1. Every love is unsound unless purified by tribulation.
Had the assayers not helped it with fire,

2. Its silver would have remained hidden from them.
By God, I have never revealed a singular love,

3. But love alloyed with passion.
And indeed I was jealous to see

4. One day, around another's neck, a charm.
And I wanted to turn desire away from myself out of jealousy,

5. Though you are faithful, and I am compelled to you.
And I blamed your generosity though the slanderers impugned you,

6. And after blaming, I had no argument.
More harmful than one who throws you aspersions is a sincere backbiter

7. In what he says, though falsehood from him is allowable.
And indeed I fled - does one flee out of fear

8. Of a benefactor from whom no sin has occurred?
But a matter I wanted clear remained obscure

9. When it was obscure, so suspicion would leave me.
And I wanted you to know, though my affair is in my hands,

10. That fidelity to purpose is my quality.
And my knowledge of your worth remained

11. Such that no other's worth had value to me.
It is not that I wish to turn from you if I am hidden, and I have

12. No desire in any but you, even if he is affectionate.
He turns his cheek towards the mirage, seeing in his eyes

13. The fresh waters between them.
That the waves strike both its edges?

14. They said, "Come!" But I said, "None other than you
Made me stumble, because of your levity."

15. I was not - though seventy years had trained me -
Of those who have every white old and fat.

16. I deemed none of them worthy to satisfy my want,
And want makes lawful the forbidden.

17. And I did this considering myself - I have no claim
But you have a boon upon me.

18. And your call, "Come," so sometimes he stands for me
With a wedding night that would violate my honor.

19. By God, without him my dwellings are so gloomy
Their emptiness is painful solitude.

20. So your call is like rain one time shunning us
And visiting times again, and we forget the time.

21. Upon you a thousand greetings - thus,
Thus, thus multiplied.