إِنَّ الهَوى إِن كُنتَ عَنهُ تَسأَلُ

إِنَّ الهَوى إِن كُنتَ عَنهُ تَسأَلُ

مَعنىً يَزيدُ بِما يَقولُ العُذَّلُ

مَعنىً يَزيدُ بِما يَقولُ العُذَّلُ

Indeed, love—if it is love you ask about—

Love, if you are asking about it,

is a meaning that grows through what the censurers say.

is a feeling that grows with what the reproachers say.

تَجني العُيونُ ثِمارَهُ لَكِنَّها

تَجني العُيونُ ثِمارَهُ لَكِنَّها

تَجني بِهِنَّ عَلى القُلوبِ فَتَقتُلُ

تَجني بِهِنَّ عَلى القُلوبِ فَتَقتُلُ

The eyes harvest its fruits, yet with those eyes

The eyes reap its fruits, yet they

it strikes at hearts and kills.

through them wrong the hearts and kill.

فَحَذارِ مِنهُ حَذارِ مِنهُ فَإِنَّني

فَحَذارِ مِنهُ حَذارِ مِنهُ فَإِنَّني

مِنهُ عَلى قَلبي الجَريحِ لأَوجَلُ

مِنهُ عَلى قَلبي الجَريحِ لأَوجَلُ

Beware it, beware it—for I

So beware of it, beware of it, for I

fear it deeply for my wounded heart.

indeed fear it for my wounded heart.

لأُعَذِّبَن عَينَيَّ إِن جَنَتا الهَوى

لأُعَذِّبَن عَينَيَّ إِن جَنَتا الهَوى

بِسُهادِ لَيلِهِما وَدَمعٍ يَهمُلُ

بِسُهادِ لَيلِهِما وَدَمعٍ يَهمُلُ

I will surely punish my eyes, if they reap love,

I shall surely torment my eyes if they reap love,

with the sleeplessness of their night and streaming tears.

with their night's sleeplessness and streaming tears.

يا مَن نَأى عَن ناظِري لَكِن ثَوى

يا مَن نَأى عَن ناظِري لَكِن ثَوى

في القَلبِ فَهوَ كَحبِّهِ لا يَرحَلُ

في القَلبِ فَهوَ كَحبِّهِ لا يَرحَلُ

O you who have gone far from my sight yet dwell

O one who has gone far from my sight, yet dwells

within my heart, like its own love, never departing:

in the heart: he, like love for him, never departs.

فَكَأَنَّهُ إِنسانُ عَيني لا أَرى

فَكَأَنَّهُ إِنسانُ عَيني لا أَرى

جُثمانَهُ وَبِهِ أَرى ما يَمثُلُ

جُثمانَهُ وَبِهِ أَرى ما يَمثُلُ

it is as though you were the pupil of my eye—I do not see

So he is like the pupil of my eye: I cannot see

your body, yet through you I see whatever appears.

his body, yet through him I see whatever appears.

وَكَذاكَ قَلبي غائِباً مَع قَرنِهِ

وَكَذاكَ قَلبي غائِباً مَع قَرنِهِ

وَبِهِ إِلى ما أَبتَغي أَتَوَصَّلُ

وَبِهِ إِلى ما أَبتَغي أَتَوَصَّلُ

And so my heart is absent along with its companion;

Likewise my heart is absent with its companion,

through him I reach all that I desire.

yet through it I reach what I seek.

هَذا وَلِلشَوقِ المُبَرِّحِ في الحَشا

هَذا وَلِلشَوقِ المُبَرِّحِ في الحَشا

حُرَقٌ بِحَيثُ هَوى الحَبيب يُغَلغِلُ

حُرَقٌ بِحَيثُ هَوى الحَبيب يُغَلغِلُ

Meanwhile, tormenting longing has within my breast

So it is; agonizing longing within the breast

burning pains wherever the beloved’s passion penetrates.

has burning pangs where love for the beloved penetrates.

لا دَرَّ درُّ البَينِ كَم مِن مُقلَةٍ

لا دَرَّ درُّ البَينِ كَم مِن مُقلَةٍ

مِنهُ بِإِثمِدِ نَومِها ما تُكحَلُ

مِنهُ بِإِثمِدِ نَومِها ما تُكحَلُ

A curse upon separation! How many an eye

May separation's milk never flow! How many an eye

has never, because of it, been lined with sleep’s antimony.

because of it goes without the antimony-kohl of sleep.

