1. You are the highest example, while for the liar there is disgrace,
Which time makes revolve around him for what he has said,

2. And you become happy with the words of enemies in their contrary,
When they come out falsely, doom is made ready for them,

3. They are claimants who utter a saying, yet they own nothing
Against the ugliness of what its consequences will reap, patience,

4. Is their day a day when the sun is eclipsed?
And their night a night when the full moon is obscured?

5. The wickedness of their saying does not target one side,
Rather it makes the stomach and back suffer,

6. So it stirred up the dust, yet no plants took root,
And it covered the greenery, so no droplets sprang forth,

7. Is there, from the Protector's jealousy over you, a punishment
That pours upon the aggressor, and the righteous pray through it?

8. And in you there is clemency, sin is easy in the face of it,
Though the path is hard for the one who brings it, the rugged ship,

9. Perhaps kindness will dissuade you and cool
The heat of what the nymphs have fabricated against your right,

10. People are nothing but what you know, so they are all
Either a dolt, no matter their taste, it is bitter,

11. Unless their bitterness is sweetened with amiability,
Whoever wears them out drinks it in, and they are cheap,

12. While you, as you are, are the most merciful intercessor,
Skillful in making excuses for them when excuses run out,

13. So had you sought a ruling regarding judgment upon them,
And the answer was referred back to you, you would have said it is reward,

14. Since you are inclined to pardon, the one who
Seeks to destroy you, his comfort is fruitless,

15. And had you wished, wrath would be in the place of pleasure,
And the whites and blacks would rise to your command,

16. The slender steeds would have stormed toward them,
Blowing like the north wind after the dawn came forth,

17. Upon them are the youths, every trained one
For your order a slave, and if you prohibit him, he is free,

18. Accustomed to holding back from rage and pleasure,
It is equal to him in desire, whether the stranger or friend,

19. When he is determined, he does not hope for retreat, and if he attacks,
His blow lands squarely, and his strike penetrates,

20. There, your challenger does not desire confrontation,
And the fleer is not prevented by his face from fleeing,

21. And you heal a resentment that was not raging against you,
But the guest of evil, his honoring is the honoring of man,

22. Since the best of creation has for you an exemplar
By which grudges disappear and breasts relax,

23. For God honored the Beloved with its like,
Then made you succeed him in authority,

24. So nothing painful remained thereafter,
And after it land and sea submitted to him,

25. How many gifts come whose essence is clear,
And others have over them from your honored position a veil,

26. And how many hints are cast for their outward murkiness,
And play tricks on minds when the murkiness is lifted,

27. Like your banishing me during the prime of Fitr when
The poem was late from me in keeping pace with you,

28. You were gracious in honoring my worth by placing it,
Deceiving from an angle the heedless,

29. So the shallow of mind thought you had humiliated me,
And that I had for you no value or wine,

30. And the poor fellow did not know that through this
For all who understand verse, the pride is mine,

31. For had I not been the conceited one, there would not have flowed
Upon me from al-Mansur in his words the divine decree,

32. And how great between one who comes seeking righteousness,
And one whom righteousness grows up seeking,

33. Neither was al-Baz imprisoned for his lowliness,
Nor was Bulbul al-Adwah cheapened by captivity,

34. So this one’s virtues shine clearly before eyes,
While the other by his eloquence casts a spell on ears,

35. Nor was my leaving off verse due to any suspicion,
After my sincerity, would betrayal be assigned to me?

36. But indeed I directed rhymes toward you
Whose themes are my love and their loads gratitude,

37. My love was not by my choice, but rather
Whoever discerns your traits is compelled to love,

38. Upon you hearts’ affections rushed,
As around the House of God pilgrims gather,

39. For you are their magnet, and if imagined
For the spirits among them space would be tight,

40. Since you are abundant, your smile a healer,
And your words resolute, shunning estrangement,

41. Without you verse would not thrive, nor would the ode
Claim in its field to outdo them in running,

42. But distracted me from it now some symptoms
Which did evil unto my heart, and reason acquiesced,

43. I blocked from my hearing the weight of their talk,
For with the heaviness of the kernel, the peel feels heavy,

44. These were remnants of thought I had stolen
During an inattentiveness before intoxication claimed them,

45. So if she releases me from your bond perhaps
With divine aid despite the youth’s despair, the bird may be caught,

46. And if it be another, how many a gorgeous woman
Is led to a husband, and the dowry awaited,

47. Love as you choose, you gain what you wish,
And are mighty in meaning; may your life be long,