تَصاوَنَ مَن أَهوى وَصَوني أَورَثا

تَصاوَنَ مَن أَهوى وَصَوني أَورَثا

لِقَلبِيَ ناراً كُلَّ وَقتٍ لَها وَقدُ

لِقَلبِيَ ناراً كُلَّ وَقتٍ لَها وَقدُ

My beloved's reserve and my own restraint have bequeathed

My beloved is unfaithful, yet I am faithful

to my heart a fire that blazes at every moment.

And set my heart ablaze, for her love is my duty

كَأَنّي ابنُ داودٍ شَهيدُ ابن جامِعٍ

كَأَنّي ابنُ داودٍ شَهيدُ ابن جامِعٍ

أَو ابنُ كُليبٍ في هَوى أَسلمٍ يَعدُو

أَو ابنُ كُليبٍ في هَوى أَسلمٍ يَعدُو

As though I were Ibn Dawud, the martyr of Ibn Jamiʿ,

I am like David's martyred son, ardently loving

or Ibn Kulayb, racing in his love for Aslam.

Or Aslam's worshipper, passionately yearning

هُما أَظهَرا في الناسِ حُبَّيهِما مَعاً

هُما أَظهَرا في الناسِ حُبَّيهِما مَعاً

وَحُبّي مَستورٌ لَدى الناسِ ما يَبدو

وَحُبّي مَستورٌ لَدى الناسِ ما يَبدو

They both made their loves known among the people,

Both openly declared their love, not discreet

while my love remains concealed from people, never showing.

While I in secret pine, from people discrete

عَلى أَنَّني في الحُبِّ ثالِث ثَلاثة

عَلى أَنَّني في الحُبِّ ثالِث ثَلاثة

تَوالى عَلَينا الشَوقُ وَالدَّمعُ وَالسُّهدُ

تَوالى عَلَينا الشَوقُ وَالدَّمعُ وَالسُّهدُ

Although in love I am the third of three,

Though in passion, I am third of a trio

longing, tears, and sleeplessness came upon us in succession.

As longing, tears and wakefulness my days squander

قَضى نَحبَهُ وَجداً وَشَوقاً كِلاهُما

قَضى نَحبَهُ وَجداً وَشَوقاً كِلاهُما

وَضَمَّهُما مِن فَرطِ بَلواهما لَحدُ

وَضَمَّهُما مِن فَرطِ بَلواهما لَحدُ

Both met their deaths from passion and longing,

Both perished from fervent love and yearning

and a grave embraced them, so great was their suffering.

Together interred, for love was too burning

فَإِن كُنتُ عَن صَحبي تَراخَت مَنيَّتي

فَإِن كُنتُ عَن صَحبي تَراخَت مَنيَّتي

فَحَسبي أَنّي في الوَرى الفَلكُ الفَردُ

فَحَسبي أَنّي في الوَرى الفَلكُ الفَردُ

So if my death has been delayed beyond my companions',

If I lack passion for my company, never fret

it suffices that among humankind I am the peerless celestial sphere.

For I'm the lone planet, no equal nor opposite set

وَرِثتُ لَذاذاتِ المحَبّاتِ كُلّها

وَرِثتُ لَذاذاتِ المحَبّاتِ كُلّها

فَماليَ فيها لا شريكٌ وَلا ضِدُّ

فَماليَ فيها لا شريكٌ وَلا ضِدُّ

I have inherited all the delights of love,

I inherited love's joy, but have no partner

so in them I have neither partner nor rival.

In this I'm peerless, no rival can alter

وَحُبّي يَدري أَنَّني صادِقُ الهَوى

وَحُبّي يَدري أَنَّني صادِقُ الهَوى

كَتُومٌ وَمالي مِن هَوى حُسنِهِ بُدُّ

كَتُومٌ وَمالي مِن هَوى حُسنِهِ بُدُّ

And my beloved knows that I am true in love,

My love knows well my passion is honest and true

discreet, and unable to escape loving his beauty.

Though hidden, no other beauty can my love subdue