أفدي حبيباً له قدرٌ على وغلا

أفدي حبيباً له قدرٌ على وغلا

على لكن له لطفٌ بمغرمه

على لكن له لطفٌ بمغرمه

I would give my life for a beloved who holds high rank in my eyes and is dear

I would ransom a beloved of lofty worth, grown dear

to me; yet he is gentle with the one enamored of him.

To me; yet he is gentle toward the one enamored of him.

أهاب تقبيله طوراً ويغلبني

أهاب تقبيله طوراً ويغلبني

وجدي فأجعل كفيه فدا فمه

وجدي فأجعل كفيه فدا فمه

At times I stand in awe of kissing him, yet I am overcome

At times I fear to kiss him, yet I am overcome

by my passion; so I make his two palms the ransom for his mouth.

By my longing, so I make his palms a ransom for his mouth.

وطالما عطفته رقةٌ فغدا

وطالما عطفته رقةٌ فغدا

يبيحني لثم خديه ومبسمه

يبيحني لثم خديه ومبسمه

How often tenderness softened him, so that he came

And often tenderness has softened him, so he has come

to permit me to kiss his two cheeks and his smiling mouth.

To let me kiss his cheeks and smiling mouth—

تكرماً منه قد نلت المرادَ به

تكرماً منه قد نلت المرادَ به

فلا خلا الدهر يوماً من تكرمه

فلا خلا الدهر يوماً من تكرمه

Through graciousness on his part, I have indeed attained my desire in him;

An act of generosity from him, through which I have attained my desire;

so may time never, even for one day, be bereft of his graciousness.

So may time never lack his generosity, even for a day.