لقد كنتُ ذَا بَأسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَهِمَّةٍ

لقد كنتُ ذَا بَأسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَهِمَّةٍ

إِذَا شِئتُ لَمساً لِلثُّريَّا لَمَستُهَا

إِذَا شِئتُ لَمساً لِلثُّريَّا لَمَستُهَا

Indeed, I once possessed formidable valor and high resolve;

Indeed, I once had great might and resolve;

Whenever I wished to touch the Pleiades, I touched them.

Whenever I wished to touch the Pleiades, I touched them.

أَتَتنِي سِهَامٌ مِن لِحَاظٍ فَأرشَقَت

أَتَتنِي سِهَامٌ مِن لِحَاظٍ فَأرشَقَت

بِقَلبِيِ وَلَو أَسطِيعُ رَدّاً رَدَدَتُّهَا

بِقَلبِيِ وَلَو أَسطِيعُ رَدّاً رَدَدَتُّهَا

Then arrows from glances came at me and blazed

Arrows came to me from glances and lodged

within my heart; had I been able to turn them back, I would have.

in my heart; if I could repel them, I would.