أعنبسَ قد كنتُ لا فقر بي

أعنبسَ قد كنتُ لا فقر بي

إلى عِدةٍ منك كانت ضلالا

إلى عِدةٍ منك كانت ضلالا

O ʿAnbas, I had no need

Alas! Once I had no want of thee,

for a promise from you that proved a delusion.

No need for help you could bestow,

وعدت زهيداً لو انجزته

وعدت زهيداً لو انجزته

إذا لحُمدتَ ولم تُزرَ مالا

إذا لحُمدتَ ولم تُزرَ مالا

You promised a trifle; had you fulfilled it,

Though now a trifle would seem much

then you would have been praised, without loss to your wealth.

If you your promises fulfill.

وما كان ضرك لو أن وفرتَ

وما كان ضرك لو أن وفرتَ

وأعطى الخليفةُ عفواً نَوالا

وأعطى الخليفةُ عفواً نَوالا

And what harm would it have done you, had you spared your wealth,

No harm in you if you had given

and the caliph freely bestowed a gift?

And the Caliph in his mercy will

فقد يُنجز الحرُّ موعوده

فقد يُنجز الحرُّ موعوده

ويفعلُ ما كان بالأمس قالا

ويفعلُ ما كان بالأمس قالا

For a noble man fulfills his promise

The freeman may keep plighted troth,

and does what he had said yesterday.

And act today as erst he spoke.

فياليتني والمُنى كاسمها

فياليتني والمُنى كاسمها

وقد يُصرَفُ الدهر حالا فحالا

وقد يُصرَفُ الدهر حالا فحالا

So, if only I—and wishes are but wishes,

Would I were I, would Fate change not!

and time may change from state to state—

Time was, is not, and on will roll.

وعدتَ ولم التمس ما وعدتَ

وعدتَ ولم التمس ما وعدتَ

ويا ليت وعدَك كان اعتِلالاَ

ويا ليت وعدَك كان اعتِلالاَ

had received your promise without seeking what you promised.

You promised but ask not what was pledged

And if only your promise had been an excuse,

Would that your word had been but jest!

وكانت نعم منك محرومةً

وكانت نعم منك محرومةً

وقلتَ من أوّلِ يومٍ ألا لا

وقلتَ من أوّلِ يومٍ ألا لا

and a 'yes' from you had been withheld,

Your bounty grudged and from the first

and you had said from the very first day: 'Indeed, no.'

You said, tomorrow, tomorrow, nay!