1. Console me, O ʿAbd; you are the cure.

    And disregard what my enemies say to me.

  2. Every living person is spoken of; the person of

    forbearance is at ease, while the fool has misery.

  3. None of us goes uncriticized, so overlook it.

    Many a faultfinder bears plainly visible disgrace.

  4. I am the one you know: I do not break my

    pledge, nor do passions carry me away.

  5. Strange is a noble person's breach of faith; the soul has

    a return, and life an end.

  6. So remember my oath about consorting with another,

    on the day when weeping affirmed that oath.

  7. On that day, do not think my oath deceitful:

    by my oath, the innermost heart is held in honor.

  8. Then she came forward after turning away, and said:

    “Your deep sighs have slain me.”

  9. I said, “My soul be your ransom! It was from a habit of

    mine that what happened happened; my heart is innocent.

  10. So forgive me, O half of my soul; I

    have repented of what is past, and I remain faithful.”

  11. And maidens who, when adorned, leave you unable

    to tell whether they are young palms in jewels or women.

  12. On the day of Silwān, when they called to me, “Come

    to us, for we have whatever you wish.”

  13. They sought to entice me with a maiden of languid

    gaze; when she approached, modesty turned her back.

  14. Like an oryx in its covert, she folds her

    soul around affection for us, though we are cold.

  15. They kept calling me to her, but I stopped

    my ears, and that summons was wasted.

  16. What they had hoped for distressed them: my absorption

    in a maiden whose qualities are piety and modesty.

  17. She lived in comfort in youth; when she grew tall,

    her front was slender and her rear ample.

  18. The women saw her rising in worth, and cursed [reading uncertain]

    that high worth, once her value became plain.

  19. She is like the sun when unveiled, and like the full

    moon when a cloak is drawn over her.

  20. She was made to forget the tunic of chastity; and in her

    eye are both a cure and a sickness for those who gaze.

  21. Imposing, full-bodied, with cool front teeth,

    slender-necked, a tender maiden, gracefully swaying.

  22. Girdled with a sand-mound, and grown tall as a palm stalk,

    like a serpent [the wording about reeds is unclear].

  23. Heavy of limb, beauty has clothed her

    in whiteness and fair loveliness.

  24. A radiant face and a pure smile adorn her,

    like pearls on a string, evenly aligned.

  25. And a stature surpassing every stature, and a bosom

    whose pomegranates are sweet, with sunlight upon it.

  26. And fingers—ah, what fingers!—

    like plants watered by abundant, refreshing water.

  27. And she has flowing tresses, like the grapevine

    in blackness, now at their fullest extent.

  28. And conversation like patches of a

    garden, adorned with yellow and red flowers.

  29. No one but me has found solace in her; nor has she appeared

    before a fire for warmth.

  30. And when she approaches, swaying gently,

    she lifts her head; then the open space grows bright.

  31. My hand did not win her through my own power, but

    she was decreed for me—and can destiny be turned back?

  32. My love for her was hidden, so I hastened

    to her, while the matter was tangled.

  33. And I asked the women whether they had seen what I saw

    of her beauty, and the women replied:

  34. “Before the face of one you hate lies fearful desolation,

    and on the face of one you love shines beauty.”

Sol 6.1