ما لِلفِراقِ تَقَطَّعَت أَوصالُهُ

ما لِلفِراقِ تَقَطَّعَت أَوصالُهُ

عَنّا بِبَينٍ قَطعُهُ لا يوصَلُ

عَنّا بِبَينٍ قَطعُهُ لا يوصَلُ

What ails separation—may its own limbs be torn—

What ails parting—may its limbs be severed—

that it sunders us with a break no joining mends?

that it cuts us off with a rupture that cannot be rejoined?

أَجرى العُيونَ مِنَ العُيونِ وَغَيَّض ال

أَجرى العُيونَ مِنَ العُيونِ وَغَيَّض ال

صَبرَ الجَميلَ فَتَركُهُ بِيَ أَجمَلُ

صَبرَ الجَميلَ فَتَركُهُ بِيَ أَجمَلُ

It set tears running from the eyes and drained the—

It made springs flow from eyes and drained

beautiful patience; relinquishing it is fairer in me.

beautiful patience; abandoning it better befits me.

يا لَلرِّجالِ لجائِرٍ في حُكمِهِ

يا لَلرِّجالِ لجائِرٍ في حُكمِهِ

ما بالُهُ عَن جَورِهِ لا يَعدِلُ

ما بالُهُ عَن جَورِهِ لا يَعدِلُ

Men, come see a tyrant in his judgment!

O men, help against one unjust in his judgment!

Why does he never turn from tyranny to justice?

Why does he not turn away from his injustice?

في دَولَةٍ سارَت بِأَجمَل سيرَةٍ

في دَولَةٍ سارَت بِأَجمَل سيرَةٍ

فينا فَما لِلعَدلِ عَنها مَعدِلُ

فينا فَما لِلعَدلِ عَنها مَعدِلُ

In a realm whose course among us

In a realm that has followed the fairest course

has been fairest—why should justice turn away from it?

among us, justice has no turning away from it.

أَبكي وَيَضحَكُ مِن بُكايَ فَيَلتَقي

أَبكي وَيَضحَكُ مِن بُكايَ فَيَلتَقي

مِنّي وَمِنهُ مُدَلَّهٌ وَمُدَلَّلُ

مِنّي وَمِنهُ مُدَلَّهٌ وَمُدَلَّلُ

I weep, and he laughs at my weeping; thus there meet

I weep, and he laughs at my weeping; thus there meet

in me and him one love-maddened, one indulged.

in me and him, one love-distraught and one pampered.

حَجَبَ الكَرى ضَنّاً وَظَنّاً أَنَّهُ

حَجَبَ الكَرى ضَنّاً وَظَنّاً أَنَّهُ

سَيَجودُ بِالطَّيفِ الَّذي لا يَبخَلُ

سَيَجودُ بِالطَّيفِ الَّذي لا يَبخَلُ

He withheld sleep, stingily, imagining that he

He barred slumber, out of stinginess and the thought that it

would be generous with the dream-vision that never withholds itself.

would bestow the dream-image that is never stingy.

وا غَيرَتا مِن خَصرِهِ وَجُفونِهِ

وا غَيرَتا مِن خَصرِهِ وَجُفونِهِ

أَلِعِشقِها مِثلي لَهُ هِيَ نُحَّلُ

أَلِعِشقِها مِثلي لَهُ هِيَ نُحَّلُ

Ah, my jealousy of his waist and eyelids!

Ah, my jealousy of his waist and eyelids!

Have they too, like me, grown thin from loving him?

Are they, like me, thinned by their love for him?

في كُلِّ عُضوٍ مِنهُ بَدرٌ طالِعٌ

في كُلِّ عُضوٍ مِنهُ بَدرٌ طالِعٌ

في غَيرِ قَلبٍ خافِقٍ لا يَنزِلُ

في غَيرِ قَلبٍ خافِقٍ لا يَنزِلُ

In every part of him is a rising full moon,

In every limb of his is a rising full moon,

and there is no beating heart into which he does not descend.

which alights nowhere but in a beating heart.

