1. I have become so fearful that if a dove were to pass by
I would say, "An enemy or an advance guard."
١. لَقَد خِفتُ حَتَّى لَو تَمُرُّ حَمامَةٌ
لَقُلتُ عَدُوٌّ أَو طَليعَةُ مَعشَرِ
2. And I feared my dear, pure friend and he avoided me,
And it was said, "So-and-so" or "What's-her-name," so beware.
٢. وَخِفتُ خَليلي ذا الصَّفاءِ وَرابَني
وَقيلَ فُلانٌ أَو فُلانَةُ فَاِحذَرِ
3. So I have become like a wild beast who follows the lonely places
And avoids the companionable towns in disarray.
٣. فَأَصبَحتُ كَالوَحشِيِّ يَتبَعُ ما خَلا
وَيَترُكُ مَأنوسَ البِلادِ المُدَعثرِ
4. If good is spoken of, I say, "This is a trick."
And if evil is spoken of, I say, "Truth, so roll up your sleeves."
٤. إِذا قيلَ خَيرٌ قُلت هَذي خَديعَةٌ
وَإِن قيلَ شَرٌّ قُلتُ حَقٌّ فَشَمِّرِ