1. When I saw the full moon rising
In the horizon of the sky, alone,
١. لَمّا رَأَيتُ البَدرَ في
أُفُق السَماءِ قَد اِستَقَلّا
2. And I saw the sun's horns setting
In the horizon of the west, head bowed,
٢. وَرَأَيتُ قَرنَ الشَمسِ في
أُفُقِ الغُروبِ وَقَد تَدَلّى
3. I likened this one and that one,
And I saw the two alike, most beautiful.
٣. شَبَّهتُ ذاكَ وَهَذِهِ
فَأَرى شَبيهَهُما أَجَلّا
4. The beloved's face when it appears,
The beloved's rump when it turns away.
٤. وَجهُ الحَبيبِ إِذا بَدا
وَقَفا الحَبيبِ إِذا تَوَلّى