1. Give me clear proofs and evidence
And refrain from being seen with a conjecturing eye

2. If you are pleased with the garden, let my eyes enjoy it
None can properly nurture a garden but the caretaker

3. How much did longing plead with me to plead longing with you
Yet ceaseless pleading wearies the pleading

4. With a greenness glossily speckled with yellow
And redness speckled with whiteness

5. Shining brightly like polished silver
And like pebbles gleaming in the meadow

6. Like lamps when they twinkle
Nay, like candles when they flare

7. Nay, like stars in their twinkling
Of cheeks and of languid eyes

8. Of henna, henna of the hands of lovely ladies
Some untouched, some touched on

9. So their hands made it openwork in a silver shift
Everything beautiful in all beauty of the world

10. Proves for the whole world that the judge judges justly
Springtime wove in it divers sorts

11. The Springtimes of yore never wove the like
Displaying silks and satins

12. Folded up from motley rags and diseases
Some folds slipping over some

13. Rising fold after fold
So that they are like a planet rising

14. In its radiance, and a planet setting
Stand and look if you wish at the pools on my roof

15. You will see those gardens in the pools
You will see those ravines and the white pillars

16. Beneath the green of those ravines
And the marble which, if you spread it out

17. To furnish couches, you would not find it scant
You will not see me pleased with play

18. Save in a garden well pleased with the clouds
Among bay horses and among greys that the houris there

19. Are perplexed between the bay and the grey
The souls' fancies swoop down to it

20. As the thirsty swoop to the drinking-places
And the eyelids fall down on it

21. Like the falling of arrows into their butts
It has displayed its expanse, and stretched out long

22. Fulfilling our expectations, ample and abounding
We are a folk whom Murr ibn Udhaynah reared loftily

23. The loftiness has departed, but is not lost
And we attained a height whereat the far end

24. Seemed as though looking down from on high
By the Prophet, the Chosen, the Virgin spirit

25. Too pure for any stain to stain
By the Prophet's kin, and the immaculate pearl

26. So say, in immaculate pearls that have no blemish!
Through them the Caliphate gained pillars

27. Of the religion without any shaking
Because of their munificence and through their valour

28. The people of vain fancies and diseases submitted
They annulled loans by gifts so we, rich,

29. Had no need of borrowing
If the clouds failed us, we made up for it

30. From their bounty - a most excellent substitute!
For they are our pride, O son of a generous clan, if you desire pride

31. And, O son of Madhhij, have no doubt thereof!
Whoso seeks to deny it, if Hashim or their equal threaten him,

32. Will consent to be silent and wink
Who, if the sea of Khandaf surged, would not drown

33. In its overflowing, copious sea?
Who possesses a massacre the like of which has passed

34. Into history - the massacre of the Enclosure?
Who is like Muhalhil and Rabi'at al-Faras

35. Object if you find place for objection!
How many of this living tribe of Bani Asad

36. Lions, far-stretching in onslaught, tearers!
How many heroes Qabbitat . Tu'mat yielded

37. Snakes virulently hissing!
Qabbitat! My clan - they left the tribe swollen

38. Nay, but the swellings of pride's swellings!
They tore the proteges of Maziqia'a

39. And made of them a ruin beyond all ruining
And gained glory in killing Bistam

40. So mention him - you who seek glory!
Every living clan of unbelievers or confessors

41. On a raid of ours or in a meadow of ours
Be they remote or near, they live in terror

42. Of our fear or in remoteness from us
O you who stand aloof from us, were we but to describe them

43. They would stand more aloof from standing aloof!
Chew on the memory of how we barred you from grazing freely

44. If you can find a time for chewing
And wander freely beside Khandaf or Qays

45. A wandering freely by fortresses and caves
For my oscillation between Qays ibn 'Ailan's clans

46. Is oscillation indeed, not like all oscillation!
When we were raging the veins pulsed

47. So we knew the arteries by their pulsing
O you who warm yourself by Qays' fires

48. Wink if you find it time for winking!
Those who requite one favour with another; but if

49. No camel foal or goat kid accrue from the birth pangs
Every ally goes to decay but mine

50. Never gives warning of decay
Afrir refuses and Dhatu Anwat refuses

51. And Tahlân is warning they are about to collapse
The rancour of every envier wears on long in me

52. Nothing improves it but the long continuance of rancour
But my sword of vengeance refused

53. To be occupied with enviers - my sword of vengeance
O my friend from Qabbitat or from Sa'd Tu'mat

54. Tall in stature, long in bones!
Let the souls of the base be aggrieved that as long as

55. The souls of the noble were pleased with me
What unjust judge judges against me that did not judge

56. Upon himself the judgment of death
Seldom is any bow tightened but men are hit

57. By that tightening
And so I have had of the varying colours of fate

58. Whatever sorts of changing colours you wish
The springtide of youth has withdrawn, flowed away, after flowing

59. I bade it farewell with a streaming tear
And old age has come that mars delight

60. Leaving delight, it gives warning of passing away
So I have avoided being grey haired for delight's sake

61. As the twain proceeded to agree about accord
Every day I uproot the beginnings of a life

62. Whose beginnings were not scared by uprooting
And tame songs of verse that defeat and surpass

63. The utmost of every professional poet
Shall I dissemble, now that passion has ripened me

64. In order to conceal what is in me of ripening?
My course is set though my goods are packed up

65. A setting forth like him who shoulders a load
Suing my soul to show forbearance

66. And follow the suit of the suitor
Overlooking a wrongdoer or a shutting of the eyes

67. - shutting of the eyes is better than overlooking
Ignoring the ignorant or a closing of the eyes

68. To abasement - however much closing of the eyes
You will not see me inciting one who sees me

69. And sees my need for inciting
To begin inciting has passed, so what think you

70. Of it, if it is by incitement?