1. I drank to the health of Sulaima and struck the lute,
While my gray-haired brother carped and found fault.

2. Ah, many a fair and plump-cheeked lovely maid,
Seductive, buxom, and alluring.

3. Voices inside the litter, as the band curved in its course,
Across a sand hill like kneaded dough.

4. Alone with her I did no evil deed,
Naught passed between us save upbraiding.

5. When youth wings away for a man, and age
Sprinkles him with hoariness like indigo,

6. His mirth is gone and leads him to his doom,
So rise, my friend, to mourn the loss of youth.

7. For vanished joys will nevermore return
To any man until the dying day,

8. The day when all men to their Maker wend
Ere the Reckoning, and without delay,

9. I avow 'tis even so in truth,
For I am not of them that doubt and stray.

10. Since God has told of men long turned to dust
Whom He re quickened after their decay,

11. Yet foolish minds have doubted overmuch,
I said: "Forbear, until my answers sway."

12. Is he not rightly named of Quraish clan
The Exemplar, when his peers are named?

13. First into Islam, first of fighters he
In battle famed for blows that crush and slay.

14. At Badr first, next Uhud, then at Trench-side
Soon as dawn broke, thrust home without delay.

15. Against 'Amr ibn Abd, himself a Quraish,
Whose wiles had snared the allies in his sway.

16. Oh tribe of mine, O strangest happenings!
At Abu'l Husain's shoe, his stirrup-stay!

17. By foeman of mankind and jinn designed,
Far from the right directed gone astray,

18. Designing in that shoe to set his jaws,
To tear the foot of him we must obey,

19. Of him we cry to, Succor in the dust!
Our Emir, Father of the Poor alway!

20. Down from high heaven a vulture flew full swift,
Or somewhat in a vulture's form, men say,

21. And snatched the reptile up, then soaring high,
Clove through the clouds upon his airy way.

22. Then dropped to earth, far from the mountain tops,
And his sheep smashed it with his hoof, they say.

23. Escaping to his den it crept within,
Deep in the burrow stealthily made its way.

24. Unsightly the aspect of the snarling brute,
Black as a dom-wood rafter turned with clay.

25. Steel-fanged with flinty claws and blinking eyes,
Most like a pard, but spotted as they say.

26. At such a sight the craven-hearted flees,
But heroes peril and adventure stay.

27. Too soon it left, though to his sorrow he cast
Stones sharp as knives, they say, to bar its way.