1. They considered glory easy, so be burdensome,
And they tried to attain it, rising in decline.

2. The cowards tightened the belts around their waists,
Lashing them tightly, and lengthened their scabbards.

3. Never did they tie wisdom into a knot there,
Nor did they divide counsel among themselves.

4. So they looked askance, shying from its edges,
Thus the meteors fell, tracing their kindred.

5. And the noble one strove, stretching his shoulders
And neck and body beneath it and his beauty.

6. Wakeful, rescuing valor from his eyes-
A nose protected him from seeing the like.

7. Proudly-you, the clan of Abd al-Rahim-that you
Were a tribe of al-Husayn and his house.

8. You did not cease until your heels stamped
The summits of foes and you were counted knights.

9. When the command of a complex day is clear,
Views and deeds will diverge.

10. You met the cowards with your pens,
Swords, and you met them as men.

11. Alone he coils fears and the hardness of rock,
Mounting terrors, riding giants.

12. When offered a choice between two mounts,
He chose only one for the roads.

13. The hero baring his blade does not refrain
Till he springs up and seizes the valiant.

14. The lion-her claws did not gain their want-
Till she prowled and left the cubs.

15. How many a clear day have we blamed, fearing it,
While we blamed it, impatient.

16. We pluck the sweet fruit from its trees,
Then dwell secure in its shade.

17. Like today, which repelled fate and braced
Spirits' strength, arousing archers.

18. The dawn of your rule rose, its sun screening us
With a full moon that set last night.

19. At the sky's midst it regained its perfect fullness,
Lighting without trouble or tilting.

20. It showed the kings you were their uprightness,
Though the worlds were misguided.

21. They tried you and found you sounder than they,
A surer, weightier measure.

22. When they found their swords too short
In one place, they found your steps longer.

23. And the limbs grew sickly, and their doctoring
Was entrusted to you when their disease grew grave.

24. They relied on them though the tents were folded,
Through your fair opinion-aided and faced.

25. And she of meager words, when she rebelled,
The men could not restrain her, even joined.

26. No noble, honorable in his effort, hopes to win her,
Though he proffer dowries or pay a brideprice.

27. You were granted her chastity, so you became her father,
Her unlawful disdained, her lawful taken.

28. You made your shoulders intimate with her,
Unharmed though the horizon confined the new moon.

29. And the artisans marked her chest and flanks
With the mark of the stamps-delicate and polished.

30. The eyes cannot rest on her a moment
Before the sun's snatching a glance at the moon.

31. When you filled visions with her fully,
You filled hearts with majesty.

32. Cherishing beneath her a slender figure
That emaciation's penetration left intact.

33. And what had not been tested before her
Rent veils wrapping mountains.

34. She took from the crown freshness, and it increased
Her pride over it-her softness and beauty.

35. She exulted in being bent compliantly to you
And in her preciseness, imagined impossible.

36. And across from the parents her sweat's threading
A paternal uncle into the respected, venerable man.

37. With what is ransomed by sons and specially chosen-
The daughters' sheltering themselves in cloaks and glory.

38. And marriage is forbidden, though needy,
Valuing in poverty the price of possessions.

39. The gazelle burst radiantly in her face
And the prey ran with it, so it was prey.

40. It bent its neck onto the course of the bridle
Bowing, while the two were heavy upon it and bent.

41. And behind it the train of the bride protecting, when
The tails surrendered some to the clutches.

42. It flowed, looking from the lamps of an ascetic-
Their rims folded, so it was pitch dark.

43. Like a massive tree it proceeded, wavering,
Until when the need intensified, it coiled and poured.

44. It marked the rocks-it does not stop appearing
In every bright spot it struck a crescent.

45. Adorned in a right, though adorned while prevented,
Bare, clarifying itself, posing.

46. You see it, how your gaze adorned it,
Gathering the planets' pride, collecting Pleiades.

47. It stole from the Pleiades her cheek and chin-strap
And put on the Hyades as a wrap, splendid.

48. As if the Jawza' backed its saddlecloth
And its forearms lengthened when they stretched.

49. You mounted it and avoided another like it-
Two fateful arrows paired at your place of attainment.

50. It gave them from sincere intent in its chest,
Not compelled gave, nor deceitfully.

51. And the white charger, the brown's sister in speed,
And the son of the dark brown, sweet as honey.

52. With this you hit when you rode it, and that
A burden protecting you when battle was wanted.

53. Good intimate ones! Where is their like found
While they fall among ignorant tribes?

54. Their curved necks leaned toward you,
And now they stand upright, equitable.

55. Talking-that they are fiery mares
Begetting doubles and more for themselves.

56. The courser flowed, and the valley suspected it
A trickle, then it swelled and poured.

57. Until you folded it where its length
Stretched the rope of hope and expanded hopes.

58. The envious envied, but only bared his fangs at you,
His heart churning.

59. You deprived him of some of his business,
So that leisure multiplied business.

60. Convey with your fortune the extent of your right! Divide
Fortunes between people and lifespans.

61. And extend your right hand that I may kiss its back-
So that perhaps it will transmit good fortune to me.

62. I am he whose hearing pleased you and pleases you still
With subtle, weighty words in speech.

63. By them your honors bloomed, widespread,
The aroma of aromatic plants in morning's breath.

64. When they passed through ears they were keys
And over hearts but yours were locks.

65. They compile your news in residence
And travel, sending you examples.

66. They distract the forbearing, assert their own direction,
And drag the ignorant's rope of frivolity.

67. I did not surpass people in correct understanding
As I wished until I surpassed in bounties.

68. You poured me the reward of good will from it-
Pure, white-and increased gifts.

69. So I swore I will never see one who speaks like me,
Saying, Nor one who acts, what they said.