1. O dew commander, unleash abundant praises,
I have imprisoned eulogies that have come time to be set free,

2. And I would not have detained them had you not detained my reward,
For no praise after yours could find praise,

3. No embellished verse in my poem did I fear
Might be scrutinized when recited,

4. And nothing I said was deviance I knew
So I postponed it until it be rectified and corrected,

5. But my soul cares for you deeply,
Fearing the rancor of enemies in you a kindling,

6. When their glances bear witness at my recital,
Evidence of passion though more eloquent if contested.

7. So give them all you know as solace,
When my tongue irrigates, wells forth.

8. There the envious fold their lips,
Lest they behold perfection they aspire to mar.

9. You would win, by my life, reward you wind,
While you give freely the asker implores you gift.

10. Whensoever praise you deemed miserly given,
More calumnious the better it flattered.

11. If one praises well his goodness reflects,
On the wearer ugliness if he uglier.

12. Smiling at praise one noble spurned,
Seeing fine deeds met with wicked acts.

13. Rejoicing though to magnify the other, extolling, hallowing.
I wrong you reciting withheld praise,

14. And expose you to blamers morrow and eves,
Yet I refuse to see you garlanded

15. By custom's wreath or robed in honor's dress,
To gladden a friend and humble spiteful foe,

16. With what you give I gift, withdraw, forsake.
I turn aside harm, though long I turn it aside

17. By my own might, thus from your precinct removed,
A soul's devotion matured in true counsel,

18. You deserve to be loved and counseled indeed.
Though I meet denial for what I seek,

19. And others meet allowance for what they seek.
O clouds whose shade pavilions the world,

20. Watering freely, flooding copiously.
O meadow shaken, its plants early fertile,

21. Burgeoning, thriving lushly, vivaciously.
I would pardon you if a sky clouded over,

22. Or a garden swooned aromatically.
But it is watering banned from irrigation,

23. Whose channel avert, refuse, deny.
And habitual ingrates, their pasture I protect,

24. Now wilderness, sadness, their plain, their theater.
I presented myself to the critics, your sea full,

25. When they sought pearls, only to bubble, seethe.
If the critics of others found no mirage at hand,

26. I'd say a mirage shimmers clearly now manifest.
What a sea where I found no place to drink,

27. Though others plunge in it finding ample drink.
I will boast when God gives me cause for boasting,

28. And crow when God gives me cause for crowing.
My praise is Moses' staff, for with it I struck

29. The sea of generosity, gushing, flowing!
Would that I knew, if I struck Mount Safa thus,

30. Whether it would send me streams, tranquil, glowing.
Like those the ocean floor laid bare, empty,

31. Cleaving eyes in rocks, cascading, pouring.
I will praise some misers, perhaps then

32. The measure consistent, they may relax, relent.
You rule so revel, Abu Al-Saqr,

33. When the noble rule, rejoice, exult!
Accept my praises candidly proferred

34. Or reject them, denying manifest.
It is not right one you reject should despair

35. Neither hope if he be most sincere.
Have you not seen me assemble praise?

36. Wondrous you spurn while I persevere.
One day with saffron cloak I honor you

37. Another with plain wool cloak you apparel.
I flatter you with praise you merit flattered

38. Though now with reproach assailed, mired.
I have not fully praised you, have I toiled for that?

39. Yes, a man's striving necessitates his due,
Even if his purpose went astray, amiss.

40. My intercessor has come to you, his name you know
That you may return him, by it addressed, invoked.