وَلَيْلَةٍ مِنْ لَيالي الدَّهْرِ صَالِحَةٍ

وَلَيْلَةٍ مِنْ لَيالي الدَّهْرِ صَالِحَةٍ

فَهُنَّ وَهْيَ الشِّفاهُ اللُّعْسُ وَالرَّثَم

فَهُنَّ وَهْيَ الشِّفاهُ اللُّعْسُ وَالرَّثَم

And a fine night among the nights of time—

And one night of the nights of time, wholesome,

Those nights were dusky lips, and this one their white mark.

They are, and it is, lips parched and cracked,

جَعَلْتُ يُمنايَ فَيها طَوْقَ غَانِيَةٍ

جَعَلْتُ يُمنايَ فَيها طَوْقَ غَانِيَةٍ

حُوُرٌ مَدامِعُها في كَشْحِها هَضَمُ

حُوُرٌ مَدامِعُها في كَشْحِها هَضَمُ

That night I made my right hand a necklace for a beauty,

I made my right side during it a necklace of melody,

Her eyes dark against brilliant whites, her waist slender.

Maidens whose tears in their cheeks are concealed,

فَارْفَضَّ شَمْلُ الكَرى وَالطَّلُ يُخْضِلُنا

فَارْفَضَّ شَمْلُ الكَرى وَالطَّلُ يُخْضِلُنا

سَقيطُهُ وَثُغُورُ الصُّبْحِ تَبْتَسِمُ

سَقيطُهُ وَثُغُورُ الصُّبْحِ تَبْتَسِمُ

Then sleep’s company scattered, and dew drenched us

So the fellowship of friends refused, and the night made us languid,

With its falling drops, while dawn’s mouths smiled.

Its decline, and the morn's caverns smile,

نَمْشِي بِمُنْعَرَجِ الوادِي عَلى وَجَلٍ

نَمْشِي بِمُنْعَرَجِ الوادِي عَلى وَجَلٍ

وَالنَّوْمُ مِنْ أَعْيُنِ الواشِينَ يَنْتَقِمُ

وَالنَّوْمُ مِنْ أَعْيُنِ الواشِينَ يَنْتَقِمُ

We walked along the valley’s bend in fear,

We walk along the winding valley's path hesitantly,

While sleep took vengeance on the tale-bearers’ eyes.

And sleep from the eyes of the watchmen takes revenge,

ثُمَّ افْتَرَقْنا وَبُرْدِي في مَعاطِفِهِ

ثُمَّ افْتَرَقْنا وَبُرْدِي في مَعاطِفِهِ

تُقىً يُعانِقُ فيهِ العِفَّةَ الكَرَمُ

تُقىً يُعانِقُ فيهِ العِفَّةَ الكَرَمُ

Then we parted, and within my cloak’s folds

Then we parted, and my innocence in its mantles

Lay piety, where nobility embraced chastity.

Protectively embraces in it virtue and nobility.