1. She said, having heard that I attributed to her
In some of what I said, how impolite!

2. Don't the gossipers hear what flies between us
Of talk, whether true or lies?

3. They carried tales without fearing my rebuke when they exposed me
To slander they spread among themselves in parts

4. Don't they fear the sons of my paternal uncle who
Defend propriety with Indian staffs?

5. So a girl among her peers calmed her
With a charm of her charms that extinguishes anger

6. She said to her, “Hush, listen to a thread
Of his words, which delights the Arabs.”

7. And she recited to her some verses
That almost inspire delight in a chaste heart

8. By God, O you fault-finders, what is with you
That you find fault with one blown by the morning breeze?

9. Why be astonished at my heart and its passion
As if before this you never saw anything amazing?

10. Taste passion, then blame what appears to you
Or else, stop blaming me and spare yourselves fatigue.

11. You find fault with me for one who, if he appeared
Behind veils, you would tear through veils toward him.

12. I devoted my days to seriousness, so it taught me
That the vicissitudes of fate make me prefer play.

13. I have been tested by a heart that does not obey me
When I give it sincere advice, it refuses and warns.

14. It sees the torment of passion as a sweet experience
So have you heard before it a torment so sweet?

15. I sent my patience against my love to disturb it
From folly, but they stayed and warred.

16. If patience wins, the reward is for the patient
Or if passion wins, the world is for the victor.

17. She was delighted, then said laughingly,
“With the like of this magic, one attains what one seeks.”

18. A breath of magic with which knots are untied
Of what I was experiencing, when will God extinguish the flames?