1. Love is the sweet basil of the lover, his comfort,
To which, if his gaze inclines, his yearning rushes headlong.

2. The lover rises early for his beloved's sake, his heart
Sets out and returns towards the beloved.

3. I have a discourse, my friend, about the youthfulness
That still plentifully flows within me.

4. And where I see the bees, the limit of their hives,
And where the joys of passion spread their wings.

5. I have become a slave to the fairest master;
Had his perfection been flawed, his charm would fade.

6. His glance did not suffice me, though in it I found him;
Its urgency brought pain unto my eyelids.

7. No, neither my tears nor their flowing down my cheeks
Ever harmed me, or caused my Lord to punish him.

8. Were it not that his abandonment makes me lean with sorrow
And takes away my joys, I would be healed.

9. Oh, would that I knew! Does he sleep embracing me?
Is my hand free of my cloak and his mantle?

10. Does he smell my apple or my rose,
That gazelle whose rose is an apple?

11. A wild goat cured, though her glances ail me,
Beauty lies where sickness and health reside.

12. Our wounds multiply when her glances fall on us,
Just as wounds multiply in hearts because of him.

13. Who says of me, to him for whom I felt passion:
"Can the board be cleaned once it is dirtied?"

14. Are you just towards a wretched, complaining lover?
His laments and cries are his plea!

15. By God! You blamed me and settled in a home
Whose sorrow is mine, though others live there.

16. Why are your lips my wine, while for others
I sacrifice myself? Yet they are at peace!

17. My soul tortured by him, while he enjoys
What is unlawful for me, though lawful for others!

18. You named me an ascetic of passion, though the youth
And his garb have become licentious and bold.

19. How often I refused advice regarding you, though none
Refuses fresh water when it is turbid!

20. And I say to him who insists on blaming me,
Though my caution pleases him, and he importunes me:

21. And I say to him who censures me with ridicule
As if to extract the truth, though it is his right:

22. "Oh you who makes her love seem ugly to me,
Show me, may God reform you, where is its ugliness?

23. In his intimacy, his guidance, or his stinginess?
You have missed the marks of his beauty and radiance!"

24. Were it not for my pride in the beloved and his wit,
The pretentious would not dare to pretend!

25. Strong intimacy with the loved ones is forbidden
To lovers, though it would please them.

26. I have answered all your blame and silenced it,
Oh you who blame me! Let him erase it who can!

27. I hope you advise me, though no lover's eye
Sees what his advisor sees.

28. My tormentor would not have confused me so
Were it not for his foolishness and frivolity.

29. But he is like pleasant life whose honey
Is drunk, though his butcher is oppressive.

30. What business have I with you? Can I attain my pleasure
While you bear the sin? No, let not its feathers and wings burden you!

31. Do not increase your blame, and cast
Far from you this foolishness, for I am its weaver!

32. The passionate are wronged in love;
Does passion flow to them? Are its streams theirs?

33. How can one be as he wishes when his health
And sickness are in another's hands?

34. I am stubborn in passion and its path,
While the chaste are merely bleating and barking!

35. And to Ishmael's son are those who migrate from it
When the time bares its blades.

36. O excellent brother! Your benevolence and character
Build generosity through your seriousness and your humor!

37. I have questions for you about him, and I said:
"His ransom is, in our time, his open-handed and his stingy!"

38. This is a man who gives you the essence of dew,
His foolishness like a camel freed of its outer garment!

39. Fair his greeting, like his name Bringer of Joy,
His laughter makes his companion laugh.

40. He comes and goes from the radiance of his affairs,
As if his very name is Radiance!

41. His custom, regarding wealth, is to enrich it,
And his path, regarding glory, is to increase it.

42. He is hoped for, and fulfills hopes,
No, he exceeds, his fulfillment inspires hope!

43. And if a request is difficult regarding his money,
Through his influence and auspices, he accomplishes it!

44. Son of Ishmael is a refuge for one who flees
On foot, and a sanctuary for one who seeks refuge on a mount!

45. He protects his neighbor from harm, his strength apparent,
His bark loud to guests of his generosity!

46. In his nature, firmness and peace,
The sword has a blade that gives joy when touched,

47. But it has a limit, its striking is feared!
For his men he has two that follow in succession:

48. For the devotee, impatience, and for the seeker, attainment!
In his shade the despairing heart is secure

49. And through his generosity the broken wing is mended!
For this one, his hospitality and position,

50. For that one, the immediate supply and expenses!
To him the relative comes wearing his sandals,

51. And the petitioner wiping his slippers!
How many a rider brought his mount, following

52. Until, through its docility, the stretcher gained its rhythm!
Yet we avoid him and his abode,

53. Preferring a house empty and spacious!
So he remains, shortening for the journey his long robe,

54. And spends the night grasping the mantle for sleep!
His journey folds the extended destination of the decided journey,

