1. Her approach brought no benefit, though her glance offered union,
She came in apparition, while eyes were tearful with passion.

2. My soul is averse to one who turns away yet memory returns,
His phantom gone while she demurs.

3. O my companion, love colored me with fickle qualities—
One nature declines while another complies.

4. When the wind blew, it provoked my longing,
As lighting flashed from the western part shining.

5. It’s not that yearning advances with a visitor,
Nor am I hoping to attain an exalted union.

6. Only a longing that will not disappear and anguish
When it flares, tears will flow.

7. A love I used to conceal
Until prolific tears laid it bare.

8. When an eye settles, though it’s an eye, over passion—
What the ribs conceal is no secret.

9. So do not think I recoiled though I hadn't wished
To recoil from a dear intimacy.

10. And healing the soul, if you could achieve it,
Would be a departed lover or seasons revisiting.

11. I sheltered my hopes in circles of friends
Who retire while hopes in them have aims.

12. A refuge from Fateh son of Khāqān, hastening,
And bounty from Fateh son of Khāqān, copious.

13. For his munificence and generosity, I plead
A witness for him whose certainty will not fail.

14. When glory materialized and the people lagged behind,
He reached the utmost extent of their endeavor then retired.

15. Can different kinds of people ever have equivalence?
Fingers of a hand have no parity.

16. He is frugal with veneration and grand with reverence—
A man of substance, in him lies courtesy and humility.

17. When he falls silent, heads bow down,
And if he speaks, necks are images of lowliness.

18. His weapons and mail are darkened from bearing,
The Musk scenting his gowns becomes a deterrent.

19. Dignified over the heads of men when he walks,
Taking ample strides, his courage magnificent.

20. And most often in his vigilance, attacks
Against his enemies and vanguards.

21. Worthy that the gloom of battle remove itself from his visage’s glow
And death itself under that gloom made to perish.

22. And that the serried ranks be routed by his stab
With an agent behind it giving chase.

23. A wayward soul defends him from all that is lowly
And resolves like Indian steel incisive.

24. Far from confiding in the disingenuous who attempt
Guile against his secret thoughts to no avail.

25. He of covert schemes is not apparent
To the opinion behind him which he steers.

26. Due to their unbending resolve, enemies know not
When destruction will descend leaving them effaced.

27. Attributes never cease arresting an envious one—
His breaths behind it come back gasping.

28. Your glory, now rooted, enviers will not appropriate
When consent became still and visions stabilized.

29. Shall I be thankless for the blessings when
Dawn’s early glow rose over me, radiant.

30. You who ennobled me after my disrepute—
No abased words and no downcast glance.

31. You enriched me, self-sufficient without circles
I used to vie against to gain their approval.

32. So I care not if a robed one is munificent
To a hopeful or miserly in charity to a suitor.

33. Of men’s praise or blame I fell short.
Among them are headings for accord and breach.

34. I see gratitude in some men like a deposit,
Merit effected while kindnesses in them lie buried.

35. None have I seen bestow praise upon its people
Like one who rewards his fellow for good turns.

36. Poems never cease to have marvels
Shining in their multiples and ingenious arts,

37. Venerating lineage while reaching
By strange means beyond favored tribes.

38. They attain by night at every point
Remaining as remaining stars rise.

39. When they have orbited East and West—intently—
You recognize who among them skills are sterling.