The Princess Of Qulzum

(Ballade By Nur Uddin)     I have seen a small proud face brimming with sunlight;     I have seen the daughter of the King of Qulzum passing from grace to                 grace.     Yesterday she threw her bed on the floor of her double house     And laughed with a thousand graces.     She has a little pearl and coral cap     And rides in a palanquin with servants about her     And claps her hands, being too proud to call.     I have seen a small proud face brimming with sunlight.     "My palanquin is truly green and blue;     I fill the world with pomp and take my pleasure;     I make men run up and down before me,     And am not as young a girl as you pretend.     I am of Iran, of a powerful house, I am pure steel.     I hear that I am spoken of in Lahore."     I have seen a small proud face brimming with sunlight.     I also hear that they speak of you in Lahore,     You walk with a joyous step,     Your nails are red and the palms of your hands are rosy.     A pear-tree with a fresh stem is in your palace gardens,     I would not that your mother should give my pear-tree     To twine with an evil spice-tree or fool banana.     I have seen a small proud face brimming with sunlight.     "The coins that my father gave me for my forehead     Throw rays and light the hearts of far men;     The ray of light from my red ring is sharper than a diamond.     I go about and about in pride as of hemp wine     And my words are chosen.     But I give you my honey cheeks, dear, I trust them to you."     I have seen a small proud face brimming with sunlight.     The words of my mouth are coloured and shining things;     And two great saints are my perpetual guards.     There is never a song of Nur Uddin but has in it a great achievement     And is as brilliant as a young hyacinth;     I pour a ray of honey on my disciples,     There is as it were a fire in my ballades.     I have seen a small proud face brimming with sunlight.     From the Pus'hto (Afghans, nineteenth century).