قالت وقد جاذبتها وتمنعت

قالت وقد جاذبتها وتمنعت

تيهاً وقد وشحتها بزنودي

تيهاً وقد وشحتها بزنودي

She said, as I tugged at her and she resisted,

She said, as I drew her to me but she resisted,

haughtily, while I wrapped her in my arms:

Wandering, as I wrapped her in my cloak,

قُدَّ النصيف اجبتها قد رقّ لي

قُدَّ النصيف اجبتها قد رقّ لي

فانقدّ مثل فؤادي المقدودِ

فانقدّ مثل فؤادي المقدودِ

"The veil is torn!" I answered her, "It had taken pity on me,

"Offer comfort, for my heart is torn

so it tore like my torn heart."

So come forward, like my heart that is cut up."

وهصرتها قالت دلالاً لم أكن

وهصرتها قالت دلالاً لم أكن

من بعد ذا بحبيبك المعهودِ

من بعد ذا بحبيبك المعهودِ

And I clasped her tightly; she said coyly, "I shall not be,

And I consoled her. She said coquettishly,

after this, the beloved you have known."

"I have never been, after this, accustomed to your love."

فذهلت من هذا فقالت لا ترع

فذهلت من هذا فقالت لا ترع

بل هذه شيم الحسانِ الغيد

بل هذه شيم الحسانِ الغيد

Then I was bewildered by this, so she said, "Do not be alarmed;

So I was amazed by this. She said, "Do not graze

rather, these are the ways of graceful beauties."

But this is the trait of the beautiful gazelle."

وتبسمت فرشفت خمر مباسم

وتبسمت فرشفت خمر مباسم

تشفي الجوى وجنيت ورد خدود

تشفي الجوى وجنيت ورد خدود

And she smiled, so I sipped the wine of her smiling lips,

And she smiled. Her smile was wine

which heals love's anguish, and plucked the roses of her cheeks.

That quenches the thirst, and I plucked roses from her cheeks.