and level spaces.

7. It yearns for bloodshed; heavily laden does it bear
The hem of the garment, knotted with anklets.

8. I love him, indifferent and slow though he be to my passion,
For 'tis the nature of love to love the niggardly and the slow.

9. Death in its attributes is hidden from me,
And poison lies unseen in what gives joy.

10. He comes hastening by night, clad in a robe of darkness,
Like the sun robed in clouds like infants' swaddling-bands.

11. He cries aloud to me while I weep, engrossed
With expectations from his kisses.

12. Passion stretches out my hands to the folds of his sides;
But bewildered, they cannot find the way to wander.

13. Had I not been distraught I would have sipped until my thirst was slaked
From his spittle the drafts that loose the knot of anguish.

14. Every cheek pressed to his in the night alarms me, save my own,
And naught have I beyond pressing cheek to cheek!

15. No stranger enters the temple of my heart to take its place;
It is filled by my lord and all apart from him seem vile.

16. His neck have rendered other slim ones needless for amorous embraces,
And makes the neighing arrows redundant and obsolete.

17. My blood flowed freely while spears were held back from the fray,
And swords were still sheathed and sneaking in their cases.

18. Patience deserted me while passion made ready (for the sport);
My means failed me and eyes of murky hue were analytic.

19. I weep to him who laughs, act crazy to a reasonable man, complain of love
To one indifferent to it and seek aid of the helpless.

20. But my companion is like a shooting star to whose resolution
My own aspires, knowing nor turning tail nor fleeing the stress of harm.

21. He lowers his eyes for grief and smiles at him who shows no feebleness;
He brought me low, but he surpassed me in courtesy shown to the noble.

22. His fangs bit deep into the boss while from ugly words
And uncomely deeds his mouth was kept as free as his sword from rust.

23. How many a year has he suppressed privily while restraining his hands publicly from foul work!
How many a cleavage has he repaired!

24. Royal authority is forbidden territory to me, a sanctuary
Consecrated- no wayfarer may tread its soil!

25. His prudence fortified him. Well fortified
Was he then against the glance of deadly eyes with antimony!

26. Now meeting the foe headlong, now using gentleness and procrastination,
Descendant in the male line of the Pavilions of Heaven and the mighty Kings of Nafil.

27. More generous than a rain-shower, more penetrating than an arrow,
More firmly rooted in minds than mountains.

28. Succor of the desolate places, rain-clouds of meadows and sand,
Wealth despising the channels cut to bring water from the hills.

29. When the sword is drawn he joys in the struggle as lovers
Joy in talk of love and amatory verse.

30. He has raised the Banner of Greatness and strengthened its Guy-ropes
Over the abject foe with snub nose and wind-beaten hair.

31. He preserved its reputation and saved it from the clutch of crookedness and instability,
While men compare him to the clouds, and no flashing lightning can equal him

32. Save the flashing blades. He feeds it like the well-guided Camel,
Hurling at high-placed objects, swerving neither to right nor to left.

33. He performs feats before which its achievements pale,
So bounteous he in gifts and bounty.

34. When he recites poetry, he that hears him takes delight like lovers
Hearkening to cooings of love and graces of seduction.

35. Safe with him from the tricks of Time, greeted here with peace undying
Till the appointed Day! How many gifts doubly bestowed,

36. Hope exceeded by gifts showered on me oer hill and plain!
Fair favours surpassing camphor itself and fresh bay leaves!