1. A moon surpassing full moons in splendor
None can outshine his beauty from afar

2. Who is like him but the full moon yet he is
Like a branch enchanting the beholder’s eye

3. No fault in him but his watcher cannot bear
To blame him if blame should come to my door

4. I left him so all my gentle manners turned
To pride after my lowliness with him before

5. O beloved of my heart will you ever see
After estrangement the meeting as of yore

6. Who will give me your face, the homes we knew
And wealth with lasting favor free of blame

7. You blamed me for “perhaps” though if my body fails
To please you, blame my body, do not blame

8. You left me to the cups and cast at me the shaft
That found its destined mark and proved my bane

9. Woe to wakefulness since the beloved went
And home was lost to him after our union’s end

10. You were right to turn from me to others, turn
And be impartial once you crossed the line

11. To water your old pact, these tears were poured
Salt had they not been melted by the rain

12. Unite me, and my bitter tears will turn to
The dew of the most noble king, most excellent

13. The dew of the Exalted Rod and lineage pure
Whose glory blinds enviers with honors bright

14. A king consummate whom none equals, he
Perfected many great traits none perfected

15. He relates the sweet tales of grace with speech
Studded with his kindness and ornamented chains

16. He relates from Al-‘Abbas Isma‘il what only
Al-‘Abbas related from ‘Ali before

17. A lineage whose glory outshone Sa‘d’s brow
That blinded eyes with honor’s dangling swords

18. With mulct unparalleled in treasures collected
Never before assembled for a coming king

19. Might so awesome rocks stand soft before its force
Shielded by the calm that crumbled mountain walls

20. His famed miracles, if he wished, were like
His gifts, and he was called a saint for both

21. His dark brown blade they likened though its edge
Was never called as weak as “toothless”

22. It nearly blinded the foe with lightning blows
Speeding through the throngs in the clashing fray

23. O king who filled the world with secure shade
From his most impregnable reign’s dominion

24. Son of past kings, masters of bounty, resolve
And lofty power your glorious ancestry

25. The land is yours though none rose saying
Welcome O noble king of all who came

26. And people all your subjects gained under
Your abundant grace’s pouring cloud

27. God guard you with His subtle kindness
And your conquering troops’ open victory

28. My lord, I raised my case to you and judged
My quest would surely prosper in your charge

29. I came to you the first time but then left
When favor faded and humility failed

30. I left you though my thanks were inadequate
While my bags were full and I was filled

31. For I fell short in praising your sublime state
When it welcomed me with such greater good

32. And versified your rule in eulogies
Lest I live heedless in my days

33. I hope you grant me title to refute
Any foe’s ire and please my guardian king

34. That I gain both your bounty and delight
And my obligation be complete through zeal

35. No blame if I seek your bounty for myself
But blame me if I do not seek at all

36. It would be odd if I found myself unfit
For what I wish from you, so make me fit

37. Time is yours, command it and it hears, make
Its sons bow and bitter taste sweet

38. You ascend to the highest unmatched limit
And attain the most sublime through the Sublime