نَشوانُ هَزَّ قَوامَهُ بِصَبا الصِبى

نَشوانُ هَزَّ قَوامَهُ بِصَبا الصِبى

فَلَهُ شَمولٌ مِن صَباهُ وَشَمأَلُ

فَلَهُ شَمولٌ مِن صَباهُ وَشَمأَلُ

Drunk with youth, the east wind of boyhood sways his figure;

Intoxicated, he sways his figure with youth's east wind;

his youth gives him both heady wine and a north wind.

from his youthful ardor he has wine and a north wind.

لَئِنِ اِدَّعَت سِحرَ اللَّواحِظِ بابِلٌ

لَئِنِ اِدَّعَت سِحرَ اللَّواحِظِ بابِلٌ

فَكَما اِدَّعَت خَمرَ اللَّمى قُطرُبُّلُ

فَكَما اِدَّعَت خَمرَ اللَّمى قُطرُبُّلُ

If Babylon claims the magic of his glances,

If Babylon has claimed the magic of sidelong glances,

so Qutrabbul claims the wine of his dark lips.

it is as Qutrubbul has claimed the wine of dusky lips.

فَالخَصرُ يُنحِلُ عاشِقيهِ نُحولُهُ

فَالخَصرُ يُنحِلُ عاشِقيهِ نُحولُهُ

وَالبُرءُ في خَصرِ اللَّمى لَو يُنحَلُ

وَالبُرءُ في خَصرِ اللَّمى لَو يُنحَلُ

His slender waist makes its lovers waste away;

The waist's slenderness makes its lovers waste away,

yet healing lies in the dark-lipped one’s waist, if it would yield.

and healing lies in the coolness of dusky lips, if only it were bestowed.

أَو ما رَأَيتَ الأَشرَفَ القَيلَ الَّذي

أَو ما رَأَيتَ الأَشرَفَ القَيلَ الَّذي

أَغنى الأَنامَ جَداهُ عَن أَن يَسأَلوا

أَغنى الأَنامَ جَداهُ عَن أَن يَسأَلوا

Have you not seen al-Ashraf, the ruler whose

Or have you not seen al-Ashraf, the king whose

largesse spared mankind from having to ask—

bounty freed humankind from the need to beg?

أَولى المُلوكِ بِأَفعُلِ التَفضيلِ في

أَولى المُلوكِ بِأَفعُلِ التَفضيلِ في

كُلِّ المَآثِرِ فَهوَ فيها الأَكمَلُ

كُلِّ المَآثِرِ فَهوَ فيها الأَكمَلُ

foremost of kings in every superlative

Of kings, most entitled to the superlative in

and every noble deed, the most perfect in them all?

every noble deed—for in them he is most perfect.

وَهوَ الجَديرُ بِكُلِّ مَدحٍ سائِرٍ

وَهوَ الجَديرُ بِكُلِّ مَدحٍ سائِرٍ

كَنَوالِهِ وَالأَطوَلُ المتَطَوِّلُ

كَنَوالِهِ وَالأَطوَلُ المتَطَوِّلُ

He is worthy of every praise that travels,

He is worthy of every praise that travels far,

like his bounty, and is the longest-reaching benefactor.

like his bounty: the most bountiful, lavish with favors.

وَتَجورُ سيرَتُهُ عَلى أَموالِهِ

وَتَجورُ سيرَتُهُ عَلى أَموالِهِ

كَرَماً وَلَكِن في الرَعِيَّةِ تَعدِلُ

كَرَماً وَلَكِن في الرَعِيَّةِ تَعدِلُ

His conduct wrongs his wealth

His conduct wrongs his wealth

through generosity, but toward his subjects it is just.

through generosity, but deals justly with his subjects.

رَقَمَت لَهُ المُدّاحُ في حُلَلِ العُلا

رَقَمَت لَهُ المُدّاحُ في حُلَلِ العُلا

طُرُزاً تَمَنّاها الطِرازُ الأَوَّلُ

طُرُزاً تَمَنّاها الطِرازُ الأَوَّلُ

For him, panegyrists embroidered upon the robes of glory

The panegyrists embroidered for him, on glory's robes,

designs the primal brocade itself might envy.

patterns coveted by the foremost embroidery.

بَيتٌ إِذا هَفَتِ الحُلومُ تَخالُهُ

بَيتٌ إِذا هَفَتِ الحُلومُ تَخالُهُ

ثَهلانَ ذا الهَضَباتِ لا يَتَحَلحَلُ

ثَهلانَ ذا الهَضَباتِ لا يَتَحَلحَلُ

A house that, when minds grow flighty, you would deem

A house that, when minds waver, you would deem

Mount Thahlan, broad-shouldered, never stirring.

