قد كان لا يرضى القضا حملاً له

قد كان لا يرضى القضا حملاً له

علماً بأن من ارتضاه على خطر

علماً بأن من ارتضاه على خطر

Once he would not accept the burden of judicial office,

He who once disdained Love's yoke to bear

knowing that whoever accepts it stands in peril.

Now blindly follows where Love leads, too blind

والآن هام بحبهِ نظراً إلى

والآن هام بحبهِ نظراً إلى

لذّاته لكنه فقد النظر

لذّاته لكنه فقد النظر

Now he is smitten with love for it, with an eye to

To see the peril. Yet for Love's sweet sake,

its pleasures—but he has lost his sight.

His sight he sacrificed, content, resigned.

عجباً له يرضى بما فيه العمى

عجباً له يرضى بما فيه العمى

لكن إذا جاء القضا عمي البصر

لكن إذا جاء القضا عمي البصر

How strange that he is content with what brings blindness!

Strange that pleased with his blindness he should be,

But when fate comes, sight goes blind.

Yet if Destiny now struck him blind, ah me!