Sol 5.6

  1. The face of your dawn beams, O Day,

    and mansions and dwellings shine.

  2. Jillaq has come to resemble a bride,

    with pearls from the gardens scattered over her.

  3. The branches sprang up there for joy;

    the garden breeze passed, and the nightingale sang.

  4. In the morning she unveiled a host of suns

    by which those mansions are illuminated.

  5. In the garden of bliss she revealed a countenance

    upon which the crown’s radiance bestowed dignity.

  6. A young nobleman peerless in generosity—

    gold itself smiles at his bounty.

  7. Such generosity is innate in him, his very nature;

    in anyone else it is merely borrowed.

  8. A generous man whom none can rival in noble deeds;

    no pursuer’s dust has ever caught him in that race.

  9. The order of kingship was perfected through him and proceeds from him;

    upon him it bears an emblem among its insignia.

  10. He is too exalted in loftiness to have an equal,

    for he is the renowned standard to whom all point.

  11. His noble deeds have sent proverbs traveling,

    and spread them far across the horizons.

  12. Proverbs circle his house, performing the ritual course;

    with him they make both pilgrimage and lesser pilgrimage.

  13. His right hand overflows with generosity, and from it

    wealth and ease appear to us.

  14. How could I fear poverty after receiving his bounty,

    when through him I triumph over poverty?

  15. O Crown of the Faith, my lord—O you

    who have risen high, for whom the mansions of good fortune are a home;

  16. O sea of largesse and great tree of grace,

    whose gifts are jewels and fruits. [rāʾ]

  17. Every meaning harmonizes in your praise;

    one under your protection is neither wronged nor harmed.

  18. Who need fear when enemies assail,

    while you are his sanctuary, protector, and shielding neighbor?

  19. At your blessed arrival, how brightly shone

    the abodes of fellowship, and how high the day arose.

  20. The days of bliss grew sweet with glad tidings,

    and cups of joy were passed around in them.

  21. For loftiness it is enough that you attained a glory

    through which the age itself gains honor and pride.

  22. Enough for me that I possess a yearning heart,

    bearing a hope directed toward you and waiting expectantly.

  23. Whatever you choose, my lord, generously bestow upon me,

    for a servant has no choice of his own.

  24. Receive it: a panegyric that has come to you a virgin,

    a veiled maiden whose meanings are wholly new.

  25. It holds a meaning whose exposition would take long,

    and diction both comprehensive and concise.

  26. Through praising you, it has risen in both wording and meaning,

    and the beauty of its meaning has rightly earned it pride.

  27. Abide, remain safe, and live as long as a full moon gleams

    in the darkness of night, and as long as day dawns.

Sol 5.6