منfrom أينَwhere تبتدئُbegins الحكايةُthe tale فيin الهوىlove
من أينَ تبتدئُ الحكايةُ في الهوى
أمنis it from الوصالِunion أوor الوعودِthe promises أوor النوىseparation؟
أمن الوصالِ أو الوعودِ أو النوى؟
Where does the tale of love begin—
Where does the tale begin in passion's throes -
With union, or promises, or separation?
From union, promises, or noble vows?
أمْor منfrom حقولfields الذكرياتthe memories وطيبهاand their fragrance
أمْ من حقول الذكريات وطيبها
أمْor منfrom تباريحtorments الصبابةِardent longing والجوىand heartache؟
أمْ من تباريح الصبابةِ والجوى؟
Or from the fields of memories and their fragrance,
Or from memory's fields, so sweet a place,
Or from the torments of longing and heartache?
Or from the springtime's youthful charm that glows?
قالتshe said: أتسألهاdo you ask her? وأنتwhile you ربيعهاher spring؟
قالت: أتسألها وأنت ربيعها؟
قدindeed عبَّdrank deeply برعمُهاher bud حنانكَyour tenderness وارتوىand quenched its thirst
قد عبَّ برعمُها حنانكَ وارتوى
She said, “Do you ask her, when you are her spring?
"Do you ask when you are its spring?" she said.
Her bud has drunk deep of your tenderness and quenched its thirst.”
Your tenderness has watered the first rose.
فأجبتُso I answered لوif يدريknew المحبُّthe lover مصيرَهhis fate
فأجبتُ لو يدري المحبُّ مصيرَه
ماnot ضلlost his way فيin طرقِpaths الغرامِpassion وماand not غوىwent astray
ما ضل في طرقِ الغرامِ وما غوى
So I answered, “If the lover knew his fate,
If the lover only knew his destiny,
He would not lose his way along the paths of passion, nor go astray.”
He'd never stray love's path, or be unwise.
Sol 6.1