لعمري لقد شرفت ودي بثلبه

لعمري لقد شرفت ودي بثلبه

ويرت لي فضلاً عليك ومفخرا

ويرت لي فضلاً عليك ومفخرا

By my life, you have honored my affection by disparaging it,

By my life! You have honored my love with your love,

And [given] me an advantage over you and a source of pride.

And conferred upon me a favor and pride over you.

صدقت وداد الورد رطبا ويابسا

صدقت وداد الورد رطبا ويابسا

وماءً إذا عصر الأزاهر أدبرا

وماءً إذا عصر الأزاهر أدبرا

I have loved the rose faithfully, fresh and dry,

You have proven true the love of the rose, fresh and dried,

And as rosewater, when the season of blossoms has passed.

And the water when the flowers are pressed becomes turbid.

وودك مثل الآس ليس بنافع

وودك مثل الآس ليس بنافع

ولا نافح إلا إذا كان اخضرا

ولا نافح إلا إذا كان اخضرا

Your affection is like myrtle: it is of no use,

Your love is like myrtle, it brings no benefit,

Nor does it waft fragrance unless it is green.

And only exhales fragrance when fresh and green.

أمل تر أن الورد يكرم أن ذوي

أمل تر أن الورد يكرم أن ذوي

ويطرح في الميضاة آس تغيرا

ويطرح في الميضاة آس تغيرا

Have you not seen that the rose is prized even when withered,

Have you not seen that the rose honors those who love it,

While discolored myrtle is cast into the washbasin?

And casts in the stream the myrtle that has changed?

أفضلت عبد السوء جهلاً على الذي

أفضلت عبد السوء جهلاً على الذي

غدا في الأزاهير الأمير المؤمرا

غدا في الأزاهير الأمير المؤمرا

In ignorance, you preferred the base slave to the one

You have preferred a wicked slave in his ignorance, over one

Who became the prince invested with command among the blossoms.

Who has become the trusted leader among the flowers.