1. Ask al-Milhi how he found my punishment,

    and how he found it, having rejected sound counsel.

  2. Al-Hashimi charmed me and drew out my rancor,

    and sheathed my scourge and my fang, sparing him.

  3. And he spoke—a man of affection and youthful dalliance,

    and a helper to the man of passionate longing and youthful dalliance,

  4. and an elder so sweet of character that he became

    dearer to the young than youth itself.

  5. He has a house where, if you hide yourself,

    you remain hidden, and the hand of pursuit cannot reach you.

  6. We visited him by night, while the lamp of the Pleiades

    was sinking and the horseman of darkness was stumbling.

  7. He welcomed us, won us over, and said, "Laid down

    are your packs in spacious courtyards."

  8. And he urged the drinking companions to pool their contributions,

    with refined, sweet words.

  9. And he said, "Make for its doors,"

    so each came from the direction of a door.

  10. This one said, "Basil and sweetmeats,

    and snow like the shimmering of a mirage."

  11. And this one said, "A pot of food,"

    and this one said, "A jar of wine."

  12. And the generous one among them was he whose hands freely offered

    the cheek of a guileless, full-breasted virgin.

  13. So, through this, a day of revelry was made complete for them,

    of rare beauty, sweet and delightful.

  14. When the heavy burden is shared

    by the company's necks, it weighs lightly upon those necks.

Sol 6.1