1. The minds' necks are burdened with passion
For your neighborhood, with its tearful troubles.

2. Sleep is chased from my eyelids by my nightly yearning,
And tears flow from the watering places.

3. In my heart, the fires of passion are kindled
Reminding me of songs and meadows.

4. Among your ruins we were
Teasing the timid, startled deer.

5. With glances, they strike us down
In the stillness of night, during times of rest.

6. A singing tone brought down a slain man
To whom the devout and wise had also fallen.

7. Our ladies blamed us saying: “You could not restrain yourselves.”
But passion is not obedient for you.

8. And we knew that being steadfast
Is wise, though tears cannot be restrained.

9. We armored ourselves against the girls, but
The piercing glances penetrated the armor.

10. We refrained from passionate love and pretended
To be mystics full of piety.

11. But when passion imbued us, we acted
As if we’d never flee or avoid it.

12. Fearing them, we threw our arrows
And they returned branches and leaves.

13. The branches and folds swore
That we’d never attain them or even hope to.

14. But when they saw that their love
Had become rooted deeply within us,

15. They toyed with us and said: “You have failed,
Responding to the call of reckless passion.”

16. That’s how love seems easy at first
Then overwhelms you with terrible longing.

17. It enters gently then, when it grows stronger,
Becomes violent, pitiless, and merciless.

18. I will endure my love’s goal with delusions
That slander the firm when they are weak.

19. They slept while resounding songs and clamors
Had been their boon companions.