1. Lo! O doubter given to praise,
Though Abu Eissa has shown

2. To a people of clemency and grace
Good hope for the one who's prone

3. To bear a heavy burden well
And drive the glooms of time away,

4. Restore him from want and travail;
Far be he from all disarray!

5. Let not the deceased return in sadness,
Disappointed, unsuccessful in his quest.

6. God has kept him far from ugliness,
From all dishonor and uncomeliness.

7. Our praise of him is rich and long
However rich, it's not too long.

8. Song comes to us forgiving now,
Praising this most gentle, gentle sir.

9. It flows facile, active, spry
Without toil or industry.

10. But for him, song had not bent low
Nor would it be humbled so.

11. God granted him a fatherly role
With triumph and openings to extol.

12. He denied him no easeful life
Like the shade of lote tree rife.

13. To mend the broken, bind the gored
And heal the cut, the wounded sore,

14. So kingship came in his hold
To shelter, unafraid or overbold.

15. An honest counselor, pure in deed,
Open-hearted and open-breasted, heedful,

16. Forbearing, true, wise and stable,
Lofty, above vulgarity's table.

17. His state rose above anger or rejection,
Could no more be quenched than lit without reflection.

18. How many aspects of gentleness in his sword!
How much does his blade accord!

19. Say to him of kindling and rushes,
He'll meet you with goodness and hushes.

20. To the full moon, what's a barking whelp?
Nothing! And fools cannot jump from rut to help.

21. Those gone too far will drink their bitter cup.
And fire contains enough heat pent up.

22. Let no fool be tricked by feigned affection.
Dawn broke on those nighttimes shoot to hit not protect.

23. Do not look on gentleness as weak,
Lest it turn from you those who are meek!

24. Caution! Gentleness owns claws and fangs.
It can anchor ships and men in its pangs.

25. When the mill turns round the grain,
Nothing remains to grind again.

26. It is the towering height, great and grand,
Mankind's recourse so safe at hand.

27. In it the frightened find a cave,
The fallen, on its slopes a save.

28. So cease, O critic, cease your goring,
That hill's beyond all vain clawing!

29. The faceted summit is higher yet
Than the goring critic can get.