ولو تراني وقد ظَفرتُ به

ولو تراني وقد ظَفرتُ به

ليلاً وسترُ الظَّلام مُنسدِلُ

ليلاً وسترُ الظَّلام مُنسدِلُ

And had you seen me when I had won him,

If you could see me when I've gained access

By night, with darkness’s veil hanging down,

At night, and darkness covers all

وللكَرىَ في الجفونِ داعيةٌ

وللكَرىَ في الجفونِ داعيةٌ

وقد حَدَاها حادٍ له عَجِلُ

وقد حَدَاها حادٍ له عَجِلُ

And in the eyelids was a call to sleep,

And sleep tempts the eyes

And a driver in haste had urged them on,

Excited by an eager, hasty one

وحَوِصَت أعينُ الوُشاةِ كما

وحَوِصَت أعينُ الوُشاةِ كما

جَمَّشَ مَعشُوقَه الفتى الغَزلُ

جَمَّشَ مَعشُوقَه الفتى الغَزلُ

And the tale-bearers’ eyes were stitched shut, as

The spies' eyes are narrowed as

The amorous youth caressed his beloved—

The young man caresses his beloved gently

فذاك مُغفٍ وذاك مُختَلط

فذاك مُغفٍ وذاك مُختَلط

يَهذي وهذا كأنه ثَمِلُ

يَهذي وهذا كأنه ثَمِلُ

So one was dozing; another, confused,

One is sleepy, the other confused

Was raving; and this one seemed drunk.

Babbling, while this one seems drunk

وقلت يا سيدي بَدَا عَلَمُ الصب

وقلت يا سيدي بَدَا عَلَمُ الصب

ح وكاد الظلامُ يَرتحلُ

ح وكاد الظلامُ يَرتحلُ

And I said, “My lord, dawn’s banner has appeared,

And I said, my lord, the light of dawn has appeared

And darkness is about to depart.”

And the darkness is about to leave

ثم انثنى يَبتَغي وُسادي إذ

ثم انثنى يَبتَغي وُسادي إذ

أيقنَ أنَّ الوُشاةَ قد غَفَلُوا

أيقنَ أنَّ الوُشاةَ قد غَفَلُوا

Then he turned back, seeking my pillow, when

Then he turned to take my pillow when

He knew for certain that the tale-bearers had grown heedless.

He realized the spies were heedless

فبات يشكو وبِتُّ أعذرُهُ

فبات يشكو وبِتُّ أعذرُهُ

وليس إلا العتابُ والِعلَلُ

وليس إلا العتابُ والِعلَلُ

So he spent the night complaining, and I excusing him;

So he spent the night complaining while I excused him

And there was nothing but reproach and excuses.

With only rebukes and ailments

لَخلتَنَا ثمّةَ شَعبتي غُصُنٍ

لَخلتَنَا ثمّةَ شَعبتي غُصُنٍ

يَومَ صباً نَلتَوي ونَعتَدِلُ

يَومَ صباً نَلتَوي ونَعتَدِلُ

There you would surely have thought us two shoots of a bough,

If only we were there, at the bend of the branch

On a day of east wind, as we bent and straightened.

One morning of youth, relaxing and straightening

يا طِيبَهَا ليلةً نَعِمتُ بها

يا طِيبَهَا ليلةً نَعِمتُ بها

غرَّاء أدنى نَعِيمِها القُبَلُ

غرَّاء أدنى نَعِيمِها القُبَلُ

Oh, how sweet was the night I delighted in!

Oh, what a wonderful night I enjoyed

Radiant—kisses were the least of its pleasures.

The kisses being the most delightful part of its bliss