1. The passionate lover deserves to plead for mercy,
And to accept what the coquettish beauty deems acceptable.

2. So do not rebuke her if she acts coyly, but ask
When her own soul consents and shows mercy to captives.

3. And if my intoxication is prolonged, then pardon me, for I
Drank in the fragrance of basil where wine did flow.

4. By my soul, Layla's mouth and waist
Are delicate, but her heart resembles solid rock.

5. She is cruel, and I fear that if I complain she will melt
From the heat of my sighs, so arm yourself with patience.

6. I fell for her gazelle-like eyes, and her crescent mole parted
The new moon, and her cheeks the gazelle's, and the full moon's light.

7. And I treasured in my heart the lines of her promises,
But she never treasured in loyalty a single line.

8. She listened to my excuses―may Allah banish her home
And banish from her opinions the rejection and estrangement.

9. So she rose up for my war and consulted features
That guaranteed her, despite me, victory and triumph.

10. And she unleashed from her glances against me swords
That made me certain she is the greatest sedition.

11. And I had thought the mole a nightingale in the garden
Approaching those in it to pick up pearls.

12. But when I saw the branch bent over it
And the rose of her cheek marched with a red banner,

13. I realized the mole was a leader of an army
Approaching those within to seek orders.

14. And I said to her, "O lady of the mole, differ from
Our foolish coquettes and seize the reward."

15. "And console the garden of beauty whose flowers wilt,
For you will soon arrive at a time to pluck the blossoms.

16. We wish for purity within it, so it will fade like purity
And seek, in the prime of youth, a dowry for it."

17. "For then the white pearls will not be possible
Nor the milk of the bird, O successor of flowers."

18. "And if the pearls of my tearful eyes do not please you
For an hour's union you will gain gratitude."

19. "So we will leave Damascus' land and gain blessing
In the grace of accord that filled Egypt."

20. "Her guide turned religiously devout, and we found, O companions,
A kingdom greater and more tolerant than Chosroes'."

21. "I became the beloved of the eye under his banner.
I come to it above the Pleiades and create poetry."

22. "And I praise the king in whose right hand
The world congratulates us and we fill it with good news."

23. "For it is but the kindness that pours
Paper and gold onto its people."

24. "And it is the greatest exemplar,
The most generous, most united, and most righteous."

25. "Of the noblest lineage, the dearest father,
The purest mantle, and the sweetest fragrance."

26. "His swords rip open the skulls of villains
While his kindness opens wide the chest."

27. "So if the heavens were under his right hand
And he reached out to them while unwell, he would pull them."

28. "He is accustomed to not depriving a servant if he attains him
When needy, and to not leaving free man deprived."

29. "And that goodness is not considered good if it is plenty
Yet leaves a youth in the world who knows evil."

30. "Through him God had mercy on the lands, brought joy to
His servants, gave it security and pride."

31. "And He drove away the wrongdoers whose attack
Watchdogs witnessed behind them eagles."

32. "They saw the moon of accord above his forehead
Shining, and from his past they sought victory."

33. "And around him the white of faces as though they were
Angels of a full moon the day it fought disbelief."

34. "So they soon left the hill behind them
And deserted the Bedouin alone entering the monastery."

35. "The banner of humiliation protected him from the flames of calamity
And he was more deserving of any vileness."

36. "Had the ill-omened followed his king's command
He would have walked away and not become a captive."

37. "So many sandals of horses dragged a troop of scorpions
That flowed into the sea that destroyed them."

38. "And a troop of snakes like them living in swamps
And another more wretched than them living in graves."

39. "To uproot the people of corruption from evil
And distance them from what angers the fruitful king."

40. "To you, O father of the righteous and son of her pillar
I have picked from poetry, shamed by the Pleiades."

41. "Perhaps you would grant it a glance of goodness
That would allow its guide to gain joy and pride."

42. "So he would pride himself to have become your servant at your door
And pardon himself for having spent his life in your service."

43. "And one like you who is praised truthfully
Will remain forever, O successor of flowers."