If a beautiful girl walks with coverless hair
Her person the following points should unite-
Like a mirror her body should always be fair,
Her locks should be ebon and set off her height.

Her cheeks should recall springtide tulips a-blowing.
Her lips should be red and like cut amber glowing,
Her body, a jewel no fault ever showing,
From her head to her toes should be pure pearly white.

Her dress should be neat and impeccably clean.
Her manner must never be mincing or mean.
Her breath should be sweet and her glances serene,
Her hair with cool violets' scent should delight.

Both her arms and her legs should be graceful and slim,
Her buttocks well rounded, not fat, or too thin,
On her ankles two dimples and one on her chin,
Her face should be round and her bones should be slight.

At the door of maturity-fifteen, not more,
With no band on her brow that might cover some flaw,
She must not be precocious, or push to the fore,
Yet charming to guests that her lord may invite.

Let her beauty each morning attention excite-
A fine preening pheasant, delighting the sight.
She should not talk too much, but be gay and forthright.
Attentive she must be, and always polite.

Her allure should grow greater as time passes by.
Reserved she should be, retiring and shy,
Giving jaded men strength with a sweet-scented sigh.
Her words should be honeyed, her smile should be bright.

She must always be honest in deed and in word.
Intrigues by her prattle should never be stirred.
She should stand like a pine-tree and utter no word
Though fearing her head from her neck you may smite.

O Vagif, to the soul a sweet girl should appeal...
Our Khan needs a beauty, why waste so much zeal
Describing what powers-that-be ought to feel?
Let her heed our great Khan and bow to his might.

Translated by Tom Botting

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