1. The vine's daughter gave drink to generosity's daughter,

    a bride of reason that bore fruits of wisdom.

  2. Fruits whose sweetness lies in hearts,

    and in the ear, if a mouth there spits them forth.

  3. Fruits whose wellsprings of light

    tear through the veils of darkness by thought.

  4. The doves of that sanctuary's bān trees

    call out, delighting us with melody.

  5. So lament; do not divulge your passion, and fear lest

    blood be shed and the foot slip.

  6. Leave people wandering blindly in deep darkness,

    and turn to being, and leave nonbeing.

  7. And never heed their lies,

    even if they come to you casting accusations.

  8. Draw a sharp sword to cut off harm,

    and cut through the heart of sickness toward healing.

  9. And befriend noble men, borne aloft

    by their aspirations to the heights of the heavenly kingdom.

  10. Through intellect they beheld the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary,

    and how the Pen runs upon the Tablet.

  11. Thus their bodies lie in the depths of created being,

    and their souls upon the heights of beginningless eternity.

  12. For the path of guidance is clear,

    and how many signposts it holds for the rightly guided!

  13. And those sacred laws—their udders

    flowed upon the messengers with the milk of blessings.

  14. They are God's mercy, poured out upon those

    who found guidance, like the outpouring of steady rains.

  15. So open, with the passing of piety's breeze,

    the buds of affirming the oneness of the Creator of souls.

  16. Listen closely to hear a counselor, O brother of

    purity, and leave off gnashing the tooth of regret.

  17. When Time comes to kneel

    upon you with its breast, or bites,

  18. then seek refuge with al-Mubariz, asking aid

    from the mainstay of the two states, Ibrahim.

  19. Through him you sever oppression, as God's Friend severed

    the idol's spine with a blow of his right hand.

  20. A prince, humble in his majesty,

    which cleaves the hearts of the lions of the thickets.

  21. How many a punishment from him has been poured upon

    the lions of the den, avenging the sheep!

  22. Behind his reach in glory lagged the

    finest of its Arabs and non-Arabs.

  23. He took on the burden of kings' concerns,

    so they slept, while he did not sleep.

  24. The provinces came to him submissively,

    and, it was said, the arbiter is sought in his own house.

  25. Thus they were entrusted to a dependable man, steadfast

    in fear of God whenever he judged.

  26. If 'no' was what pleased God, he did not

    say anything but 'no,' and withheld his 'yes.'

  27. None before him followed his course

    except the two Umars, in excellence of character.

  28. In justice he draws the distant, disliked man close,

    and for its sake keeps a brother and cousin far.

  29. And the corrupt face war at his hands,

    while the righteous, through him, dwell in sanctuary.

  30. And why should the Muslims not rejoice in him,

    when he has guarded their wealth and their womenfolk?

  31. Through him Time's scowl has left us,

    and it has shown us its cheerful face and smiled.

  32. Success has dawned through his counsels,

    and the blinding gloom of worry and grief has vanished.

  33. Damascus, through him and his days,

    and his destruction of every aggressor, is Iram.

  34. When he charges in battle, clad in armor,

    the mighty warriors turn away in fear of him.

  35. Thus, through thrusting, the deaf spears are made to hear,

    and their withered shafts bear heads as fruit.

  36. Then the brown spears are well-ropes, and the wounds

    their wells, filled to the brim with blood.

  37. And he quenches the fire in the breasts of swords

    with the water of necks whenever he storms in.

  38. O mainstay of the kingdom, I have been enfolded by

    obscurity, as a meat-board holds meat.

  39. I have concealed my condition from those who gloat,

    as gray hair is hidden beneath katam dye.

  40. Indeed, those born blind have seen my merit, and

    my words have made the deaf hear.

  41. Yet my age, though it can see,

    has feigned blindness toward me—so acts the unjust.

  42. You are my hope, after God;

    may God ward off from you the onset of pain.

  43. So remain in good fortune, to the rage of the envious,

    and your command obeyed among the nations,

  44. throughout all time, as long as lightning flashes and

    a risen star glitters on the horizon.

Sol 6.1