Sol 5.6

  1. The phantom came by night and visited a mere phantom of him;

    then journeyed on, wooing a gazelle in sleep.

  2. O relief from anguish!—except that it

    turned away as darkness retreated, and vanished.

  3. By morning the love-enslaved man was still more ardent,

    more sorely distraught, and gloomier of heart.

  4. Aspirations roused you toward glorious deeds and lofty heights—

    aspirations whose grandeur you would take for mountains.

  5. You backed them with firm resolves, as though

    you had backed weapons keen of point with blades.

  6. You loaded them upon young riding-camels, as though they were

    ostrich hens following their chicks.

  7. A Mahri she-camel, her flesh wasted away by travel,

    so that beneath the saddle-gear you would take her for mere saddle-gear.

  8. She found safety in the court of Ahmad son of Muhammad,

    safe from having her honored one humbled and abased.

  9. Indeed, you lead the cavalry, prancing with lances,

    then pour them upon the foe as their appointed deaths.

  10. No stretch of ground grows easy for them; you would think them

    running slowly even as they race swiftly.

Sol 5.6