العَهدُ عَهدانِ فَعَهدُ اِمرِئٍ

العَهدُ عَهدانِ فَعَهدُ اِمرِئٍ

يَأنَفُ أَن يَغدُرَ أَو يَنقُضا

يَأنَفُ أَن يَغدُرَ أَو يَنقُضا

Pledges are of two kinds: the pledge of a man

A pact is of two kinds: the pact of a noble man

who disdains to betray or break his pledge;

Who would be ashamed to break it or revoke it

وَعَهدُ ذي لَونَينِ مَلّالَةٍ

وَعَهدُ ذي لَونَينِ مَلّالَةٍ

يوشِكُ إِن وُدَّكَ أَن يُبغِضا

يوشِكُ إِن وُدَّكَ أَن يُبغِضا

and the pledge of a two-faced man, quick to tire,

And the fickle one's pact, like dyed silk

who, if he loves you, is soon apt to hate you.

That fades with washing, and rapidly changes.

إِن لَم تَزُرهُ قالَ قَد مَلَّني

إِن لَم تَزُرهُ قالَ قَد مَلَّني

وَبِالحَرى إِن زُرتَ أَن يُعرِضا

وَبِالحَرى إِن زُرتَ أَن يُعرِضا

If you do not visit him, he says, “He has grown tired of me”;

If you do not visit him, he says, "you have wearied me"

and if you visit, he is likely to turn away.

And surely, if you do visit, he is apt to be cold

شيمَتُهُ مِثلُ الخِضابِ الَّذي

شيمَتُهُ مِثلُ الخِضابِ الَّذي

بَينا تَراهُ قانِياً إِذ نَضا

بَينا تَراهُ قانِياً إِذ نَضا

His nature is like the dye that

His nature is like the dyed garment

suddenly fades away even as you see it deep crimson.

Which while you see it shining seems wetted through