1. A garden above which a maiden peers,
A meadow over which beauty casts its shade.

2. A garden like the garden of eternity in charm,
But in it loved ones offer their prayers.

3. No wonder beauty does us wrong,
For even the sheathed sword may kill.

4. And I - what fills my every thought
Is he who has not filled my thoughts at all.

5. My father - none is harsher or more gentle,
Sweeter or more bitter.

6. His features need no praise;
His hands require no jewels.

7. That fawn - I see shame
Crimsoning his cheek like meadow blooms.

8. Kohl in his eyes overflowed till
They made their lining all of kohl.

9. My tears were scattered at his sight,
For God combined all beauty in him.

10. If I complain he says I vex him; if I'm silent he says I'm cold.
He said: “You bear a grudge for my love”; I said: “God forbid! Never!”

11. O gazelle of the plain and the nightfall,
No gazelle between the arrows and prayer niche!

12. Do not tyrannize me, be not unjust.
Fear tyranny and be just.

13. I fear that if he knows my love he'll think me fair game;
The authorized is prone to excess.

14. The minister who gives asylum to the frightened man in the wasteland
when panic has stampeded his reason,

15. The dear one whom fortune has strengthened
when he was weakest, too exalted to be called most noble,

16. Too lofty to be called the Greatest, as it were.
He assumed the governance of men, and favors

17. Turned to us when he assumed it.
He took charge of the world but never sampled

18. A dismissal ever from his exalted office.
He was granted wisdom with his authority

19. Even in his youth - what more need be said
When he is grown mature!

20. He followed a method of government and an exemplary, excellent approach.
Days obeyed him in fear; had he sought breach

21. He'd have turned remoteness into nearness.
East and west paid him homage,

22. And countries came to him submissive or compliant.
The meteors seemed about to descend to him -

23. Hence it was said: the meteors have minds.
With loss and gain he took life and gave it;

24. His content and anger brought health or misery.
Thus we saw him dispense chastisement and forgiveness,

25. Raise up and cast down.
And by his knowledge we saw him make separation

26. In judgment, and clean-cut distinction in speech.
Like a right hand extended with bounty

27. Whose hand the clouds envy out of impotence.
A generous man who, in fulfilling his word, made promises

28. into corpses and gifts into blood-prices.
No fault in him but that he poured out rainclouds

29. And cast down treasures on the covetous.
The son of him who is his foe in nature

30. Is thus an orphan, and the mother of one who hates him childless.
O friend, who has relied on God as minister,

31. And leaned on power as invincible blade,
You've won men's hearts, heart after heart,

32. Since you were generous to men, favor on favor.
You became singular in the highest distinction,

33. And peerless in the most elevated place.
To you belong the arrows of fulfilled vows,

34. And you brandish the blade of sublime ambitions.
Leave a cloud that spurts, a hill that flows,

35. A pool that glitters, and a moon that wanes.
You are open-handed, kindly companion, passionate protector,

36. Lofty-minded - and your glory is sublime.
When you are resolute your exploits are amazing,

37. And when others are resolute it is mere pretence.
There the feast day that is yours -

38. It has come in your august precinct.
Witness that what you have raised to God,

39. Uttered by angels' tongues, is recited!
One who has not your probity

40. Could not obtain it though he fasted a thousand years and prayed.
Your gifts have overwhelmed me; in my eyes

41. Each day offers me bright-faced brides.
I am fit to gain high rank

42. When your words make me worthy.
Then live forever, safe and sound, and wear

43. Ever-renewed robes of honor from my eulogies that do not wear out.
All poetry said of you apart from mine

44. Is more fit to be recited as rhymed prose and then burnt up.