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You were stingy with me, though none compares to you,

بخلت علي بجدوى سواك

1. You were stingy with me, though none compares to you,
And your belly was too tight, though capacious and vast.

١. بَخِلتَ عليَّ بجدوى سواكَ
وضاق به بطنُك الأعكَنُ

2. You fell short in a matter you undertook-
One like you always fails in what they take on.

٢. وخِستَ بأمرٍ تضمَّنته
ومثلُك خاسَ بما يَضمَنُ

3. It was clear to me when that happened,
What the sly fox had schemed and planned.

٣. ولم يخف عنِّيَ إذ كان ذاك
بما دبَّر الثَّيْتلُ الأقْرنُ

4. Your share is not my share if you cheat-
If only you had sense or skill in deceit!

٤. نصيبك ليس نصيبي بخس
تَ لو كنت تعقلُ أو تَدْهَنُ

5. You both schemed against me with women's wiles,
But your scheming is the weakest and most vile.

٥. تعاورتماني بكيد النساء
فكِيدا فكيدُكما الأوهَنُ

6. My tongue will expose what's in you,
Though it only sings your praises while praising you.

٦. سيرميكُما بالذي فيكما
لسانٌ بحمدكُما ألكَنُ

7. Abu Hasan, she is but a ruse,
Like the dawn's zephyr, nay, even more obtuse.

٧. أبا حسن إنها غيلةٌ
كناصيةِ الفَجْر بل أبينُ

8. Had I acquiesced to that foolish woman,
You'd have treated me well, as a wise man would.

٨. ولو كنتُ أرضيت تلك العجو
ز عاملتَني بالذي يَحْسنُ

9. But I refused, for I am chaste,
I keep secrets, though my virtues manifest.

٩. ولكن أبى ذاك لي أنني
عفيفٌ أسِرُّ كما أعلِنُ

10. So plot against me and do not relent,
You'll know whose plot is more excellent.

١٠. فكدني أكِدك ولا تألُني
ستعلم مَنْ كيدُه أَمْتنُ

11. No son of an adulterer will rest underground,
His honor will be seen as false, I'll be proven sound.

١١. وما ابنُ مَنينٍ قتيلٌ ثَوى
فسوفَ يُرَى عِرضُه أَمْينُ

12. He's the son of a martyr who earns no reward
Of martyrdom, but curses as his just reward.

١٢. هو ابن الشهيد الذي لا يُثاب
ثوابَ الشهادة بل يُلعنُ

13. Killed for adultery, filth, and vice,
By the Imam's sword-a terrible price!

١٣. قتيلُ الزنا والخنا صُبرةً
بسيف الإمام فبئس الهَنُ

14. He mounted a thousand women not rightfully his,
Yet claimed to be a man of honor, one who is chaste!

١٤. علا ألفَ أنثى بلا حِلِّها
على أنه رجلٌ مُحصَنُ

15. I suspect his mother was one of those whores,
Nay, I do more than suspect, I'm fully sure.

١٥. وأحسبُ أمَّ ابنِهِ بعضهنْ
ن بل لستُ أحسب بل أوقِنُ

16. For I knew long ago, when discerning the essence
Of a person, what ore they're made of, their provenance.

١٦. وقِدماً علمتُ إذا ما علم
ت من جوهر المرءِ ما المعدنُ