أَلا رُبَّ يَومٍ يا ظَلومُ قَطَعتُهُ

أَلا رُبَّ يَومٍ يا ظَلومُ قَطَعتُهُ

بِمُلهِيَةٍ حَسناءَ يُعظِمُها الشَربُ

بِمُلهِيَةٍ حَسناءَ يُعظِمُها الشَربُ

Ah, many a day, O Zalum, I have spent

Alas, how often, O cruel day, have I cut you short

with a beautiful entertainer whom the drinking companions esteem.

With some sweet delight where drinking reigns;

فَأُقسِمُ ما خانَتكِ عَيني بِنَظرَةٍ

فَأُقسِمُ ما خانَتكِ عَيني بِنَظرَةٍ

إِلَيها وَلا كَفّي وَلا خانَكِ القَلبُ

إِلَيها وَلا كَفّي وَلا خانَكِ القَلبُ

So I swear: my eye has not betrayed you with a glance

Then I swear by my glances that betrayed you not,

at her, nor has my hand, nor has my heart betrayed you.

Nor by my hand, nor by my heart that has been true.