ما كنت للعهد القديم بناسي

ما كنت للعهد القديم بناسي

فألين للعذال بعد شماسي

فألين للعذال بعد شماسي

Never did I forget the old covenant between us.

I was never one to forget the old pledge,

So I now yield to the reproachers, after my proud resistance.

and thus yield to the reproachers after my defiance.

هيهات عاصاني السلو وعادني

هيهات عاصاني السلو وعادني

عيد الهوى واقتادني وسواسي

عيد الهوى واقتادني وسواسي

Far from it: release from love refused me, and back to me came

Far from it! Forgetfulness defied me, and back to me came

the feast of passion; my own obsession led me captive.

love’s festival, and my obsessive thoughts led me captive.

وبمهجتي خنث الشمائل قلبه

وبمهجتي خنث الشمائل قلبه

قاس وقلبي للغرام يقاسي

قاس وقلبي للغرام يقاسي

By my soul, tender though his ways are, his heart

And I would give my lifeblood for one of tender manners, whose heart

is hard, while mine suffers for love.

is hard, while my heart suffers from love.