له عِرسٌ له شركاءُ فيها

له عِرسٌ له شركاءُ فيها

كسابلةٍ تضمُّهُمُ سبيلُ

كسابلةٍ تضمُّهُمُ سبيلُ

He has a wife whom others share with him,

She has a wedding, and partners in it

Like wayfarers whom a road brings together.

Like threads that bind them together

يحِلّ لبعلها مائةٌ سِواها

يحِلّ لبعلها مائةٌ سِواها

لأن نصيبه منها قليل

لأن نصيبه منها قليل

Her husband may lawfully have a hundred others besides her,

A hundred are permitted to her husband besides her

For his share of her is small.

For his share of her is little

إذا لم يُرضِها نشزتْ عليه

إذا لم يُرضِها نشزتْ عليه

فتحرصُ أن يكون لها خليل

فتحرصُ أن يكون لها خليل

If he does not satisfy her, she rebels against him,

If she is not content she becomes agitated with him

So she is eager to have a lover.

And is eager to find a lover

وهل عِرسُ الفتى إلا غَبيطٌ

وهل عِرسُ الفتى إلا غَبيطٌ

يميل غبيطُها لولا العديل

يميل غبيطُها لولا العديل

And is a young man's wife anything but a camel litter?

Is a young man's wedding anything but temporary infatuation?

Her litter would tip were it not for the counterbalancing rider.

Her infatuation would stray if not for virtue