XII: From the fire and fever of separation defend…

From the fire and fever of separation defend us!
Preserve us, O God, from the fierce flames of Hell!

They make earth and heaven tremble on man's account
Shield us, alas! from the great tyranny of the fair!

Evil destiny made it my grievous lot, unto life's end,
To be ever departing, alas! from the sweet-lipped ones.

Though I, through reverence, cannot look upon her face;
Yet, for the courtesy of the ungracious ones, alas! alas!

The lot of the love-born, in comparison with the damned,
Is, alas! very many times more horrid and abominable.

Who deem the tormenting of lovers to be a virtuous act--
O, guard us, and defend from this creed of the fair!

Who cannot utter, with the tongue, what the heart wisheth--
From the desires of such lovers, O save and rescue us!

The morning, whose dawn is called the morn of doom--
From the night of such morning, O save us, and preserve!

Thou sayest, that Hamid should be debarred from the fair--
Alas, O monitor, that thou shouldst speak such monstrous words!