وَما زِلتُ أَنهى النَفسَ عَن طاعَةِ الهَوى

وَما زِلتُ أَنهى النَفسَ عَن طاعَةِ الهَوى

وَلِلنَفسِ عَن أَمرِ الصَبابَةِ أَردَعُ

وَلِلنَفسِ عَن أَمرِ الصَبابَةِ أَردَعُ

I never ceased forbidding my soul to obey desire,

And I have never ceased forbidding the soul to obey passion,

and was its sternest curb against passion’s command.

And restraining the soul from ardent longing's command.

وَتابَعتُ أَمرَ العَقلِ حَتّى إِذا لَكُم

وَتابَعتُ أَمرَ العَقلِ حَتّى إِذا لَكُم

دَعاني الهَوى أَضحى لِيَ العَقلُ يَتَّبِعُ

دَعاني الهَوى أَضحى لِيَ العَقلُ يَتَّبِعُ

I followed reason’s command—until, when, for your sake,

And I followed reason's command until, for you,

passion called me, and reason became my follower.

Passion called me; then reason began to follow me.