بَعدَ هذَا الحَدِيثِ سارَ الإِلاهَانِ

فَثيتيسُ لِلعُبَابِ العَسُوفِ

After this conversation, the two gods walked on

As Thyestes went to the wanton revelry

من أَعالِي الأُولمبِ غَاصت وزَفسٌ

عادَ للصَّرحِ في المَقَامِ المُنيفِ

From the heights of Olympus, Zeus slipped away

Returning to his magnificent, familiar abode

نَهَضَت أربابُ العُلى لأَبيها

حُرمةً واختِشاءَ هَولٍ مُخِيفِ

The lords of the heights rose for their father

In reverence and awe of his fearful might

حلَّ في عَرشِهِ وَهِيرَةُ بالمِر

صادِ كانت ما بينَ تلكَ الصُّفُوفِ

He sat on his throne as Hermes with the staff

Stood between those ranks

أَبصَرَتهُ يَلقى ابنةَ الشَّيخِ نِيرَا

ذَاتَ رِجلِ اللُّجَينِ بالمَعرُوفِ

He saw him meet the daughter of the elder

The one with famous ankles in amorous delight

فَعَلَيهِ مالَت سَرِيعاً بِعَزمٍ

وتَلَقَّتهُ بِالكلاَمِ العَنيفِ

So she leaned towards him quickly with resolve

And addressed him with harsh words

مَن تُرى أَيُّهضا الإِلاهُ المُدَاجي

قُمتَ تُدنِي إِلَيكَ طَيِّ السُّجُوفِ

Who do you think you are, you brazen god

You approached your supple darling

قَد كَرِهتُ استِيدَاعَ سِرِّك عندِي

إِن أَغِب رُمتَ سِرَّ أَلِيفِ

I hated that you confided your secret with me

If I became absent, you sought my dear intimate

قالَ رَبُّ الأَربابِ والناسِ طُراًّ

لا تُرَجِّي استِطلاعَ كُلِّ صُرُوفي

The lord of lords and people, gently said

Do not expect to uncover all my ways

لا تُطِيقينَ لا وإِن كُنتِ زَوجي

غَيرَ عِرفانِ حَقِّكِ المألُوفِ

You cannot bear it, even if you are my wife

Except knowing your familiar right

ذاك لا خالدٌ ولا بَشَرٌ قَب

لَكِ يَروِي لهُ أَقَلَّ الحُرُوفِ

That is not eternal, nor a mortal before

Who quenches his thirst with the least of letters

وَحَذارِ السؤَالَ عَمَّا اَرى أَن

أَتَبَقَّى بِعِلمِيَ المَوقُوفِ

And beware of asking what I deem

To keep within my suspended knowledge