1. Does the lightning flash on the horizon herald rain,
Sprinkling the desert plain with flowers like stars?

2. Or are the white camels of the noble pilgrims returning,
Bearing twins after their long pregnancy?

3. My two friends, if you will not let fall for me a tear,
I will give you a weeping heart and streaming eyes.

4. My flowing tears have soaked my gown,
As though I plunged into a raging sea.

5. I wrestle with an anguish in my heart, as if
I wrestled with a snake spewing venom.

6. My two friends, how I wrap my ribs around a passion,
And hide a secret in my soul, closely guarded!

7. How often my eyelids well with tears unshed
And my mouth waters, like a bird’s above its prey!

8. Of what use, after the fires of passion subside,
Is life to me? By your lives I implore you -

9. Stay this lightning flashing fever!
They cast down a mighty palace to the ground,

10. Demolishing a mighty and majestic edifice.
Not one man destroyed it. No, it was a whole people's pride

11. Laid low and vanished like a mirage at noon.
The moon of dynasty fell down to earth

12. And heaven and earth shook mightily.
The Pleiades shone purely white now that

13. The full moon and stars appeared together.
A hero who does not fear death looming

14. Will smile when death frowns hideously.
When the fray grows fierce and the lion springs

15. With murderous paws, who can tell the two apart?
In battle fury and fighting skill

16. He outdoes the lion, though the king is nobler.
He turns from baseness one who would defile him,

17. Deeming the spite of fools a fate decreed.
Had they not sued for peace, he would not stay

18. His war on the tyrants till they sued for peace.
With his spear he pierced them in mortal blows

19. And his sword passed judgment on them swiftly.
As long as the morning star shines in the sky,