1. What ails your heart, so restless and disturbed,
And why do tears from your eyes pouring down?
١. ما بالُ قَلبِكَ عادَهُ أَطرابُهُ
وَلِدَمعِ عَينِكَ مُخضِلاً تَسكابُهُ
2. Memories remembered by the wood and fret,
Until it hides in the soil and decays.
٢. ذِكرى تَذَكَّرَها الرَبابُ وَهَمُّهُ
حَتّى يُغَيَّبَ في التُرابِ رَبابُهُ
3. She said to the messenger, “Go, tell him,
If he journeys with all his friends,
٣. قالَت لِنائِلَةَ اِذهَبي قولي لَهُ
إِن كانَ أَجمَعَ رِحلَةً أَصحابُهُ
4. Then let him stay with me one night,
For he will be rewarded by me.”
٤. فَليَبقَ بَعدَهُمُ لَدَينا لَيلَةً
فَلَهُ عَلَيَّ بِأَن يُجادَ ثَوابُهُ
5. I said, “Go, tell her my stay
Has been long in your abode and carriage.
٥. قُلتُ اِذهَبي قولي لَها قَد طالَ ما
حُبِسَت لَدَيكِ عَلى الكَلالِ رِكابُهُ
6. We spent the most delightful night,
Concealing it from dawn with its veil.
٦. بِتنا بِأَنعَمِ لَيلَةٍ وَأَلَذِّها
لِلنَفسِ ما سَتَرَ الصَباحَ حِجابُهُ
7. Until the morning shone its light,
Revealing his fair and glowing complexion.
٧. حَتّى إِذا ما الصُبحُ أَشرَقَ ضَوءُهُ
عَن لَونِ أَشقَرَ واضِحٍ أَقرابُهُ
8. The guard entrusted with her words said,
To the learned youth enjoying life,
٨. قالَت مُوَكَّلَةٌ بِحِفظِ كَلامِها
لِمُعَلَّمٍ حاطَ النَعيمَ شَبابُهُ
9. “I fear the evil eye if it sees him,
And finds our youth alluring.
٩. أَخشى عَلَيهِ العَينَ إِن بَصُرَت بِهِ
وَتَرى صَبابَتَنا بِهِ فَتَهابُهُ
10. The day reveals things clearly,
While night hides them in its darkness.”
١٠. إِنَّ النَهارَ وَذاكَ حَقٌّ واضِحٌ
وَاللَيلُ يَخفى بِالظَلامِ رِكابُهُ