خليليَ لا تندم على العتب للحبّ

خليليَ لا تندم على العتب للحبّ

فإن خفيف الحب أنفع بالطب

فإن خفيف الحب أنفع بالطب

My friend, do not regret reproach for love's sake.

My love, do not regret reproaching love,

My companion, do not regret the reproach that comes with love,

For mild love is more beneficial in healing.

For light reproach is most beneficial to love.

For a light measure of it is the most effective cure.

فما ذاك مكروهٌ ولا بمحرّم

فما ذاك مكروهٌ ولا بمحرّم

بشرع الهوى بل ذاك فرضٌ على الصب

بشرع الهوى بل ذاك فرضٌ على الصب

So that is neither disapproved nor forbidden

This is no evil nor forbidden,

For that is neither detestable nor forbidden

Under passion's law; rather, it is a duty upon the lovesick lover.

By the law of passion, but a duty upon the lover.

In the law of passion; rather, it is a mandatory duty upon the ardent lover.

سبيل الهوى هجرٌ ووصلٌ وفرقةق

سبيل الهوى هجرٌ ووصلٌ وفرقةق

وجمعٌ وخلفٌ بالزيارة والعتب

وجمعٌ وخلفٌ بالزيارة والعتب

The path of passion is estrangement, union, and parting,

The way of love is estrangement, union, separation,

The path of passion is abandonment, connection, and separation,

And reunion, broken promises to visit, and reproach.

Reunion, absence, and return with reproach.

Reunion, and conflict over visits and chiding.

وهذي دواعٍ للعتاب كثيرة

وهذي دواعٍ للعتاب كثيرة

لذا كان طولُ العتب ألزم للحب

لذا كان طولُ العتب ألزم للحب

And these are many reasons for reproach;

These are many causes for reproach,

These indeed are many causes for reproach,

Thus prolonged reproach was more necessary for love.

Thus long reproach is most fitting for love.

Thus, prolonged reproach is most essential to love.

وقد قيل يبقى الود ما العتب باقياً

وقد قيل يبقى الود ما العتب باقياً

فللّه ما أحلى مقال ذوي اللب

فللّه ما أحلى مقال ذوي اللب

And it has indeed been said: affection endures as long as reproach remains.

It is said love endures as long as reproach endures,

It has been said: Affection endures as long as reproach remains,

So, by God, how sweet is the saying of the wise!

What wonderful words from the wise!

By God, how sweet is the speech of those possessed of wisdom!

إذا لم يكن في الحبّ سخط ولا رضىً

إذا لم يكن في الحبّ سخط ولا رضىً

فأين حلاوات الرسائل والكتب

فأين حلاوات الرسائل والكتب

If there is neither displeasure nor contentment in love,

If there is no anger or pleasure in love,

If love contains neither indignation nor contentment,

Then where are the sweet delights of letters and written messages?

Where are the sweet letters and books?

Then where are the delights of letters and missives?

وأطيبُ أيّام الهوى يومك الذي

وأطيبُ أيّام الهوى يومك الذي

تروّع بالتعنيف فيه وبالسب

تروّع بالتعنيف فيه وبالسب

And the sweetest of passion's days is your day on which

The most beautiful days of love are those

And the most pleasant of passion's days is the day in which

You are frightened by harsh rebuke and by insults.

When you alarm me with rebuke and insult.

You are shaken by harsh rebuke and insults.