رأيت في طاقةٍ كالبدرِ وجه فتى

رأيت في طاقةٍ كالبدرِ وجه فتى

فقلت من تحت هذا البانة النضره

فقلت من تحت هذا البانة النضره

In a window I saw a youth’s face, like the full moon.

In an opening like the full moon I saw a youth's face

So I said, “Beneath this is a verdant bān tree.”

So I asked, who is this with the radiant forehead?

قالوا حكمت وما أبصرت قامته

قالوا حكمت وما أبصرت قامته

فقلت إني عرفت الغصن بالثمره

فقلت إني عرفت الغصن بالثمره

They said, “You have judged, though you have not seen his stature.”

They said you guessed but did not see his stature

So I said, “Indeed, I recognized the branch by its fruit.”

I said I knew the branch by its fruit