Thahlan with its plateaus, never budging.

ما اللَيثُ يَنفُضُ لبدَتَيهِ مُغضَباً

ما اللَيثُ يَنفُضُ لبدَتَيهِ مُغضَباً

في الغيلِ يَزأَرُ وَهوَ فيهِ مُشبِلُ

في الغيلِ يَزأَرُ وَهوَ فيهِ مُشبِلُ

No lion shaking out its mane in rage,

No lion, angrily shaking its two mane-tufts,

roaring in the thicket with cubs beside it,

roaring in the thicket where it has cubs,

شَثنُ البَراثِنِ قالِصاً عَن نابِهِ

شَثنُ البَراثِنِ قالِصاً عَن نابِهِ

دامي الأَظافِرِ واثِباً لا يُمهِلُ

دامي الأَظافِرِ واثِباً لا يُمهِلُ

broad-pawed, its lip drawn back from its fang,

rough-pawed, baring its fang,

claws bloodied, springing without respite,

bloody-clawed, leaping and granting no respite,

صَخِبُ الشَوارِبِ كالِئاً أَشبالَهُ

صَخِبُ الشَوارِبِ كالِئاً أَشبالَهُ

شَرِساً تَكادُ الأَرضُ مِنهُ تَزَلزَلُ

شَرِساً تَكادُ الأَرضُ مِنهُ تَزَلزَلُ

bristling-whiskered, guarding its cubs,

roaring beneath its whiskers, guarding its cubs,

so savage the earth nearly quakes beneath it,

fierce, almost making the earth quake,

يَوماً بِأَفتَكَ مِنهُ بَأساً في الوَغى

يَوماً بِأَفتَكَ مِنهُ بَأساً في الوَغى

وَالمَوتُ يَعلو في الكُماةِ وَيَسفُلُ

وَالمَوتُ يَعلو في الكُماةِ وَيَسفُلُ

is deadlier in battle on any day than he,

is ever deadlier than he in battle-fury,

while death rises over warriors and descends.

as death rises and falls among armored champions.

يَسقي العِدا بِسِنانِهِ وَحُسامِهِ

يَسقي العِدا بِسِنانِهِ وَحُسامِهِ

كَأسَ الرَّدى فَيَعُلُّ مِنهُ وَيُنهِلُ

كَأسَ الرَّدى فَيَعُلُّ مِنهُ وَيُنهِلُ

He gives the foe to drink from his spear and sword

With his spearpoint and sword he gives his enemies to drink

the cup of doom, draught after draught.

the cup of death, giving second draughts and first.

وَإِذا يُجادِلُ في العُلومِ بُزاتَها

وَإِذا يُجادِلُ في العُلومِ بُزاتَها

كانوا بُغاثاً وَهوَ فيهِم أَجدَلُ

كانوا بُغاثاً وَهوَ فيهِم أَجدَلُ

And when he debates the masters of the sciences,

And when he debates the hawks of the sciences,

they are small birds, and among them he is a hawk.

they are feeble birds, while he is a falcon among them.

في تاجِهِ قَمَرٌ وَفي ثِنتَي مُفا

في تاجِهِ قَمَرٌ وَفي ثِنتَي مُفا

ضَتِهِ هِزَبرٌ بِالحَديدِ مُسَربَلُ

ضَتِهِ هِزَبرٌ بِالحَديدِ مُسَربَلُ

A moon is in his crown, and within the two folds of his mai—

In his crown is a moon, and in the two folds of his coat of

—l a lion, sheathed in iron.

mail, a lion clad in iron.

سحان يُقدِمُ وَحدَهُ يَومَ الوَغى

سحان يُقدِمُ وَحدَهُ يَومَ الوَغى

فَيَعودُ بِالإِحجامِ عَنهُ الجَحفَلُ

فَيَعودُ بِالإِحجامِ عَنهُ الجَحفَلُ

He charges alone on the day of battle,

[Unclear word: sahhan] advances alone on the day of battle,

and the whole army turns back, too wary to face him.

and the mighty army turns back, shrinking from him.

