1. What are these flashes that I see - are they emeralds?
Or are they rubies, or that rosy cheek?

2. Is it pure honey, or sweet-smelling perfume?
Or are they the glances of one with a bare sword?

3. My soul sings though her glance troubles me,
Delicate in build, rosy in color, tender.

4. The zealot accuses me in his ignorance -
Can the shining sun be accused of blindness?

5. All people witness that he
Is most generous, though my heart is captive to his love,

6. As they witness for the beloved's son that he
Is the refuge of glory, its foundation and support,

7. A generous one - in his hand you see the sea at times
And at others a blazing fire flares up,

8. And in his chest a copious sea of knowledge,
Long, unending, complete, unlimited,

9. His eloquence able to clarify meanings,
His unique phrases like strung pearls,

10. O One in this world, none can equal you,
The sum of the high conclude you are peerless,

11. Your command is absolute, none contends it,
The assembly of the lofty rule you have no equal,

12. You humbled the enemies when you stood up to assert them,
Your destiny, a lofty edifice, remains intact,

13. You cut off the heads that purified the land by cutting them
And your sharp sword joined them,

14. As if the sword's insects were tempted by love of them
And kissing them an obligation imposed,

15. When passion showed them to him he flung himself upon them
As if war's tryst were for union,

16. How your son made the champions drink in the fray
The cups of demise while the sword was his hand!

17. Do lions not beget but fierce cubs
Who rage and gain praise and acclaim?

18. Your brother was generous and did not stint with himself
So to God belongs virtue he gathered and hoarded,

19. How fine is the ending of one who
Died in God's way, striving and battling!