1. I fell passionately in love with the gazelles of ardour which emaciated me,
And I spent the night awake in the madness of passion which exhausted me,

2. And I was amazed that she reproached me for my aloofness,
While a young girl conveyed my secret into the open,

3. Let censure reach me as much as it wants, for I have
Surrendered my soul to longing and my body to sorrow,

4. If only those censurers knew what the lovers have suffered,
They would not slumber in their disdain,

5. O beauty asleep, arise and wonder at the strange things,
The likes of which have never been destined or existed before,

6. By despair, till it lies crippled with feebleness,
And he said: “Do not hide anything from me, for I know

7. What you conceal and hide,”
But I gave no answer except that tears flowed from my breast

8. And my sighs led them down my cheek,
Have mercy on me, I do not ask of you anything

9. Except to delight my eyes with your beautiful image,
What reason did the critic have to note my passion

10. And preserve it until he brought you idle talk?
Do not accept criticism of one like me, for every noble-natured youth

11. Is envied for his refined traits and slandered,
And people are the enemies of men of merit ever since

12. They were created, hastening to find fault from the start,
So there is no true friend who agrees on affection,

13. Nor trusted confidante who guards a secret,
Would that my soul’s caprices were a deceitful

14. Friend who could cheer my eye and ear!
I would purify my love for him and let passion dictate to him,

15. And expect what is right from him and hope he will last,
Alas! I seek a thing no living man can attain,

16. Even if he travelled from India to Yemen,
Gently, o ignorant brother! Let not what your eyes have seen

17. In this world of temptations lead you astray!
Consider this wilderness, and if you find in it anything

18. Other than what I have said, shun me and do not see me again!
I am the one who has learned of the days and had

19. Their secrets unfolded before me from every hidden place,
I have wandered the lands and tested mankind but have never

20. Rested my hopes on a friend nor inclined toward rest,
I was born free and am unsuited to behave humbly

21. Before kings or sell my honor for money,
I have no fault but that I have complained of

22. My fate, which advanced others before me and held me back,
And such is the way of the world! How strange

23. That I should see my torment in it and yet it pleases me,
The happiness which time brings is not equal

24. To the sadness that passes away,
Set out ahead of yourself if you are wise,

25. And be content with your living in your rough cloak,
Do not babble of selfish wants for in them lies

26. The evil of life and the efforts of envious destroyers,
And do not seek anyone's help in expectation

27. Until you are a prisoner of gratitude and obligation,
The best kind of life is one lived with ease,

28. Your clothes guarded from tatters,
And treat people with kindness, so if an injury occurs

29. Wrap it in good thoughts,
For forgiving some of the wrongs a noble man endures

30. Is a virtue that sends thanks winging without price,
This is the path, so if you stray from its law

31. You will lose yourself between pool and dung-heap,