1. The pangs of love are stirred by separation's wind,
And nearer than nearness is the barrier of disdain.

2. My tears refuse to flow save when their passions pour forth,
And then my hidden feelings openly explain.

3. The eyes' tears in rebellion against patience' rule
Are treason 'gainst their Lord when endurance fails its role.

4. Never can the days of sadness from Mutammim cease
If even for a moment fails his love the least accord.

5. You chide me to show patience, while itself impatient,
And upbraid me in my sickness, though itself the cause.

6. As your eyes perforce must suffer sorrow's wakefulness,
So also my body bears the long night's restless laws.

7. When Hind makes a promise, her bounty makes it two,
And those who seek her favors find them manifold.

8. Her anklet is too narrow for her, and her bracelet
From her soft flesh is dragged by violence uncontrolled.

9. If she in darkness hides, her beauty and her graces,
The musk, the scent, the ambergris, her secrets still betray.

10. Each day her nature shows some further coquetry
Which like a burning coal amid the bosom's folds she'll lay.

11. Unlike myself, I find no shame in nakedness,
Bewitched am I by curling locks and soft cheeks' youthful sheen.

12. When I attempt achievement which the days and fortunes bar,
I stand alone, while other men successful bands convene.

13. And he whom high ambition leads to seek renown
Is ne'er by common effort taught his powers' level mean.

14. Since arbitrary Fortune cast o'er me her dice,
My life has ne'er been free from trouble or from hate.

15. When bold events run counter to my will, they split
Asunder, while the routed seeks a gloomy fate.

16. How oft I've marched alone, no other aid relying
On than my heart's resolve, nor caring for ally.

17. And oft I boldly rise all obstacles to face,
Yet boldness profits not when effort finds no ready key.

18. For me were opened wide all strange and secret doors
Behind whose walls most men shy terror bids them flee.

19. He who knows well his fellowmen of any age
Will trust them ne'er to keep safe guard on aught for thee.

20. Whene'er they speak of friendship, fawning and humility,
Their hearts breed only wars and lips spill calumny.

21. Take no revenge upon thy foes, and waste no blame
On envious men; the equal still seeks war with peer.

22. Some portion of my strength for my desires I keep
Lest striving profit not the struggler without end.

23. I care not for men's censure, my repute to guard,
Except from those I love and cherish for a friend.

24. My king, scholar and prince no equal can appraise
Or count the bounty showered on me from his hands.

25. Though seas of mild beneficence his actions fill,
No lightning flash or thunder in his bosom stands.

26. With wisdom he divines the inner facts of things
Ere they take form, or envious fortunes strand their wings.

27. No rein restrains his bounty's steed from wealth's attack
What time the meed of honor spurs its flanks to speed.

28. When stranger guests attend him, next day may be found
His threshold void, while his late hosts new largesse feed.

29. Clouds of his bounty over us continually pour,
But from these clouds no lightning flashes, no loud thunder roars.

30. I've seen his sharp intelligence, and sure
The cub takes on the nature that the lion bore!

31. In manners he appears a Hussain; but the child
Follows the ancestry and not the sire, we hold.

32. In genius he surpasses, and in taste and grace of speech and song
No mortal standard measures where his glories rolled.

33. The deaf through hearing him gain hearing; and the blind,
Sight, when his face gives wounded eyes their health restored.

34. The sun has lent him all its splendor for his own,
While valiant lions bow to give their hearts up to his sword.

35. He cares not though his hand grasp nothing when flies forth
His standard, if unsullied by the dust remains his word.

36. You seem not to allow your soul to take its rest
If wealth drops not some jewel daily in your breast

37. You care not though your bread be stone if you've attained
The heights of glory where no fear lest stumblings shake your crest.

38. Were not the soul to undergo each toil and pain,
In dignity the slave would equal then the lord in strain.

39. Long hid my nature 'neath the verse's cloak;
None guessed my power till you aroused my rage;

40. As warriors hide the sword blade in its sheath
Till off the peace chains slip and war stalks on the stage-

41. So verse restrained my genius till you brought
Those visions which unlocked the gift the world had never taught.

42. Then all who journeyed stopped their tents beside my stream;
He who has seen your face takes life new hope and dream!

43. With eulogy my song your noble name adorns
And mounts the mighty peak or threads the path forlorn.

44. To not all men does admiration graceful pose
As every chain suits not the necklace ruby red.

45. O friend, for your sake I can face the pointing finger ;
I tear away the seals that hide affections born of love.

46. Grudge not that you have won my love entire and whole
For one so high and noble well may claim friends true and bold.

47. I've seen how patience conquers wrath however justly moved,
How forgiveness ever wreathes your lips though fault you prove.

48. Requital you deny when faulty ones implore
Who when repent, your pardon find and promises of more.

49. You hide your hands' fair favors, though life by them we hold;
But to the noble heart denial's ways are ever cold.

50. If some forgotten your gifts, still your noble soul
Forgets not mercy's rights by honor's sterile code!

51. You quiver like drawn bowstring at praise divine,
As though a hero's hand for battle raised the sign.

52. God grant you peace forever, while the light
Flashes or longing hovers o'er the road of night!