1. My punishment is more bitter than aloes,
And my resolve is stronger than an adze.

2. My glory humiliates the necks of the proud,
And it forces the snouts of the zealous heroes to relent.

3. My generosity defies the meaning of generosity itself,
And it puts to shame even our most generous Hatim.

4. My fame wanders the horizons of countries,
And my excellence reaches even the sleeping.

5. I have a determination that gores both spears,
And it rises loftily above the thrusting warrior.

6. My strategy in crises means victory,
And my leadership emulates fate's firm judgments.

7. I have powers that humiliate the mighty
And dumbfound the strength of the growling lion.

8. O Lord of a night like the waves of darkness,
With abundant shadows as black as pitch,

9. As if Sirius in it is a mare
Covering the summit of a lead-colored steed,

10. I saddled it as the stars inclined
And destiny waded into the eyes of the sleepless,

11. Then it cried, "Who is this burning torch,
Knocking at the door of our dwelling, though we know him not?"

12. "Unless you fear our valiant guard
And the blade of his unsheathed sword,

13. By God I swear, if he saw you,
Our mighty Samaida would show you no mercy!"

14. So I said, "You lie! And you speak nonsense!
Do not swear falsely by God when you slander!"

15. Then her sister called to pacify her,
"It is the voice of our supreme master!"

16. "Solomon, lord of the kings of all time,
Descendant of the noble prophet Hud!"

17. "Woe to you! What insolent power
Dares to lie to you? So take precautions!"

18. Then she fell silent, confused,
Biting her lips in regret.

19. And she let fall from her languid eyelids
Tears upon cheeks like blood.

20. And she said, "I devote myself
To the champion, Solomon, our gracious lord!"

21. "You have come disguised in reproach,
While my great sin allowed me no restraint."

22. And she rose up, openly surrendered,
Smiling with a dazzling grin.

23. And she said in ignorant madness, "May you forgive
One like you pardons even the criminal."

24. And we spent the night there in bliss
Like the pleasure of virgin meadows.

25. I have subdued the lion in his jungle,
And I have ruled over the learned knight.

26. I strike the army like a swooping eagle
When the zeal of my impassioned soul rises

27. Atop the saddle of a smooth-flanked steed,
Agile, stout-legged and broad-chested,

28. A purebred who lurks like a desert wolf,
Noble in its galloping and composure.

29. It was tempted by the valley's meadows
To race swiftly over the smooth wasteland.

30. In my hands are two well-honed swords,
Made to spill blood in profusion.

31. And a spear, straight as a line, true at the notch,
Adorned with a blade sharper than a razor.

32. Ask the souls of the enemy I have pierced
And ask about the slain heroes I have felled.

33. I give generously without expecting reward
And I settle vendettas with reconciliation.

34. And I strike with the sword until the foe
Falls to pieces, though my honor is unmarred.

35. And I stab with the spear until the enemy
Is shattered, though my strength remains unbroken.

36. So ask the valiant warriors about me, the formidable,
The intrepid hero surging forward!

37. They will tell you I overwhelm the frenzied fighters
And I curb my own hands from plunder.

38. I am skilled with the spear and I wet its blade,
And I pull on the reins away from the faultfinder.

39. I deal deadly blows and fell the warriors,
And I pardon the sins of the guilty.

40. And I leave in the minds of the tyrants
Fear - a meal for their circling vultures.

41. Nothing soothes my soul like their words:
"Solomon! O you of peerless nobility!"

42. I spend lavishly without reserve
And I host guests without wearying of generosity.

43. Indeed, I have freely given abundant wealth
Without fearing poverty or regretting my gifts.

44. I have killed foes and carried burdens,
And tied bonds and never betrayed trust.

45. I have earned praise and mended affairs,
And enriched the destitute with wealth.

46. I faced a stubborn enemy, fierce and unyielding,
Terrible in his ferocity and accustomed to war.

47. A fiery soul, swift to draw his sword -
Oppressive when he willed, himself never oppressed.

48. A brutal fighter who ambushes his peers
With piercing glances - I am more cunning.

49. I lay in wait and struck his head
With a white Indian sword, razor-sharp.

50. There he fell dead, as if I
Had dyed his face with dark blood.