أَلا لَيتَ شِعري كَيفَ أَصبَحَ عَهدُها

أَلا لَيتَ شِعري كَيفَ أَصبَحَ عَهدُها

أَدامَ عَلى ما كانَ أَم قَد تَغَيَّرا

أَدامَ عَلى ما كانَ أَم قَد تَغَيَّرا

Ah, would that I knew how her pledge now stands:

Oh, would that I knew how her covenant fared,

Has it remained as it was, or has it changed?

If with time it remained or if it were impaired;

فإِن يَكُ مَرُّ الدَهرِ غَيَّرَ وُدَّها

فإِن يَكُ مَرُّ الدَهرِ غَيَّرَ وُدَّها

وَأَودى بِهِ طولُ الزَمانِ فَأَدبَرا

وَأَودى بِهِ طولُ الزَمانِ فَأَدبَرا

For if the passage of time has changed her affection,

Should the days have estranged and altered her care,

and the long years have ruined it, so it has faded away,

And the long years have urged it to wear and tear;

فَإِني لَباقي الوُدِّ لا مُتَبَدِّلٌ

فَإِني لَباقي الوُدِّ لا مُتَبَدِّلٌ

سِواها بِها حَتّى أَموتَ فَأُقبَرا

سِواها بِها حَتّى أَموتَ فَأُقبَرا

then I surely remain steadfast in love, never taking

Yet I in my love remain steadfast and true,

another in her place until I die and am buried.

To none but her 'til death doth claim me and inter;

فَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ الحُبِّ أَبلى لِأَهلِهِ

فَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ الحُبِّ أَبلى لِأَهلِهِ

وَلا مِثلَ أَهلِ العِشقِ أَشقى وَأَصبَرا

وَلا مِثلَ أَهلِ العِشقِ أَشقى وَأَصبَرا

For I have seen nothing more trying for its people than love,

Ne'er saw I the like of this love so sincere,

nor anyone more wretched and more patient than those in love.

Nor the like of love's folk so afflicted and tried, yet so patient and firm.