سلطانُ حسنٍ على الأملاكِ منصور

سلَّ السيوفَ وهنَّ الأعينُ الحور

The sultan of beauty reigns over realms, triumphant,

The swords unsheathed and the houris' eyes grew tender.

فبايعَ القلبَ عن طوعٍ وما هو في

تِلكَ الإبانة منهى ومأمور

So my heart pledged allegiance willingly, though it was not

In that moment ordered or forbidden.

وهبَّ منه على نفسي فنعَّمها

روحٌ به الروح محبوّ ومحبور

And from him was bestowed upon my soul his favor,

A spirit with which the soul is loving and enraptured.

ما للفؤاد الذي رَاعَت مَهَابته

عُرباً وعُجماً فكلُّ منه مذعور

What of a heart awe-struck with reverence for him

Arabs and non-Arabs alike, all frightened of him?

أوَجهُهَا القمرُ الوضَّاحُ

أم قِدُّهَا الغصنُ الميادُ ممطور

Did the bright full moon shape her face,

Or the supple myrtle branch shape her perfect stature?

يا أيها القمران استخفيا فلها

قَمرٌ إذا لاح يمحي منكما النور

O you two moons, hide yourselves, for she has

A moon, which when it appears, extinguishes both your lights.

أقسمتُ ما أبصَرَت عيني لها شَبَهاً

حقيقةً لا أقولُ الطرفُ مسحور

I swear by all my eyes have seen, they spied no peer for her

In truth, not just my eyes bedazzled and bemused.

أرعى النجومَ وما بِي غَيرُ نِسبَتِهَا

والشيءُ بالشيءِ مَرعِيٌ ومذكور

I shepherd the stars - and she alone is my attachment to them -

Things are shepherded to what they are joined and connected with.