1. The one to whom the branch has inclined, is it you, or one who withers away?
And who do you wink with your eyes at, is it India or Babylon?

2. Both of these bewitch; one striking and piercing,
The other with coquetry and amorous play.

3. And my liver has all along been suffering from emptiness,
For his love is my constant occupation.

4. A gazelle, when I winked at him playfully
Departed, while I who winked was left behind.

5. Is his shyness because of his pride and self-respect
Which makes him turn away at times, scornful at others?

6. He drinks a cup held in a hand,
Its star rising in the face of a waning moon.

7. As though he and the goblet in his hand
Were the bright moon at dawn dipping down to drink.

8. The crook of a delicate sapling carries the sun of daybreak;
Blessed is what is carried and blessed is the carrier.

9. Brown like the deep brown of his glance
With beautiful teeth, a strong worker.

10. Plainness joined with stinginess,
For every ugly person is miserly.

11. If one like him keeps apart from others
It is he who cuts bonds as well as unites.

12. I complain of my body's leanness to his waist,
But how could one feeble revive another?

13. He denies what he once cast from his sweet agony at separation,
What type of deed has no agent?

14. Who will keep his sorrowful date with me
When the deferrer of my debt is my nature?

15. And how could I attain union with his phantom
When one in love contents himself with the unreal?

16. I see the blood of lions on supple waists -
Look; see who is murderer and who is victim!

17. Among all those things my heart is distracted by some fascination -
Ask them which one enchants the other!

18. O intimate friend! How sweet is the taste of love
If in it there be a reproacher who is just.

19. Why do I not look into the eyes of the beautiful ones
Except my guide leads me to them?

20. And why is he angered by my attempts to make contact,
As though he is a lion made anxious?

21. His abandonment has not ceased to make me forget his estrangement
Until I forget the year of his return completely!

22. It is an oppressive case, for which there is no helper
Other than the supporter of the faith, the extirpator.

23. How can I fear injustice from the gentle comrade
While the garland of leadership is withering away?

24. My rivals have increased until, in the end
The ardent admirer and the heedless are alerted.

25. Failing youth almost gave the impression,
That grey hair was taking root in glory.

26. The cavalry leader - their hoofs paw the ground;
Within them the noble lion roars.

27. With his sleeves rolled up for heroism and valor,
And the army in its dust completely equipped.

28. Driving ahead his cavalry of warriors,
Who stoop to drink like lions at the stream.

29. Those whose glory is known charge the enemies;
Victorious, returning with booty sublime.

30. No obstinate opponent stood against their might
And no hopeful relied on them in vain.

31. They attack sharply until when transgressors oppose,
Then blood from their force comes pouring forth!

32. They were never undone by any who came to meet them,
Except they withdrew from their abundant downpour!

33. His flood of favors knows no bounds,
Is there a sea without a coast for its depths or shallows?

34. The nobility of his forefathers soars high;
When the noble lineage was reduced to sleeping.

35. He excels in knowledge over all of his family,
Can the scholar ever equate with the ignorant?

36. O enlivener of justice! O squanderer
Of abundant generosity, You are the unjust just one!

37. O gatherer of people’s ears to a wisdom
That may be embraced by whomever has discerning hearts!

38. Merit raised you above low objectives and paltry desires;
Beyond what the noble eminence of great men can comprehend.

39. If not for the brilliance of your merit exposing all things,
The inferior would never be distinguished from the superior.

40. And those content with your past generosity
Would never have been audacious enough to seek your equal!

41. Whoever you favor with your grace
Is included completely under your beneficence.

42. Well done! Like rain, whenever it wills,
It softens hard and solid hope.

43. If the resolve strengthens you, oh how often
Your noble sword brings quick decisive blows!

44. A sword - when it makes firm the souls of enemies -
Becomes resolute while victory through it comes guaranteed!

45. You were like the sun when it shone,
Its light clear upon the horizon resting.

46. And where can one keep away from the hearts of mankind,
The one whose love in all hearts abides?

47. So live on nurturing the garden of desire
And where are your feats of valor to compare!

48. Then always be, as long as you are the minaret of guidance,
For noble deeds traditions most glorious.