أقسَمتُI swore باللهِby God مَاnot لَحظglance الفتاةِthe maiden’s كَرُuncertain as written; apparently Kar, a name used in address
أقسَمتُ باللهِ مَا لَحظ الفتاةِ كَرُ
مَهماhowever much تَرقرَقَit shimmers إلاbut صَارِمٌa keen sword ذَكَرُhard, well-tempered
مَهما تَرقرَقَ إلا صَارِمٌ ذَكَرُ
I swore by God: the maiden’s glance, O Kar—
I swear by God, the glance of a maid is not shame
however it shimmers, is nothing but a keen, well-tempered sword.
No matter how gently her eyes may gleam, still it stirs a man's heart
تَسبيshe takes captive الحليمَthe self-possessed man إذَاwhen غَنَّتshe sings أوor ابتسمتshe smiles
تَسبي الحليمَ إذَا غَنَّت أو ابتسمت
وليسand does not ينفعavail فِيماin what قُدِّرُhas been decreed الحَذَرُcaution
وليس ينفع فِيما قُدِّرُ الحَذَرُ
She takes the self-possessed man captive when she sings or smiles,
She captivates the wise man when she sings or smiles
and caution avails nothing against what has been decreed.
Caution is useless against what is destined to be
Sol 6.1