لواني بما وعد البحتريُّ

لواني بما وعد البحتريُّ

وما كان يلوي إذا ما وعَدْ

وما كان يلوي إذا ما وعَدْ

Al-Buhturi put me off over what he promised,

My colours promised what al-Buhturi had promised

though he never used to delay when he gave his word.

And he was not one to break a promise

ولكنه قارَعَ النائبات

ولكنه قارَعَ النائبات

فأفنى التلاد وحلَّ العقدْ

فأفنى التلاد وحلَّ العقدْ

But he battled the blows of fate,

But misfortunes assailed him

so he exhausted his long-held wealth and untied the knots.

Destroying wellbeing and undoing ties

وما زال يصبر صبرَ الكرامِ

وما زال يصبر صبرَ الكرامِ

في الحقِ في المال حتى نفدْ

في الحقِ في المال حتى نفدْ

He kept enduring with the patience of the noble,

Yet he persevered with nobility's patience

meeting rightful claims on his wealth until it ran out.

In righteousness and wealth until depleted

ويعصي العواذل حتى أطاع

ويعصي العواذل حتى أطاع

ويُسرف في البذل حتى اقتصد

ويُسرف في البذل حتى اقتصد

And he defied the reproachful women until he obeyed them,

And defied temptations until obeying them

and gave lavishly until he grew frugal.

And was excessive in generosity until economizing

وقد يرحل العَوْد بعد الكلالِ

وقد يرحل العَوْد بعد الكلالِ

ويحمد من بعد ما قيل قدْ

ويحمد من بعد ما قيل قدْ

And an old camel may be saddled after weariness,

So the loved one may leave after intimacy

and be praised after it was said, “Enough!”

And one once blamed may later be praised