55. How excellent! Drawing near to them, the aspirer's goal!
And worthier of folding the distance is one who travels

56. As a merchant, profits awaiting him!
How often has the darkness of night folded his splendor

57. Like a new garment whose time of fading has not come!
Its lights guided their eyes to him,

58. And its breezes guided their noses to his fragrances!
The dinner spread by its diffusion an aroma

59. That filled the air, reaching out to their nostrils!
And the darkness shone with a lamp from its light,

60. Revealing eyes beneath the veils.
Do not doubt it, Abu Ali is

61. The gate of riches; asking him is its key!
A rain whose lightnings brought you glad tidings,

62. And breezes from it passed as mercies!
Continuously, his blessings follow his generosity,

63. As rain pursues its lightning bursting forth!
I have become thanking him, though letting me down

64. Did not please me, nor did favoring others.
And I publicize my complaining of him, though his

65. Confining and depriving me did not worry me.
I have eclipsed praise, keeping silent,

66. As his beauty kept my praise hidden!
So by his height he appeared eclipsed,

67. And by his garb his lights shone!
He has a resolve that pleases me,

68. While forbidding it seems ugly to me!
I recited my panegyric to him, so he recited its length,

69. The generous uneasy with his money rattling!
My heart yearns for the dew, desiring it,

70. My nature delighted by the down, resting in it!
The Najd sent forth its winds, so its desires

71. Blew to me, after being difficult for me to attain!
A bewitching glance bearing away my effort,

72. A sea sinking my ships with its storm!
So it is as if its obtainer intended my disgrace

73. From heights reached by the ladder he placed there!
And when open-handedness disgraces praise, it is ugly

74. To expect gratitude from his benevolence!
O family of Hammad, your command has lagged,

75. Yet its sealing remains and its opening continues!
You truly represent all things virtuous,

76. While the virtuous others are merely their specters!
Knowledge is divided, so besides you

77. Are its guesses, while its decisive conclusions are with you!
That which no issue's lock resisted

78. Except that those among you unlocked it!
And in Hammad ibn Zayd you have a refuge

79. In knowledge, whose agreement comes with acceptance!
The false arguers do not deceive, and the whale

80. In the sea does not escape the swimmer!
With the discourse of Hammad and the lamp of Malik

81. The burning urgency of the insistent is healed!
They do not distance themselves from the two holy sites, both

82. Provide a healing whose cure flows!
And it is as if both of them drew

83. From the tablet of Mohammed what they inscribed!
And the dissenter became, through you, with his sword

84. Sheathed and his spears fixed in place!
You addressed him frankly, so he avoided

85. With the hand of peace, though his foolishness cast shadows!
By God, the Caliph observed closely,

86. And saw by the light of God where his rectitude lay!
And if by your efforts a man attains success,

87. He is suited to complete his success!
How can one sharing fail or succeed

88. When the arbiters are the separating judges?!
Scholars of Mohammed's religion, its jurists,

89. Reformers, resolute, sharp!
And God knows best where He places His judgment,

90. Even if the obstinacy of quarreling raises its clamor!
And were you pure in advising the Caliph,

91. Evil is that the sincere adviser quarrels!
So you provoked ibn Lith your provocation,

92. Until by its light his lamp kindled in the darkness!
And by it his eyes saw where his loss lay,

93. And by it his eyes saw where his profits lay!
When he was illuminated by your light in his matter,

94. Amr's evening and morning shone!
Had it not been for your counsel, he would have collided

95. With a collision from which the collider does not recover!
Oh, would that I knew, when the like of you are praised,

96. What can an encomiast add to them!
But you are like musk whose essence is pure,

97. Increased when the paddles churn it!
You remain, from every wholesome life,

98. Eternally, not withering or narrowing!
By my father, your hands have wrought

99. A creation, improving my life though my hands despaired of improving it!
It laughed white and blameless, and its playfulness

100. Made my life laugh and brought me joy!
By God, I do not forget your hands' defense

101. Of me against humiliation when it collapsed!
And if tribulation shades me, I call upon you,

102. And through you comes its departure and relief!
And a roaming praise poet who does not cease

103. To extol the hands that defended me!
I have said it regarding you, and I have not seen one say:

104. "You reported the unseen, but its explication..."!
Gratitude is incumbent upon me, compelled by

105. Its intimate knowledge of you!
Convention is dumbfounded when drastically altered,

106. And that a poet join it adorns his expression!
Listen, O excellent pillar! And hear,

107. And catch up with your enemy, though his lamentations deafened!
Show him your virtues which never cease

108. To prolong his envy and morning hunger!
Take them as a gift from a poet thanking you,

109. Whose vocal and eloquent praise spoke of your praise!
His hearing is ever inclined to the beloved in your words,

110. And to your breeze his breathing always turns!
He brought you a maiden poem from his poetry,

111. A maiden whose like rarely lets go her mantle!
So endow his generous lady whom you married,

112. That the marriage be beautiful for the bridegroom!
Do not refuse the bride-price from her dowry,

113. For it is surely licit for the noble to take it from the commoner!
Well-being and generosity came early upon you,

114. While ruin befell your enemy, destroying him!