وَظَبْيٍ تَهَتَّكْتُ فِي حُبِّهِ

وَظَبْيٍ تَهَتَّكْتُ فِي حُبِّهِ

وَغَيرِيَ بِالوَصلِ منه انتَفَعْ

وَغَيرِيَ بِالوَصلِ منه انتَفَعْ

And a gazelle—in loving him I cast restraint aside,

I was passionately in love with a gazelle

while another enjoyed union with him.

While others benefited from union with it

فَقُلْتُ أقاتِلُ بِالسَّيفِ مَنْ

فَقُلْتُ أقاتِلُ بِالسَّيفِ مَنْ

يُزاحِمُنِي فِيهِ حَتَّى أقَعْ

يُزاحِمُنِي فِيهِ حَتَّى أقَعْ

So I said, “I shall fight with the sword whoever

So I said I will fight with the sword whoever

rivals me for him, until I fall.”

Seeks to rival me for it until I perish

فَقَالَ إذَا رُمْتَ قَمْعَ العِدَا

فَقَالَ إذَا رُمْتَ قَمْعَ العِدَا

فَقَاتِلْ بِسَعدٍ وَإلاَّ فَدَعْ

فَقَاتِلْ بِسَعدٍ وَإلاَّ فَدَعْ

Then he said, “If you seek to subdue your foes,

It replied when you try to suppress enemies

then fight with fortune on your side—or else desist.”

Fight with happiness, otherwise refrain