III.6The Abandonment of Reserve

To those who 've proved love's joy, and now afflicted mourn,
Except the helpful 'horse of palm', no other strength remains.

To those who after enjoyment of sexual pleasure suffer (for want of more), there is no help so efficient as the palmyra horse.

My body and my soul, that can no more endure,
Will lay reserve aside, and mount the 'horse of palm'.

Having got rid of shame, the suffering body and soul save themselves on the palmyra horse.

I once retained reserve and seemly manliness;
To-day I nought possess but lovers' 'horse of palm'.

Modesty and manliness were once my own; now, my own is the palmyra horse that is ridden by the lustful.

Love's rushing tide will sweep away the raft
Of seemly manliness and shame combined.

The raft of modesty and manliness, is, alas, carried-off by the strong current of lust.

The maid that slender armlets wears, like flowers entwined,
Has brought me 'horse of palm,' and pangs of eventide!

She with the small garland-like bracelets has given me the palmyra horse and the sorrow that is endured at night.

Of climbing 'horse of palm' in midnight hour, I think;
My eyes know no repose for that same simple maid.

Mine eyes will not close in sleep on your mistress's account; even at midnight will I think of mounting the palmyra horse.

There's nought of greater worth than woman's long-enduring soul,
Who, vexed by love like ocean waves, climbs not the 'horse of palm'.

There is nothing so noble as the womanly nature that would not ride the palmyra horse, though plunged a sea of lust.

In virtue hard to move, yet very tender, too, are we;
Love deems not so, would rend the veil, and court publicity!

Even the Lust (of women) transgresses its secrecy and appears in public, forgetting that they are too chaste and liberal (to be overcome by it).

'There's no one knows my heart,' so says my love,
And thus, in public ways, perturbed will rove.

My lust, feeling that it is not known by all, reels confused in the streets (of this town).

Before my eyes the foolish make a mock of me,
Because they ne'er endured the pangs I now must drie.

Even strangers laugh (at us) so as to be seen by us, for they have not suffered.