Give me your consolation, noble friends; The queen of beauties sleeps within the tomb. A burning fire consumes my aching breast; I am undone. Alas! O cruel fate! My heart's with slim Hyzyya in the grave. Alas! we were so happy a short while Ago, just like the prairie flow'rs in spring; How sweet to us was life in those dear days! Now like a phantom's shadow she has gone, That young gazelle, of utter loveliness. Removed by stern, inevitable fate. When she walked forth, not looking right or left, My beauteous loved one rendered fools the wise. Impressed thus was the great bey of the camp. A gleaming poniard rested in his belt. He went hemmed in by soldiers and a horde Of horsemen, glad to follow where he led. All haste to bring him costly gifts. He bore A sabre of the Ind, and with one stroke He cleaved a bar of iron, split a rock. How many rebels fell beneath his blow! Haughty and proud, he challenged all who came. Enough now we have glorified the bey. Speak, singer, in a song that's sweet and new, The praises of the dainty girl I loved, The daughter of good Ahmed ben el Bey. Give me your consolation, noble friends; The queen of beauties sleeps within the tomb. A burning fire consumes my aching breast; I am undone! Alas! O cruel fate! She lets her tresses flow in all the breeze, Exhaling sweet perfume. Thy brows are arched In beauty's curve. Thy glance is like a ball Shot from a Christian's gun, which hits the mark. Thy cheek is lovely as the morning rose Or bright carnation, and thy ruby blood Gives it the shining brightness of the sun. Thy teeth are ivory-white, and thy warm kiss Is sweet as milk or honey loved by all. Oh, see that neck, more white than palm-tree's heart, That sheath of crystal, bound with bands of gold. Thy chest is marble, and thy tender breasts Are apples whose sweet scent makes well the ill. Thy body is, like paper, shining, white, Or cotton or fine linen, or, again, Just like the snow that falls in a dark night. Hyzyya lets her sash hang gracefully, Down-falling to the earth, in fold on fold. Her fine limbs jingle with gems she wears. Her slippers clink with coupled rings of gold. We were encamped at Bazer. Every day At dawn I saw the beauty, and we were So glad together! Every dawn I brought My wishes to my love and followed fate More happy than if I alone possessed All riches and all treasures of the earth. Wealth equals not the tinkle of her gems. When I had crossed the mountain there I met Hyzyya, and she walked amid the fields With every grace, and made her bracelets ring. My reason wandered, heart and head were vexed. After a happy summer passed at Tell, We came, my dearest one and I, Sahara-ward.