1. إذا أسقيتني كوزاً بخطيِّ

    على ما بدا لك في الجدار

    If you give me a cup to drink on my written pledge,

    for whatever sum you see fit upon the wall,

  2. فإن أعطيتني عيناً بدين

    فهاتي العين وانتظري ضماري

    if you give me ready money on credit,

    then hand over the money and await my doubtful repayment.

  3. خرقت مقدما من جنب ثوبي

    حيال مكان ذاك من الأزار

    I tore open the front at the side of my robe,

    opposite that thing’s place in the waistcloth.

  4. فقالت ويلها رجل ويمشي

    بما يمشي بهِ عُجَر الحمار

    Then she said, “Woe to her! A man, yet he walks

    with what ʿUjar the donkey walks with!”

  5. وقالت ما تريد فقلت خيراً

    نسيئة ما عليَّ إلى يساري

    And she said, “What do you want?” I said, “A kindness—

    a deferral of what I owe until I have means.”

  6. فصدت بعدما نظرت إليه

    وقد المحتها عنق الحوار

    Then she turned away after looking at it,

    and I had shown her the neck of a camel calf.