1. They said, "You have aspired high, bright, handsome."
I said, "These are traits possessed by the moon."
١. قالوا هَوَيتَ رَفيعاً نَيِّراً حَسَناً
فَقُلتُ هَذي خِصالٌ حازَها القَمَرُ
2. They said, "What is it to you?" I replied, apologizing,
"The same that you have, submission and consideration."
٢. قالوا فَمالَكَ مِنهُ قُلتُ مُعتَذِراً
مِثلُ الَّذي لَكُمُ التَسليمُ وَالنَظَرُ
3. They said, "What is love, if you are a wise man?
For it has perplexed the nomads and the settled alike."
٣. قالوا فَما الحُبُّ إِن كُنتَ اِمرَأً فَطِناً
فَقَد تَحَيَّرَ فيهِ البَدوُ وَالحَضَرُ
4. I said, "It is like honey, sweet to every mouth,
And in hearts, a flame from it burns."
٤. فَقُلتُ كَالشَهدِ يَحلو عِندَ كُلِّ فَمٍ
وَفي القُلوبِ لَهيبٌ مِنهُ يَستَعِرُ