1. My eyes, unlike the eyes of other sleepers,
The sleepless lover finds no rest or peace.

2. My heart, do not accept the blame of critics,
For never have I spoken ill of my love.

3. O friends, let's drink to keep our pact intact,
A binding pact, not one we soon forsake.

4. Greet Life with joy, who greeted us with concord,
While Life remains, that greeter stays awake.

5. Recall the nights when, loving, we feared no envier,
Repaid our love-debts, heedless of dawn's break.

6. The callers to grace called out "Greetings!" at our meet,
Your faces were the bright stars daybreak makes.

7. My bond with you was weakened by our parting;
You broke with me, though I kept faith intact.

8. I watched the horizon, thinking you were stars there,
Had you but moved, not stationary like rocks.

9. Now lost to me, my yearning is ceaseless,
Strange that the longing's mine, yet you don't ache!

10. You blamed me when we parted, though I'm guiltless,
None envies me but those who envy make.

11. My love, will you accept, though doom is harsh,
My long defence? — in days where trust is wrecked.

12. I tell you my endurance and my weeping
Have not sufficed with loss's wounds unstaunched.

13. Take pity on my plaint, now fate is bitter.
Be my support, give me your hand outstretched.

14. Awaiting ease after hardship, God has promised me,
His word is truest pledge that can be pledged.

15. If doom looms long, I say: such greatness comes
With love, as all who love in time detect.

16. My heart bears grief and pain but overflows with anguish,
My eyes weep even as my hands attack.

17. I stir good fortune with intent, though low;
Calm my soul, though lofty cares distract.

18. No helper I see, saving my lord,
Noblest branch of root most noble, of stock

19. Whose fame gushed forth, and made hard rock weep water,
As his might smashed all obstacles counterfeit.

20. He brought awe and glory to mankind, like pouring rain
With lightning raging, and loud thunder's blast.

21. He stretched his generous hand to each mean detractor,
Yet his sublime glory made each critic fall short.

22. No flaw in his generosity, save binding necks
Of all humanity with necklaces he passed.

23. Ordering meaning's pearls to form his attributes,
And gathering glories into strands amassed.

24. Qais's passion in Hatem's mildness combined,
Patience of Son of Qais in Khalid's courage clasped.

25. He builds his household on the highest principles,
As did Ismail when he laid down the foundations.

26. His pen, with its ink aplenty, enriches Time
Or quells the enemy's deceitful plots forecast.

27. It exhales its scent, is plucked, makes hearts dance, spears
The foe — a stick whose every aspect casts amazement.

28. For his brown beauty residing in my heart I fixed
My gaze; for his bright beauty I made my eyelids fast.

29. True were the promises his gifts made us;
Ismail's wont is to keep vows forecast.

30. A thousand seeking hands were blessed at his doors
With words like scintillating stars amassed.

31. After him, earth's kings were belittled;
To hawks, prey seemed not worth the chase.

32. To you, O Prince of Muslims, I send these verses,
Weaving my gratitude through twining threads entwined.

33. For many a gift I've had from your auspices,
When fate assaulted me and my hands dropped down weak.

34. My praises fell short of their stretching limits,
While my eulogies exaggerated their towering height.

35. Whether excellent or faulty my poems may be,
Be for me, in both cases, the best of all critics.

36. O my supreme pillar, of whom I've heard
From trusted sources, gifts like buttresses;

37. Of might in war I've related truthful accounts,
From a generous, intrepid man whose help avails.

38. My plaint has ceased since I began praising you;
For many a gift awaits me from your hand outheld.

39. Let your gifts rain on one who seeks their rainfall,
While you're the singular king, of glorious stock.

40. Live as protector of the faith, best smoother
Of the way for God or foe of the obstinate.

41. You remain to defend the lofty, excellent champion,
You endure to refine the beautiful, most graceful guide.