فَالبِيضُ تَركَعُ وَالرُؤوسُ سَواجِدٌ

فَالبِيضُ تَركَعُ وَالرُؤوسُ سَواجِدٌ

في التُربِ مِن حَرِّ الظُبى تَتَمَلمَلُ

في التُربِ مِن حَرِّ الظُبى تَتَمَلمَلُ

White blades bow, and heads lie prostrate

The gleaming swords bow, and heads lie prostrate

in dust, writhing from the blades’ hot edge,

in the dust, writhing from the heat of sword-edges.

حَيثُ الحَنايا بِالسِّهامِ قَواذِفٌ

حَيثُ الحَنايا بِالسِّهامِ قَواذِفٌ

حُتُفاً تُكَبِّرُ في العِدا وَتُهَلِّلُ

حُتُفاً تُكَبِّرُ في العِدا وَتُهَلِّلُ

where bows launch arrows

Where bows, with their arrows, are hurling

as deaths that cry God’s greatness and chant His praise against the foe.

death, crying 'God is greatest' and proclaiming His oneness among the foes.

فَبِسَيفِهِ مَجَّ الفِرَنجُ دِماءهُم

فَبِسَيفِهِ مَجَّ الفِرَنجُ دِماءهُم

في البَحرِ حَتّى الماءُ مِنهُ أَشكَلُ

في البَحرِ حَتّى الماءُ مِنهُ أَشكَلُ

With his sword, the Franks spewed their blood

So by his sword the Franks spewed their blood

into the sea, until even its water darkened.

into the sea, until its water was red-tinged with it.

وَالمُسلِمونَ بِيُمنِ غُرَّتِهِ وَجو

وَالمُسلِمونَ بِيُمنِ غُرَّتِهِ وَجو

دِ يَمينِهِ وَصَلوا إِلى ما أَمَّلوا

دِ يَمينِهِ وَصَلوا إِلى ما أَمَّلوا

The Muslims, blessed by the radiance of his brow and the sharp—

And the Muslims, through the blessing of his bright brow and the bounty

—edge of his right hand, attained all they had hoped for.

of his right hand, attained what they hoped for.

مَلكٌ عُفاةُ الطَيرِ مِن ضيفانِهِ

مَلكٌ عُفاةُ الطَيرِ مِن ضيفانِهِ

وَضيافِنٌ غُبشٌ تَخوتُ وَتَعسِلُ

وَضيافِنٌ غُبشٌ تَخوتُ وَتَعسِلُ

A king whose guests include hungry birds of prey

A king whose guests include suppliant birds,

and dusky beasts that trot and lope.

and dusky, unbidden guests that swoop and lope.

وَإِذا المُلوكُ رَقَوا إِلى دَرَجِ العُلى

وَإِذا المُلوكُ رَقَوا إِلى دَرَجِ العُلى

رُتَباً تَناوَلهنَّ موسى مِن عَلُ

رُتَباً تَناوَلهنَّ موسى مِن عَلُ

When kings climb the degrees of loftiness,

And when kings climb toward glory's steps,

Moses grasps those ranks from on high.

rank by rank, Musa reaches them from above.

أَغنى الرِجال المُقتِرين نَوالُهُ

أَغنى الرِجال المُقتِرين نَوالُهُ

غَيري لِحِرمانٍ عَلَيَّ يُوَكَّلُ

غَيري لِحِرمانٍ عَلَيَّ يُوَكَّلُ

His bounty has enriched impoverished men;

His bounty has enriched impoverished men,

someone else, it seems, has been appointed to deny only me.

except me: deprivation is appointed over me.

وَلَو اَنَّ أَربابَ القريضِ تَسابَقوا

وَلَو اَنَّ أَربابَ القريضِ تَسابَقوا

في مَدحِهِ لَأَتَيتُ وَحدي أوَّلُ

في مَدحِهِ لَأَتَيتُ وَحدي أوَّلُ

Were the masters of verse to race

And if the masters of verse competed

in praising him, I alone would arrive first.

in praising him, I alone would come first.

قَد آن أَن أَرِدَ الفُراتَ فَأَرتَوي

قَد آن أَن أَرِدَ الفُراتَ فَأَرتَوي

مِنها فَكَم أَظماوكُم أَتَوَشَّلُ

مِنها فَكَم أَظماوكُم أَتَوَشَّلُ

The time has come for me to reach the Euphrates and drink my fill

Now is the time to reach the Euphrates and drink my fill

from it; how long, parched, have I gathered mere droplets!

from it: how often I thirst, and how often I drink mere trickles!

