1. لها ناظرٌ بالسحر في القلب نافثُ

    ووجهٌ على كسبِ الخطيئات باعثُ

    She has a gaze that breathes magic into the heart,

    and a face that urges one to commit sins;

  2. وقدٌّ كغصن البان مُضطمِرُ الحشا

    تَنُوء به كثبانُ رمل أواعِثُ

    and a figure like a bān-tree branch, slender at the waist,

    which soft dunes of sand strain to bear.

  3. يُجاذِبها عند النهوض وينثني

    بأعطافها فرعٌ سُخامٌ جُثاجِثُ

    Tugging against her as she rises, and bending

    along her curves, is a soft, luxuriant head of hair.

  4. كأن صباحاً واضحاً في قِناعها

    أناخَ عليه جُنْحُ ليلٍ مُغالثُ

    As though a bright morning within her veil

    had night's overpowering darkness settle upon it.

  5. وتبسِمُ عن عِقدين من حَبِّ مزنةٍ

    به ماثَ صفوَ الراح بالمسك مائثُ

    And she smiles, revealing two necklaces of cloud-born hail,

    where a mixer has blended the purest wine with musk.

  6. يغَصُّ بها الخَلخال والعاجُ والبُرى

    وأثوابُها بالخَصْر منها غَوارثُ

    Her anklet, ivory bangles, and rings are choked by her fullness,

    while at her waist her garments hunger for her.

  7. ربيبة أتراب حِسان كأنها

    بناتُ أَداحٍ لم يَشْنهنَّ طامثُ

    A girl reared among lovely peers, who seem

    like eggs in ostrich nests, unmarred by any deflowerer.

  8. غرائرُ كالغِزلان حورٌ عيونُها

    رخيماتُ دَلٍّ ناعماتٌ خَوانثُ

    Guileless, like gazelles, with eyes of brilliant white and deep black,

    soft in their coquetry, delicate and languid.

  9. يَعِدنْ فما يُنجزنَ وعداً لواعدٍ

    وهن لميثاق الخليل نواكثُ

    They promise, yet fulfill no promise to one who promises,

    and they break their beloved's covenant.

  10. غَنِيتُ بها فيهنَّ والشملُ جامعٌ

    وأغصانُ عيشي مورقاتٌ أَثائثُ

    I was content with her among them, while we were united,

    and the branches of my life were leafy and luxuriant.

  11. وللهو مُهتادٌ أنيقٌ وللصبا

    مَغانٍ بِهنَّ الغانياتُ لوابثُ

    And pleasure had a delightful retreat, and youthful passion

    had abodes where beautiful women lingered.

  12. يُمنِّيننا منهنَّ نجحَ مواعدٍ

    أكفٌّ بحباتِ القلوب ضَوابثُ

    They fill us with hopes of trysts with them fulfilled—

    hands that clutch the very cores of hearts,

  13. وأعيانُ غِزلانٍ مِراضٍ جُفونُها

    لواحظُها في كل نفسٍ عوائثُ

    and gazelles' eyes with languid lids,

    their sidelong glances ravaging every soul.

  14. إذا هن قرَّبن الظما من نفوسنا

    إلى الرِّيِّ تُلقَى دون ذاك الهنَابثُ

    When they bring the thirst of our souls

    close to quenching, troubles are thrown in the way.

  15. ويحلفنَ لا ينقُضنَ في ذات بيننا

    على الدهر معهوداً وهنَّ حوانثُ

    And they swear they will not break, in the bond between us,

    a pledge for all time—yet they break their oaths.

  16. وإن نحن أبرمنا القُوى من حِبالنا

    أبى الوصلَ دهرٌ بالمحبين عابثُ

    And though we twisted tight the strands of our ropes,

    Time refused union, trifling with lovers.

  17. ومختلفاتٌ بالنمائمِ بيننا

    نوابثُ عن أسرارنا وبواحثُ

    And women who carry tales to and fro between us,

    digging into our secrets and searching them out,

  18. يباكرنَ فينا نجعةَ العتبِ بيننا

    كما انتجع الوِردَ العِطاشُ اللواهثُ

    come early among us, seeking a pasture of mutual reproach,

    as the panting thirsty seek a watering place.

  19. فبدَّد منّا الشملَ بعد انتظامِهِ

    صروفٌ طوتْ أسبابنا وحوادثُ

    So our company was scattered after it had been knit together,

    by vicissitudes that folded up our bonds, and calamities.

  20. وكلُّ جديدٍ لا مَحالةَ مُخلِقٌ

    وباعثُ هذا الخَلْقِ للخلقِ وارثُ

    And everything new inevitably grows worn,

    and He who raises this creation is heir to creation.

  21. وهنَّ الليالي حاكِماتٌ على الورى

    بنقضٍ ولا يبقى عليهن ماكثُ

    And the nights pass judgment upon humankind,

    decreeing dissolution; none who abides outlasts them.

  22. وَمَنْ لم ينلْ مُلكَ المكارمِ باللُّهى

    فأموالُهُ للشامتينَ مَوارثُ

    And whoever does not win the kingdom of noble deeds through largesse,

    then his riches are inheritances for those who gloat.

  23. يسود الفتى ما كان حشوَ ثيابهِ

    حِجاً وتُقىً والحلمُ من بعدُ ثالثُ

    A young man leads so long as what fills his clothes

    is reason and piety, with forbearance third after them,

  24. وغيثٌ على العافينَ منهمرُ الحيا

    وليثٌ هصورٌ للعُداة مُلائِثُ

    and a rain-cloud pouring showers upon those seeking bounty,

    and a mauling lion grappling with his enemies,

  25. وصفحٌ وإكرامٌ وعقلٌ يَزينُهُ

    خلائق لا يَخْزَى بهن دمائثُ

    and pardon, graciousness, and reason that adorns him—

    gentle virtues through which he never suffers shame;

  26. وكَفَّانِ في هذي رَدَى كل ظالمٍ

    وفي هذه للمُستغيث مَغَاوثُ

    and two hands: in this one, every oppressor's doom,

    and in this one, succor for the one who cries for help.

  27. فكن سيداً ذا نعمةٍ غيرَ خاملٍ

    وصُن منكَ عِرْضاً أن يسبَّك رافثُ

    So be a prosperous lord, not an obscure one,

    and guard your honor lest a foul-mouthed man revile you.