Sol 6.1

  1. You have overdone your blame of the lover; lessen it.

    You have urged gracious patience; be gracious yourself.

  2. As though the loved ones' departure at al-Liwa were not enough,

    you added to his burden the censurers' blame.

  3. He divided his passion in two: his longing

    is for those departing, and his tears for the encampment.

  4. His heart torn apart, he seeks abodes

    scattered by the east wind and the north.

  5. Upon those sandy stretches and hills came down

    the burdens of laden clouds in their midst.

  6. And spring came to them by night, finely embroidering their brocade

    in two designs: stripes and crescents.

  7. How many a fair neck we visited there,

    and a sweet mouth to kiss, and a kohl-dark eye,

  8. of women, each with eyelids drooping toward sleep,

    from the long night of the restless, wakeful lover.

  9. If you wished, you could deepen the spiteful foes' anguish

    and return a devoted lover's love, as yet unreturned.

  10. Welcome, welcome to Prince Muhammad,

    the arriving one, bringing an age of good fortune.

  11. Welcome, welcome to the son of Salih, who

    surpassed kings in compassion and generosity;

  12. to the Hashimite of Salih's line, clothed

    in the honor of kinship with the Prophet, the Messenger.

  13. The courier came, stirring in him a generosity

    of Quraysh, like a cloud pouring rain.

  14. An ocean for the hand of the petitioner seeking gifts,

    a full moon for the eye of the thoughtful beholder.

  15. If your hand gave nothing to one who hoped,

    the first sight of your beaming face would suffice him.

  16. And if your glory were not ancient,

    your latest eminence would suffice you without the old.

  17. You inspired a people to generosity; yet how far are they,

    if they vie with you, from al-Simak al-A'zal!

  18. They vied with you out of envy; so among them favors were bestowed

    by the ungenerous, and the uncharitable gave.

  19. You lavished upon us what you lavished, out of generosity

    and magnanimity, giving what none had given.

  20. And through you, high aspiration breathed among noble deeds,

    settling in glory's loftiest abode.

  21. You attained the wisdom that eluded mature men,

    in the first vigor of your unfolding youth.

  22. When you command, no one tells you, 'Take your time';

    and when you judge, no one tells you, 'Be just.'

  23. You crossed the Euphrates into al-Sham with a palm

    that surpassed the Euphrates' rushing flood.

  24. You went forth at daybreak with a radiant brow

    outshining the light of the brightening morning.

  25. God granted us our wishes; you came with the most

    fortunate of arrivals, and entered by the most auspicious entrance.

  26. So the blessing of your presence and your safe arrival

    is owed to God, then to the ruler al-Mutawakkil.

Sol 6.1