علقتُه طفلاً وعلَّق لوعتي

علقتُه طفلاً وعلَّق لوعتي

فَسَطا عليَّ ورام أن أتظلَّما

فَسَطا عليَّ ورام أن أتظلَّما

I loved him when he was a child, and my burning ardor bound me to him.

I fell in love with him as a child, and he bound my burning longing.

Then he bore down upon me, wanting me to complain of injustice.

Then he assailed me and wanted me to complain of injustice.

فطفقتُ استعفيه خوفَ توغّلِ

فطفقتُ استعفيه خوفَ توغّلِ

في حكمهِ وأرومُ أنْ يتحكّما

في حكمهِ وأرومُ أنْ يتحكّما

So I began asking him to spare me, fearing that he might go too far

So I began asking him to spare me, for fear of sinking deeper

in his judgment—yet I desire him to exercise absolute sway.

Under his sway, even as I wish him to rule at will.