كَتَبَت عَلى فَصٍّ لِخاتَمِها

كَتَبَت عَلى فَصٍّ لِخاتَمِها

مَن مَلَّ مَحبوباً فَلا رَقَدا

مَن مَلَّ مَحبوباً فَلا رَقَدا

She wrote on the gem of her ring:

She wrote on her ring's bezel:

She wrote upon the bezel of her ring:

"May whoever tires of a beloved never sleep."

He who loves and then sleeps, may he never rest

"Whoever tires of a love shall find no rest."

فَكَتَبتُ في فَصٍّ لِيَبلُغَها

فَكَتَبتُ في فَصٍّ لِيَبلُغَها

مَن نامَ لَم يَعقِل كَمَن سَهِدا

مَن نامَ لَم يَعقِل كَمَن سَهِدا

So I wrote on a gem, that it might reach her:

So I wrote on mine to reach her:

So on a stone I wrote to answer her:

"He who sleeps does not understand as one who lies awake does."

He who sleeps lacks the sense of one awake

"The sleeper knows not what the wakeful feel."

فَمَحَتهُ وَاِكتَتَبَت لِيَبلُغَني

فَمَحَتهُ وَاِكتَتَبَت لِيَبلُغَني

لا نامَ مَن يَهوى وَلا هَجَدا

لا نامَ مَن يَهوى وَلا هَجَدا

So she erased it and wrote, that it might reach me:

She erased it and wrote to reach me:

She wiped it out, and wrote to send me word:

"May whoever loves neither sleep nor slumber."

He who loves does not sleep or lie down

"May he who loves find neither sleep nor peace."

فَمَحَيتُهُ ثُمَّ اِكتَتَبتُ أَنا

فَمَحَيتُهُ ثُمَّ اِكتَتَبتُ أَنا

وَاللَهِ أَوَّلُ مَيِّتٍ كَمَدا

وَاللَهِ أَوَّلُ مَيِّتٍ كَمَدا

So I erased it, then wrote: "I am—

I erased mine, then wrote myself:

I wiped it out, and then inscribed my vow:

by God—the first to die of anguish."

By God, the first dead was inert

"By God, I am the first to die of grief."

فَمَحَتهُ وَاِكتَتَبَت تُعارِضُني

فَمَحَتهُ وَاِكتَتَبَت تُعارِضُني

وَاللَهِ لا كَلَّمتُهُ أَبَدا

وَاللَهِ لا كَلَّمتُهُ أَبَدا

So she erased it and wrote to counter me:

So she erased and wrote to counter me:

She wiped it out, and wrote rebuking me:

"By God, I will never speak to him."

By God, I shall never speak to him again

"By God, I'll never speak to him again."