1. I found that, verily, between them there was
You who would cut the ripe fruits from their branches,

2. And tears would flow from the eyes as though
The clouds in the eyes had showered rain,

3. And the embers of my heart would flare when
You were told of their coming together.

4. The empty-headed said to me, not knowing
That passion is the most difficult to endure,

5. And that you are lovesick, weary, and concerned,
And the tear of a lovesick one cannot be restrained.

6. Restrain the tear that flows, or else
If you let it flow, I will restrain it.

7. So I said to him, “Leave me be, for in me
Is an agony whose coals are stoked.”

8. Passion gripped me by force,
And he who it grips is utterly ensnared.

9. It stirred in me restless grouses
Circling about on their perches.

10. As though embers were swirling in the darkness,
Lighting up its gloom dazzlingly.

11. It moans grievously when deserted, and gazes
At a delicate gazelle, then smiles alluringly,

12. And meets its sun furtively at night foolishly,
Bashfully, smiling alluringly.

13. And if it smiles, it reveals eight
Pearly whites that shame pearls.

14. As though its protruding eyeteeth were clad
In black, or its tip curls fetchingly.

15. And it waters the wind with a lofty splendor in
The daughters of pure silver it pours gracefully.

16. And its neck draws its spear shaft coyly
When it intends to stand with it hesitantly.

17. As though its anklets clanked and were jammed
On the pipes of honored sandals.

18. And its eyelids pierce every heart,
As though with their glance were knives.

19. And the passionate one thinks, when he sees it,
It has aided him in his craft through time.

20. And you’d think its flanks were possessed
Of a delicate body, beautifully slender.

21. With it the eras are severed, so who claims that
He can task time again with its like has lied.

22. I say this having seen its virtues manifest
With tusks that have taken prey.

23. Ummamah said to me, “Verily, he who is familiar with nights
When engaging adversaries is not weak.”

24. So I said to her, “You are ignorant of the matter. When
I am as you described ignorant, then I am weak.”

25. “I clothe myself in glorious deeds,
And give free rein in high places.

26. And I shun dishonor and baseness,
And avoid deceitfulness and vileness.

27. “And I am not one who covets a bribe for treachery,
Nor am I pleased if my pact is betrayed.

28. And my tongue does not utter concealed things
To my enemies, even if they sever it.

29. “And I am not, if seized, pleading for mercy,
Though many a stalwart, if seized, is thus humbled.

30. And I do not accept high-handed envoys
Except those crowned and pure.

31. Nor cups, however much they near me,
Of one vile or who drives away the vile.

32. And I distance myself from the abode of fools among them,
Wary of the traits of ignoble men.

33. And never has any enemy, when my hand took him,
Ridden except barebacked.

34. And I do not grant safe passage except
To one who grants me safe return.

35. And I am no violator, by my hands, of sanctity,
For every situation has its own circumstance.

36. And indeed our blood is not shed in vain,
And he on whom we bestow grace returns grace.