1. The night has pitched its tents, darkness prevails
People sleep, the hubbub has died down

2. No stir, even nature has fallen asleep
Live O night, linger as long as you please

3. Rise O Iblis from your bed in glory
The air is empty and open space yours

4. Night wears a gown, but for you Satan
A black gown conceals you

5. A gaze follows another, follows another
And people all seem wealthy

6. The stars in space sway
Like lanterns, their light shining

7. Earth comes into view, then is veiled by clouds
Appearing and disappearing

8. Like a guard who peeks then hides
And the watchmen midst the darkness vigilant

9. Satan walks unafraid
Descending and ascending lofty heights

10. Around him, deception and lies
Armies swarming in the dark

11. Then he glances, looks with his eye
And sees a house lit inside

12. Its natural site makes it more beautiful
A garden singing around it

13. Iblis crept toward it when he saw it
But thoughts stirred in his soul

14. He recited his verse of deception and evil
Fearing pretense would not prevail

15. He strode right in, the walk exhilarated him
Troubles stirred his heart

16. A youth appeared awake and alert
Intelligence shone on his face

17. A poet, calmness pleased him
Poets soothe the darkness, I swear

18. Iblis was startled by his presence
Seeing him made matters worse

19. But Satan gently said
"Relieve the hurt, we're friends"

20. "I've heard talk of you for days
And days speak well of you

21. Won't you, writer, let me hear
My friend, lend me your ear"

22. The poet's words relieved his worries
Ended his distress

23. "I loved Gada but she only gave me
Rejection and disdain

24. Whenever I tried to win her favor
She was hostile and hateful"

25. He unrolled the parchment written
With these elegant lines

26. "For you the stars bow
And beauty is in your debt

27. Sublime is one who sees you as the essence of beauty
When man's essence is but dust and water"

28. "O people, this is God's sign
Sent down from the heavens"

29. "Revere and sanctify her out of respect
And forget what the prophets say"

30. "She is shaped as you please, as if beauty
In her is incarnate, perfection manifest"

31. "A temptation for mortals, stealing hearts
Like a gazelle stealing an Ohio buck"

32. "Her father called her Layla, was he blind
That he didn't see this light?"

33. "She's a beauty, not as Shauqi said
They fooled him by calling her beauty"

34. "My passion for her flows in my veins
So my life is passion and blood"

35. "The pen of beauty has drawn on her cheeks
No end to when passion began in us"

36. At this, Satan cried out
And the call echoed through all lands

37. "I am Iblis, O people bear witness
That I am done with deceit"

38. "Poets of this age are more cunning
Than its devils, no doubt"

39. "Do not seek refuge from Satan's evil in God's name
O people, that is wrong"

40. "If you seek refuge, do so in Iblis' name, and God's name
Is what these poets say"