1. I see the young men in love's torment sighing,
Yet love's pangs cannot restrain the ardent youth.

2. "Cease to blame them," I say, "if they betray;
A lover's counsel: he whom love has mastered."

3. Spare them some blame, they do not heed;
A lover of beauties is ever rash.

4. My heart holds rising passions
That flow in concord with my tears.

5. I recalled my love for Omar a lifetime,
Sweet to him whom ardour has possessed.

6. Dawn breaks on a string of union's pearls,
Well-ordered by arrangement's thread.

7. Not the light of unmated partridges,
Their high nests and low, enveloped in cloud;

8. Nor sweet basil, nor autumn fruit,
Nor musk breathing forth, nor wine.

9. Sweeter than all of these the mouth
Of my beloved, when her head rests softly.

10. She reminds me of an Albain* girl who sang
To the rhythms of her ringdoves' coos.

11. She had been a confidante; but when
The bond of union was snapped for us

12. O Albain's daughter! My greetings
And peace to you in parting!

13. Do you recall that night we drank
Wine from your bright goblets?

14. I pulled at your bracelet and it came away
Wet with spittle, as though with wine.

15. Today it is enough that greetings reach
Omar and peace, or peace arrive.

16. May God water at evening the deadly wastes
Where the living camp lies well arranged!

17. And give drink to a dear encampment, blest health,
That recalls to me its landmarks!

18. O Albain's daughter! I was fain to meet with you,
Without him this last year stood between.

19. But now he allows me to come to you
When the bond of your tryst will not fail.

20. Your husband has lied when he said
I refused him respect or place!

21. A contemptible man, no rank has he,
But shame cloaks his cheeks, as night cloaks all.

22. His cheeks expose every guilty act
His conscience committed secretly.

23. He spends the night with forbidden deeds
Lolling in silks of deepest grain.

24. He follows no rule of faith, no prayer
No fast, when all men fast.

25. He wasted his life in diversion until
What gave him station fell piecemeal.

26. He lost the esteem of the living, though his tents
Were high-peaked when high tents were struck.

27. He neglected his wife till she wore
The reversed belt that tells of divorce.

28. From his way of life she saw such things
As stirred tumult in her breast.

29. He left his daughters lacking food and clothes,
Cared nothing for their plight.

30. He drove them out from every settled land,
Fragrant with fruits and water sweet.

31. So what respect does he merit, that fox,
From his base treatment of me?

32. He would trick me to betray a charge,
Though witnesses stand against him!

33. My nature spurns dishonour; never
Have I sold my soul for gold.

34. Too proud am I to be attacked
With envious slander by the vile!

35. Before me he attacked his father―he deserved
More honour and respect!

36. His uncle he cloaked in a robe of blame,
Heightening his disgrace.

37. He blamed all good men indiscriminately,
If ever we disputed!

38. He attacks the righteous while they bow down
In worship, diadems upon their brows!

39. He attacked a learned youth master of every art―
Noble soul, though the noble recall.

40. He attacked Shaykh Abdullah―but who can reckon
His ranks, which people cannot attain!

41. He attacked Shaykh Ahmad, a prince
Of the dewy meadow, a bold king.

42. He is open-handed, a leader for scholars,
And for them a guiding imam.

43. You can see in his face the mark of grace
No mask can hide.

44. Do you now boast, o Fox, of your son-in-law,
A worthless man dragged by the rein?

45. You slunk to sell him your daughter and yourself:
May God destroy you and all your kind!

46. And you boast of appointing bailiffs
over graves where your father rests!

47. Do you now boast, you who tore
Your father's robes and broke his staff

48. As he cared for you, brought you wealth, fed you well
Until you were weaned from the breast?

49. The land he tilled you've left in waste,
As though no Hisham* ever rose!

50. Blessings of God and peace upon al-Hadi* and his noble partisans!
*Albain: an ancient Arabian tribe

51. *Hisham: Caliph of Damascus
*al-Hadi: Abbasid Caliph in Samarra