1. Love in lovers fulfills what it decrees
So do not blame a youth seized by love's decrees

2. And do not deny the rights of lovers
For platonic love permits what it sees

3. When eyes allure us with their glances
Passion rushes in heatedly

4. Love is but joy and then affliction
Now softly moaning, now harshly seething

5. O fleeting light in the living's night, vanish
Reminding me of my beloved's radiant teeth

6. You see I come from my love's gardens
To a heart longing, burnt with ardent heat

7. Though I know my love's lips are perfect
I am bound by my vow and unbroken will

8. I remember our past bonds and days together
The longing lover cannot forget what is past

9. I send you my soul covertly signalling
Watching fearfully for slander and disrepute

10. A beautiful, seducing gazelle whose eyeliner is magic
Bewitching the awake and enchanting the sleeping

11. A white, luscious idol with rosy cheeks
Of good character and graceful bearing

12. She is jealous when caressed or when the branches
Of the delicate narcissus touch her supple frame

13. From that blooming branch springs a violet
Whose cheek recalls a beloved's imprinted kiss

14. She allowed us to kiss her rosy lips
And gifted us that privilege from her silvery cheek

15. She bestowed a rose above narcissus and garden
O finest wine-red blend with the finest white

16. Chide me not, o critic, as though I betrayed
A lover who turned away in disdain and dislike

17. May God protect the days we spent in purity
And the times shared with the pure and devout

18. It seems time has become resentfully envious
Breaking its promise and covenant

19. Curse its wavering nature
Lowering the high and raising the low

20. You own my heart, and perfect is your beauty
Command as you wish, fulfill and dispose

21. By love's right, my love for you is steadfast
My passion's scope for you will never diminish

22. Nothing deters me from love's ways and desires
Except David's psalms which are my obligation

23. A minister, when he enters the arena of glory
Proceeds slowly but outpaces the swiftest

24. He is the full moon of sublime glory and aid
Of knowledge, nobility and wise judgment

25. Firm, resolute, aided in all rightness
In what he says and executes

26. Awe-inspiring, forbearing, bold and excellent
Through knowledge and fine manners purely manifest

27. He pledged to wisdom to be peaceful and gentle
And not to obey calls for force and unrest

28. You will find him gentle and peaceful, not provoked
Even if chaos surges like a tearing lion

29. If enemies are told to lower their swords
They will comply though it is hard to digest

30. Glories guide the fortunate who discern his qualities
How wondrous, a moon walking the earth

31. Should time move to shake off its links to him
Eulogies about him will never diminish

32. By your life, time creates no lasting havoc
For the excellence he possesses is matchless

33. Days will make excuses and seek union with him
At his lofty pinnacle ceaselessly lit

34. My lord, though far, I pay you this poor tribute
Of words and verse - it is not equal to your stature

35. With thoughts seeking pardon and acceptance
Though far from matching your eulogies

36. To your refined mind and manners
It is but rust to your polished essence

37. Take it, and spare my stuttering attempts
To gain some joy and contentment from life