1. Their desire wherever arms repose, doves nest,
And their resort wherever blood flows, springs well,

2. Below their goal, among them steeds fleet and mottled gray,
White swords and chestnut spears, stalwart and keen.

3. On the strong neck of each purebred in battle
As though the burden of spears from him hung pendant.

4. Long on us was his night with the sentinel stars
As though the souls' lamps were lofty poles.

5. It drew nigh so the pleiad for a tryst like the kindling
Of the evening fire and like the fawn gamboling.

6. By the red domes midst their lairs, their bases curved inwards,
Among them the Pleiades were hemmed in marvelously.

7. Veiled is Layla though the bow shone not at dusk
Nor screened the sun of daybreak the high risings.

8. On her a grace from the boughs of the full moon
And in it a subtlety from the tender branch,

9. Her wrap wanders upon a meadow green
And beneath the silks her anklets gleam.

10. And the night we reached the sandy hill for an appointment
The Pleiades deserted it as the fire deserted the wood.

11. The flowing of tears gently effaced their traces
From the cheek, numbered like the Pleiades declining.

12. Your camp, where have you alighted? For your light gleams
And your perfume wafts and your trinkets dangle.

13. You have aroused the quarter and the steed is eager
Your streamer flutters and your night is departing.

14. How then did you hurry past in dread? Your pace reeled,
Your train swayed and your side bent.

15. My friend, whenever I tried for union
Desire thwarted that, nothing else intervened.

16. I find rest when the breath blows northerly
As though a wrap were swinging the Pleiades.

17. Strayed passion in the noble throng has persisted
And love twisted where sorrows are feared.

18. As though in the favors of Mohammed the faithful
There were no sympathizer and in his pair of hands no busyness,

19. I gleam when we smell the clouds of his munificence
A cheek dimples and fingers begin to shine.

20. It heralds the attainment of abundant rain, his face,
And before the morning what steeds are saddled!

21. By him gardens for traits subtle and beautiful
In which for bounty run rivulets.

22. Gentle, so what is that generosity? A fleeting mirage?
And kind, so what are those cords? Mere ropes?

23. The chief of guile that his schemes should strike his foe
When his hordes strike not, amazing!

24. For not by his will that sword of resolution
Nor higher than a peerless archer his arrow of prudence.

25. O people of glory, you have lived in utmost bliss
For were it not for you, life would have no cause.

26. You have excelled the kings in topmost merit
You champions are the staves of one spear.

27. If few in the kin of time be your number
Then rare are stars though the sky be mother.

28. Your ransom is one whom if ambitions embolden
To vie with your glory, time will belie him.

29. From them deeds of virtue are ostentation
Since evil is innate, they have no transporter from it.

30. So if their morals are cloaked in false piety
Then every gray beard, decidedly will show white.

31. Goodness is due to you - I say without neglect -
But who can attain all that you accomplish?

32. By your dwelling the cheeks' bloom and what throngs resort
For not in them did that host halt and lodge in vain.

33. You would pardon them, since prolonged their stay
When the burdened pardons the overburdened.

34. The zephyrs of amiability you poured fresh
And pellucid the water of righteousness flows.

35. Not but adamant among them the will
To you sincere of heart and body departing.

36. Their surety to prefer over them praise of you
Among the throngs abundant and streaming.

37. Hearing them is a necklace threading together fair traits
Adorning a cheek which time had stripped bare.

38. By it hopes gleam, the darkness flees
And by it the horizon and land are dyed verdant.

39. Congratulations for the feast day whereby
The dawn glowed through you and the roots anchored.

40. It greeted you with glad tidings and hailed you with desire
So greet it - thousands - another of your years' cycle.

41. If the fasting month flows by, after it
Will run deeds righteous that you enact.

42. You saw fulfilling the duty as binding
So you were not pleased till supererogations accompanied it.

43. You clove to God's house out of love for being its neighbor
To you doubly requited may God be guarantee.

44. You abandoned for it the abode which you inhabited
So sincere love of you would grow into a habit.

45. For if lands would transmit you time and again
The shining orb has transmitted the stages.

46. Behold all other hope but in you is isolated
And every praise if not in you, invalid.

47. To the pillar of the faith, who but you lofts?
And the standard of the realm, but you upholds?

48. You secured me from the fears I dread
And attained me the hopes I anticipate.

49. I find my mind like the angry, wrathful sword
For it a furbisher in your wisdom, polishing.

50. And poetry is not of what I claim, so desist!
But the virtues move me to speak.

51. You remain as your glories remain
Forever, while life is like the vanishing shadow.

52. For the perfected self what but eternity can we seek
Beyond, when you are the epitome of perfection?