Love

Poem : 1281

Gladness at the thought, rejoicing at the sight,
Not palm-tree wine, but love, yields such delight.

Explanation :
To please by thought and cheer by sight is peculiar, not to liquor but lust.

Poem : 1282

When as palmyra tall, fulness of perfect love we gain,
Distrust can find no place small as the millet grain.

Explanation :
If women have a lust that exceeds even the measure of the palmyra fruit, they will not desire (to feign) dislike even as much as the millet.

Poem : 1283

Although his will his only law, he lightly value me,
My heart knows no repose unless my lord I see.

Explanation :
Though my eyes disregard me and do what is pleasing to my husband, still will they not be satisfied unless they see him.

Poem : 1284

My friend, I went prepared to show a cool disdain;
My heart, forgetting all, could not its love restrain.

Explanation :
O my friend! I was prepared to feign displeasure but my mind forgetting it was ready to embrace him.

Poem : 1285

The eye sees not the rod that paints it; nor can I
See any fault, when I behold my husband nigh.

Explanation :
Like the eyes which see not the pencil that paints it, I cannot see my husband's fault (just) when I meet him.

Poem : 1286

When him I see, to all his faults I 'm blind;
But when I see him not, nothing but faults I find.

Explanation :
When I see my husband, I do not see any faults; but when I do not see him, I do not see anything but faults.

Poem : 1287

As those of rescue sure, who plunge into the stream,
So did I anger feign, though it must falsehood seem?

Explanation :
Like those who leap into a stream which they know will carry them off, why should a wife feign dislike which she knows cannot hold out long?

Poem : 1288

Though shameful ill it works, dear is the palm-tree wine
To drunkards; traitor, so to me that breast of thine!

Explanation :
O you rogue! your breast is to me what liquor is to those who rejoice in it, though it only gives them an unpleasant disgrace.

Poem : 1289

Love is tender as an opening flower. In season due
To gain its perfect bliss is rapture known to few.

Explanation :
Sexual delight is more delicate than a flower, and few are those who understand its real nature.

Poem : 1290

Her eye, as I drew nigh one day, with anger shone;
By love o'erpowered, her tenderness surpassed my own.

Explanation :
She once feigned dislike in her eyes, but the warmth of her embrace exceeded my own.