Sol 5.6

  1. O companion of my youth, noble in character,

    With me you have pledges of steadfast affection.

  2. Whenever I spend the night with a book as my companion,

    I spell out, letter by letter, our school days.

  3. O friend, whenever you revisit that bygone time,

    At its remembrance, copious tears are mine.

  4. Those nights grew distant, and separa—

    —tion came between us, and its morning dawned.

  5. That youth became, only yesterday, father of Shi—

    —rin, or of her sister, his newest work.

  6. Brides came to him from you; they once...

    ...glided gracefully in Arabic attire.

  7. Then, through your consummate excellence, they came to shine...

    ...in strange, foreign garments.

  8. Had he in whom Khwarazm takes pride beheld...

    ...her beauty, he would have said: “This is Jabnawian.”

  9. Praise, then, is yours: this is truly your handiwork,

    For it is the work of a brilliant man of letters.

  10. And peace from me be upon you whenever you trans—

    —late a volume, and whenever a gift is remembered.

Sol 5.6