I hid within my tender heart's deep coreMy thoughts, till I loved sorrow evermore;
Be gentle with my soul — long did it giveIts bewilderment to earth that it might live;
Let suffering shake not joy's exalted throne,Then leave me to my torment, mine alone;
Remember too the love that I bestowed —No difference between kin and stranger's road;
Suffice me from the world a merciful friend,Suffice me God who answers when I bend;
Suffice me from the world a dear one bright,Who lives as I, without hypocrisy's slight;
My soul's whispers respond to his soft tone,As though he lived within my heaven's zone;
My heartbeats seek their rights, and overcomeIllusion's pride when darker thoughts would come;
Naught troubles me save one dread vision's trace —I fear for my son from the wicked's face;
I fear for him love without sober mind,For girls have cast modesty's veil behind;
They live without a guardian to restrain,And practise vulgar ways without disdain;
They feel no shame before their mother, kin,Nay, they became temptation's merchandise within;
Youth grew bewildered, lost upon the way —Or is this but caprice of passions' sway?
The art of seduction grew a snare refined,Enslaving youth through suggestion's subtle mind;
Young women race to capture every lad —Alas, what prey from gazelles' arts they had!
All that they seek as useful quarry wonBestows on them pure favour like the sun;
Science and noble letters turned away,And dwelt in idle fancy's distant day;
Her fancy never leaves the sheltered nookThat is the soul's delight from riches' book;
She knew not love is God's own gift and grace,That guides the lost and purifies love's face;
Love spurs to knowledge and to piety,That she may fear the Lord of all that be;
And tremble meeting whom she loves, as thoughShe met the Lord with reverence and awe;
Does he not know this is the chaste one's way,The noble soul's and honour's bright display?
Exalted far above each passing love,An incident of longing's treasure trove;
If love may open up a world anew,A woman without passion must ensue;
But she who lived for what her heart desired,Nor feared proud dignity when love inspired,
Found it hard to protect her little onesFrom folly's lure and reckless, witless sons;
She who enlisted all that did not springFrom noble nature's true and ancient ring;
I fear that death may summon me before"Jalal" finds one to be his comfort's store;
I see in her a worthy wife, whose stateMatches my own — her father kind as mate;
I do not fear death now — yet still I dreadTo see him among common folk instead;
He knows not yet through marriage whose pure loveWould tend him with devotion from above;
Whose traits of chastity like ours would be —Chastity that wards off every misery;
I pray to God that He may be his guide,And help him in adversity's dark tide;
And guard him from each evil drawing near,That he may shine among the noble sphere;
Be gentle with my memories — I laidMy heaven in them when death's cold hand portrayed;
My soul after my death shall ever beA light that shines, balm for infirmity.
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