1. Indeed Layla, where her lions dwell
Is a beauty guarded by lions in her pastures

2. A Yemeni, she draws near and her shrine grows distant
The near and far in love are equal for the passionate and the remote

3. When we visit her, a rebel lion rises
Mighty, we cannot attain, the unmatched single one

4. The throng of horsemen blocks her familiar path
While horses prance towards their goal, detached

5. Young men, for whom disgrace is too much to bear
Grey-haired yet passionate, refractory and unruly

6. A determined father or impetuous brother
Past griefs awakened or a resilient hero

7. No valour in the fierce, sharp-clawed one
Nor any abasement in the mildly swimming graceful one

8. In the red tent amid their domed dwellings
A girl like the full moon drawing near its blessing

9. The delight of a flock, neither bustard nor ostrich desired
Neither partridge nor deer, but only the smoothly sliding

10. She sways, her cheek becomingly covered by her mantle
However much people scorn her bejewelled neck

11. When the secret of the veiled one is guarded
The bright and dark stars forget their appointed times

12. She has helpers promising her a visitation
My night companions forget their promise

13. Dear to them that her image return
So that an aspiring lover attain what he hopes for in life

14. It is agony enough that union is slow in coming
Prolonging the torment of the lover and consuming his passion

15. The north wind will convey to her our greeting
Carried on the sighs of the south wind in answer

16. Neither has the familiarity between us been forgotten
Despite our long separation, nor has our pact been broken

17. If, in truth, success belongs to the persevering
The song of perseverance is not sweet unless the strain is true

18. The tranquil attains his wishes and the troubled his misery
Since such is his nature, drudgery and toil

19. The days, though they give kindness at one time
Intent on error at another, and purposed is their malice

20. Beware being fooled by any kind aspect thereof
For in every valley of its pitfalls lies bliss

21. But for the lions, the hunting of the glorious house of Jahwar
When would one who transgresses upon it find any to combat?

22. Kings whose sides we have worn smooth in their coils
As supple as worn linen, knotted us in captivity

23. Where the shelter of safety spreads its shade
And in the spring of life are refreshment and coolness

24. They are the bright-faced ones, whose countenances
Shine, and by them are gladdened eyes with cataracts

25. Nobles who stretch out their palms to those who seek them
When numbered, lines of poetry praise them

26. Remote from the attainment of the present, yet intimate in attaining favour
When their character is mentioned, even the roses feel shame

27. He glows, so the heavens of his generosity rain down
Gifts of hopes from its regions poured forth

28. He passes gently by those hostile to him, while for his loved ones
Even bitter aloes are sweet as honey flavoured with meadowsweet

29. If a sinner confesses, he pardons with the pardon of the All Powerful
Sublime is his worth that he not be embroiled in rancour

30. His mildness could contain even arrogance unleashed
As a pillar of the arrogant, if enumerated, would be listed

31. He has a steely resolve gentled by tranquility
As the sword's blade is tempered, yet its edge made keen

32. Leaving management to the idea's consideration
If a spark should flash in the mind, even flint would ignite

33. His arm embraces what Fate may bring, expansive
And of a reach to gain him glory, outstretched

34. When the praisers exaggerate in praise of him
The most lofty sentiments fall short of sufficient tribute to his generosity

35. He is the divinely guided King, his rule
O excelling in the hidden and the manifest!

36. Godfearing, God-conscious, God-reliant and God-strengthened
His commendable nature, his pleasing temperament

37. His exemplary conduct and moderation
When the best jewel adorns the necklace

38. In its links outweighs family honour and pedigree
A leader of the noble sons, eminently gifted

39. To whom, if counted, lines of poetry pay tribute
Far transcending the present state, yet intimately attaining favour

40. If his virtues are mentioned, even the flowers are shamed
He brings prosperity, so the heavens of his support rain down

41. Gifts of hopes from its regions liberally poured
He who harmed us, if we prosper, it is thanks to them

42. Like kohl on the eyelids, consoling us for his absence
Is it not Abu'l Hazm whose endeavours were fruitful?

43. He saw clearly our confusion, discerning the right path
How foolish of us to be abased, now that

44. A resting place has judged against us, and the cradle laments
He girded himself until the clouds of sedition cleared

45. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled from it
Greetings to him who was always prepared for war

46. And farewell to him who was unmistakably the opposite
His tracks are praiseworthy - when he is remembered

47. The noblest aspirations are examined and glory discerned
He has gone - were it not for Muhammad succeeding him

48. The necks of the freeborn would have been trodden under the feet of slaves
He is the King, his rule a inheritor from his father

49. Transmitting what was exemplary in his ancestors
His excellent character, his pleasing temperament

50. His ideal conduct and his policy of moderation
When the best jewel adorns the necklace

51. In its links, noble lineage gains advantage
A protector, if the ornament of humankind were removed

52. There would scarcely remain one to repel aggression
Yesterday he strengthened Islam through valour

53. Gaining for himself abundant reward, never counted
He made lawful the sacred precincts of wicked wine

54. So that no limit be transgressed upon the sanctuary of religion
And freed it from Egypt, an obligation

55. That even unyielding stone can barely acquit in gratitude
It is corruption - removed from them a benefactor

56. Renowned of hand - no denial of his kindness
Suspected in sins and the mother of grave transgressions

57. Beyond reckoning its meagre benefits
Seeing its scant profit an augmentation

58. Since satisfying compensation comes only from Your bestowal
Wealthy, so his confidence is in God - his wealth being

59. The aid of God surrounds him as an army
How excellent are the words of righteousness the youth memorises

60. Reciting their prose wherever prose is found
It penetrated the ears of the lovely ones and

61. They visualised an image whose beauty is never lost to eternity
Ears quickened so pebbles became scattered pearls

62. And soil became ambergris and flowers
In the blooms of the garden, glad tidings of him

63. And in the fragrances of musk, delegations came from his perfume
My life ransom! Though I speak, I am yet absent

64. In the facets of a soul whose measure You have yet to determine
Desires wounded like yearning without attainment presented themselves

65. So for what issued from it, there was no evading
Does one forgetful and heedless like me, memory lost and squandered

66. Like a neglected sword, made rusty in its sheath?
Never! For fate has been brought low in its severity

67. So grant that which we hope comes to pass
I am the sword whose repute rings true when brandished

68. If the famed Hind sword rings true when drawn
You began with a favour newly plucked-if continued

69. Then renewal of favour is meet for first favour
By your life, it is not wealth I seek, but a condition:

70. If I wear the garb of its beauty, its signs being praise
Witnessed by rhymes, what was pure between us, accept them

71. For what deception in witnesses who taste the nectar?
May a friend whose secret and open are in accord attain satisfaction