لَمّا رَأَيتُ مَحَلَّ الشَمسِ في الأُفُقِ

وَضَوؤُها شامِلٌ لِلدورِ وَالطُرُقِ

When I beheld the sun's station upon the horizon,

Its light encompassing the dwellings and the roads,

صَيَّرتُها لِلَّتي أَحبَبتُها مَثَلاً

إِذ لا يَنالَهُما شَيءٌ مِنَ الحَدَقِ

I made it a likeness for the one I love,

For the gaze cannot fully attain either of them.

فَلَو رَآها أَنوشُروانُ صَوَّرَها

فيما يَحوكُ مِنَ الديباجِ وَالسَرَقِ

Had Anushirvan seen her, he would have depicted her

In the brocade and fine silk that he weaves,

وَقالَ لِابنَيهِ ضِنّا عِندَ بَيعَكُما

بِها قَليلاً لِتَزدادا مِنَ الوَرِقِ

And said to his two sons, "Be unyielding when you sell this,

Hold back, that you may gain a greater wealth of silver."