Her Nails

She is as wise as Hippocrates,

As beautiful as Joseph,

As sweet-voiced as David,

As pure as Mary.

I am as sad as Jacob,

As lonely as Jonah,

As patient as Job,

As unfortunate as Adam.

When I met her again

And saw her nails

Prettily purpled,

I reproached her for making up

When I was not there.

She told me gently

That she was no coquette,

But had wept tears of blood

Because I was not there,

And maybe she had dried her eyes

With her little hands.

I would like to have wept before she wept;

But she wept first

And has the better love.

Her eyes are long eyes,

And her brows are the bows of subtle strong men.

From the Arabic of Yazid Ebn Moauia (seventh century).