لا يُؤيسَنَّكَ مِن مَخبَأَةٍ

لا يُؤيسَنَّكَ مِن مَخبَأَةٍ

مَنَعَ تَدُلُّ بِهِ وَلَو فَدَحا

مَنَعَ تَدُلُّ بِهِ وَلَو فَدَحا

Do not despair of a secluded woman

Let no despair make you give up seeking

because of a refusal she coyly flaunts, however grievous.

A treasure, though the quest be fraught with toil,

وَلا يَصُدُّكَ عَن زِيارَتِها

وَلا يَصُدُّكَ عَن زِيارَتِها

قَولٌ تُغلِظُهُ وَأَن جَرَحا

قَولٌ تُغلِظُهُ وَأَن جَرَحا

Nor be deterred from visiting her

Nor let a threatening word turn you from visiting

by a remark she makes harsh, even if it wounds.

Her you desire, though wounds ensue from broil.

عَسَرَ النِساءَ إِلى مَياسِرَةٍ

عَسَرَ النِساءَ إِلى مَياسِرَةٍ

سُرعانَ ما كانَ وَما أَطرَحا

سُرعانَ ما كانَ وَما أَطرَحا

Women's resistance gives way to compliance—

Hard women soon grow gentle when addressed.

how quickly it arises and is cast aside!

What seemed rejected, if pressed again, finds place.

فَالقِفلِ يَفتَحُ ما تُعالِجُهُ

فَالقِفلِ يَفتَحُ ما تُعالِجُهُ

وَالصَعبُ يُمكِنُ بَعدَ ما جَمَحا

وَالصَعبُ يُمكِنُ بَعدَ ما جَمَحا

For a lock opens when you work at it,

Bolts yield to him who tries key after key;

and an unruly mount becomes manageable after it has bolted.

And stubborn tasks, essayed with method, grace.