لا تعجبوا منه فما حسنه

لا تعجبوا منه فما حسنه

إلا بليغ حرت في وصفه

إلا بليغ حرت في وصفه

Do not marvel at him—how beautiful he is!

Do not marvel at him, for his beauty

Eloquent though I am, I am at a loss to describe him.

is but an eloquent speaker; I was at a loss to describe him.

إن كان قد أوجز في خصره

إن كان قد أوجز في خصره

فإنه أطنب في ردفه

فإنه أطنب في ردفه

If he has been succinct in his waist,

If he has been concise in his waist,

then surely he has been expansive in his haunches.

then he has been expansive in his rump.

وما أتى بالواو من صدغه

وما أتى بالواو من صدغه

إلا وقد رتب في عطفه

إلا وقد رتب في عطفه

And the wāw traced by his temple-lock

And he did not bring the letter wāw from his temple-lock

was set there only as a conjunction in his curve.

without first arranging it along his side.

ولف في البردة أعطافه

ولف في البردة أعطافه

حتى يطيب النشر من لفه

حتى يطيب النشر من لفه

He wrapped his graceful form in the mantle,

And he wrapped his sides in the cloak,

that its unfolding might be sweetened by his enfolding.

so that sweet fragrance would spread from his wrapping.