1. By my father I swear, of those who think well of my intention,
And who loaned me thanks in advance,
١. وابِأبي من حَسَّن الظنَّ في
قصدي ومن أسلفني شكرا
2. And who invited me to the important task,
That makes easy the most difficult ruggedness.
٢. ومن دعاني للمهمّ الذي
يُسَهِّل المستصعَب الوَعْرا
3. You have done good, the good of a loving friend,
Who was sincere to me both in secret and openly.
٣. أحسنتَ إِحسانَ المحبّ الذي
أخلصَ لي الإسرارَ والجَهرا
4. And not, by whom I ask, hoping,
From him elevation, honor and help.
٤. ولا ومَن أسأله راجياً
منه العُلا والعزَّ والنصرا
5. Your poem did not come to me, drawing,
And my model a possessor of wine.
٥. ما جاءني شِعُرك مَسْتَقياً
وقدوتي مالكةٌ خمرا
6. Except whom I extracted, and she
Did not reach in her lifetime a month.
٦. إلا التي استخلصتُها وهْيَ لم
يَبْلُغُ مَدَى العمرِ لها شهرا
7. I wish I had left without anguish,
And I had not presented in creation an excuse.
٧. فليتني رحتُ بلا مُهْجةٍ
ولم أقدِّم في الورى عذرا
8. Or I wish I had owned my lifetime so that
I would give from it to those who asked me for half.
٨. أوْليتني مُلِّكتُ عمري لكي
أُعطِيّ منه سائلي الشَطْرا
9. But I loved you when I did not find,
From spending it, what exceeded a lifetime,
٩. لكنني أحبوك إذْ لم أجِد
من صِرْفها ما جاوز العمرا
10. Yellow like chrysolite, pure ruby,
Clear complexioned, virgin.
١٠. صفراءَ كالوَرْس عقيقيَّة
صافية عاتقة بِكْرا
11. He sends her to you, who approves,
The like of you equally, so await company.
١١. يَزُفُّها نحوك مَنْ يرتضي
مثلك كُفْؤاً فارتقب عَشرا
12. You are still to me, O Maliik, wellness,
Maybe my illness through you will recover.
١٢. لا زلتَ يا مالكُ لي سالماً
لعلّ سقمي بك أن يَبْرَا