نعم صب دمع الصب يا لائمي لولا

فمه لا تقل من هزاله مهلا

Yes, the lover's tears poured like pearls, O my reproacher.

So hush; do not say, because of his wasting, 'Gently!'

من اللوم منح اللوم من ليس أهله

فهل أنت أولى من تجنبه أولا

It is blameworthy to lay blame on one who does not deserve it.

Then are you the one most entitled to avoid it first?

فحبي عذرى ثم عذري واضح

فيا عاذلي تب لا تلم عاشقا تبلى

So my love is chaste, and my excuse is clear.

So, my reproacher, repent; do not blame a lover, lest you be afflicted.

سقامى من ابقى سقامي بحبها

فكم في الهوى أصلي ولم ترث لي أصلا

May he who kept my sickness alive through love for her water Mayy.

How often I burn in love, yet you have not pitied me at all!

وكم في الهوى القتال من ذى حجي هوى

فبالصبر ثق لا تعى عن حمله ثقلا

And how many a man of reason has fallen in deadly love!

So trust in patience; do not weary of bearing its burden.

حيا بك من يرجو حياتك قربه

وأملي فهل اقصرت عن حبه أملا

He who hopes for your life near him lives through you.

And my hope—have I curtailed hope of his love?

ألا يا جوا في الجوف كالنار قد بدا

محبتكم تبلى إذا منحت تبلا

Lo, O anguish that has appeared like fire within the breast!

Love for you wears one out when it brings lovesickness.

إذا ما بإسماعيل صبري فانني

ساكلا بإسماعيل لست لها أكلا

If my patience rests with Ismaʿil, then I...

[Unclear] through Ismaʿil, I am no prey for her.

ومالك تلحيني ومالك عصرنا

إذا اشتدت الجلى أجل فتى جلا

Why do you reproach me, while the master of our age,

When great calamity intensifies, is the noblest youth to emerge?

محامد فخر الأولين محامد

علينا له نتلى بأمثالها تتلا

His praiseworthy deeds have effaced the reach of the ancients' glory.

They are recited to us for him, with their like following in succession.

يصون الورى عدلا من القتل والورى

وليس إذا ولى عليهم فتى ولى

He justly protects humankind from killing and consuming disease.

Nor is he a youth who turns away when appointed over them.

ولا جار في أمر على الجار حكمه

ولكن إذا علىَّ فتى منهلا علا

Nor does his judgment wrong a neighbor in any matter.

But when he raises a youth, giving him drink, he himself rises.

إذا حادث بالسوء حادث نفسه

أتاه فحل السوء منه وما حلا

If a mishap addresses his own self with harm,

He confronts it; harm descends from him, and is not sweet.

فكم موكب أسرى وكم فك من أسرى

وكم كبد سلّى وكم صارم سلا

How many a host he has led by night, and how many captives freed!

And how many a liver he has soothed, and how many a keen blade drawn!

وكم مهجة أجرى وجاز بها أجرا

وما مال كلا عند ذاك ولا كلا

And how much lifeblood he has made flow, gaining reward thereby!

He did not turn aside in weariness then, nor did he tire.

وفي كفه نهر وما دونه نهر

وساحاته تملا واخباره تملى

In his palm is a river, and no rebuff bars the way to it.

His courtyards are filled, and reports of him are dictated.

وإنى له أدرى لأني به أدرى

فليس يرى ضلا لديه امرؤ ضلا

And I know him, for I am better acquainted with him.

So a man who has strayed sees no error in his presence.

ترى الغفر يرجو الغفر منه ويختشى

على برجه إلا إذا ارتقب اُلألّ

You see al-Ghafr hoping for pardon from him, and fearing

For its zodiacal house, unless it watches for [unclear].

هو البر منه البحر والبحر يتقى

إلى سوحه خُذ لا تخف عنده خذلا

He is the benevolent one; the sea comes from him, and the sea is feared.

Make for his courtyards; do not fear abandonment with him.

ويا من به قد من في من جهله

إلى قصده عُد لا تظن به عدلا

And O you who, through him, bestowed favor among those who knew him not,

Return to seeking him; do not imagine he has an equal.

منافيه مهلا فالمنى فيه فاستمع

إذا لم تقل فضلا لنيرانه فضلا

You who oppose him, hold back: hopes lie in him, so listen.

If you do not speak of merit—a surplus for his fires [sense unclear].

إذا ما نوى الجهال عن امره النوى

فاسيافه تُجلى واعداؤه تُجلى

When the ignorant intend to depart from his command,

His swords are polished, and his enemies are expelled.

فبالحزم والإِعطا طوى الخوف وانطوى

بوالفخر قد حلىّ دياراً ابها حلا

So with resolve and generosity he folded fear away, and it folded inward.

And with glory he has adorned dwellings with the most splendid ornaments.

إذا جاء ثان عنه ثان لك الرجا

فقل لا ولا ترتاب كلا ولا كلا

If one comes to turn you from him, bending your hope,

Then say 'No!' Do not doubt: 'Never—no, never!'