وَالعَجزُ أَوجَبَ لي الخُمولَ وَقَد أَرى

وَالعَجزُ أَوجَبَ لي الخُمولَ وَقَد أَرى

بابَ الغِنى فَتحاً فَلم لا أَدخُلُ

بابَ الغِنى فَتحاً فَلم لا أَدخُلُ

Incapacity has condemned me to obscurity, though I can see

Incapacity has condemned me to obscurity, though I see

the gate of wealth standing open—why do I not enter?

the door of wealth open—why should I not enter?

فَلَأَقصُدَن مَلِكاً يَجودُ بِرِفدِهِ

فَلَأَقصُدَن مَلِكاً يَجودُ بِرِفدِهِ

لِلسائِلينَ وَوَجهُهُ يَتَهَلَّلُ

لِلسائِلينَ وَوَجهُهُ يَتَهَلَّلُ

I shall surely seek a king who grants his gifts

I shall surely seek a king who freely grants his bounty

to petitioners while his face shines with delight.

to those who ask, his face beaming.

أَسعى إِلَيهِ مُؤَمِّلاً فَأَعودُ عَن

أَسعى إِلَيهِ مُؤَمِّلاً فَأَعودُ عَن

هُ مُمَوَّلاً خَصبَ الجنابِ أُؤَمَّلُ

هُ مُمَوَّلاً خَصبَ الجنابِ أُؤَمَّلُ

I go to him in hope, and shall return from—

I hasten to him hopeful, then return from

—him enriched, hoping for his fertile court.

him enriched, with fertile surroundings, myself a source of hope.

ما ذاكَ إِلّا الأَشرَفُ المَلكُ الَّذي

ما ذاكَ إِلّا الأَشرَفُ المَلكُ الَّذي

مَنصورُهُ في دَهرِهِ لا يُخذَلُ

مَنصورُهُ في دَهرِهِ لا يُخذَلُ

That can be none but al-Ashraf, the king

That is none but al-Ashraf, the king whose

whose cause, through his age, is never forsaken.

protégé is never forsaken in his time.

وَبِحَسبِ عافيهِ بَشيراً بِشرُهُ

وَبِحَسبِ عافيهِ بَشيراً بِشرُهُ

فَبِغَيرِ ذاكَ إِلَيهِ لا يُتَوَسَّلُ

فَبِغَيرِ ذاكَ إِلَيهِ لا يُتَوَسَّلُ

His cheerful welcome alone gives his petitioner glad tidings;

His cheerfulness is herald enough to the one who seeks his bounty;

by no other means can one gain access to him.

nothing else is needed as a means of approach to him.

نَهَضَت بِعِبءِ المُلكِ مِنهُ سِياسَةٌ

نَهَضَت بِعِبءِ المُلكِ مِنهُ سِياسَةٌ

أَضحى الأَخَفّ عَلى عُلاها الأَثقَلُ

أَضحى الأَخَفّ عَلى عُلاها الأَثقَلُ

His statecraft shouldered the burden of kingship,

His statecraft shouldered the burden of kingship,

and on its heights the lightest became the weightiest.

so that upon its heights the heaviest became lightest.

أَمُظَفَّرَ الدينِ اِستَمِعها مِدحَةً

أَمُظَفَّرَ الدينِ اِستَمِعها مِدحَةً

كَالعِقدِ بِالدُرِّ الثَمينِ يُفَصَّلُ

كَالعِقدِ بِالدُرِّ الثَمينِ يُفَصَّلُ

O Muzaffar al-Din, hear this praise,

O Muzaffar al-Din, hear this praise-poem,

set like a necklace with precious pearls.

like a necklace set with precious pearls.

فَكَأَنَّها لِلسامِعيها رَوضَةٌ

فَكَأَنَّها لِلسامِعيها رَوضَةٌ

أُنُفٌ تَوَسَّطَها غَديرٌ سَلسَلُ

أُنُفٌ تَوَسَّطَها غَديرٌ سَلسَلُ

To its hearers it is as a virgin meadow

So to its listeners it is as though it were a meadow,

through whose midst a limpid stream runs.

fresh and untouched, with a sweet, clear pool at its heart.