إنْ جزْتَ سلعاً فسلْ عن

إنْ جزْتَ سلعاً فسلْ عن

ظَبْيٍ منَ الظبْيِ أَحْسَنْ

ظَبْيٍ منَ الظبْيِ أَحْسَنْ

If you pass Mount Salʿ, then ask after

If you pass Salʿ, ask about

a gazelle fairer than all gazelles—

a gazelle lovelier than other gazelles.

لا ما يقاسُ ببدرٍ

لا ما يقاسُ ببدرٍ

فالحبُّ أفتى وأفتنْ

فالحبُّ أفتى وأفتنْ

no, not one to be compared with a full moon:

No—he is not to be compared with a full moon,

the beloved is younger and more bewitching;

For the beloved is more youthful and more alluring.

ولا بغصنٍ رطيبٍ

ولا بغصنٍ رطيبٍ

فالحبُّ ألوى وألونْ

فالحبُّ ألوى وألونْ

nor with a fresh, supple bough:

Nor with a tender branch,

the beloved is more graceful in bending and richer in hue;

For the beloved is more supple and more colorful.

ولا ببكرٍ رؤودٍ

ولا ببكرٍ رؤودٍ

فذاكَ أسمى وأسمنْ

فذاكَ أسمى وأسمنْ

nor with a tender young maiden:

Nor with a delicate maiden,

for he is statelier and fuller of form.

For that one is loftier and plumper.

مكنْتُهُ مِنْ فؤادي

مكنْتُهُ مِنْ فؤادي

في مهجتي فتمكَّنْ

في مهجتي فتمكَّنْ

I gave him dominion over my heart,

I gave him mastery over my heart,

deep in my soul, and there he took possession.

In my life's blood, and he took firm hold.

يا عاذلي لا أبالي

يا عاذلي لا أبالي

فالشوقُ أعلى وأعلنْ

فالشوقُ أعلى وأعلنْ

What care I for my reproacher? I pay no heed:

O my reproacher, I do not care,

yearning is higher and more openly proclaimed.

For longing is loftier and more manifest.

لقدْ تعوَّدَ خدِّي

لقدْ تعوَّدَ خدِّي

دمعي وأدمى وأدمنْ

دمعي وأدمى وأدمنْ

My cheek has indeed grown used to

My cheek has indeed grown accustomed

my tears; they have bloodied it and never ceased.

To my tears; it has bled and persisted.

لا تطلبوا عنهُ صبري

لا تطلبوا عنهُ صبري

فالصبرُ أوهى وأوهنْ

فالصبرُ أوهى وأوهنْ

Do not ask me to be patient over him:

Do not ask me to be patient without him,

patience is frailer, feebler still.

For patience is frailer and feebler.

أفتيتُ فيهِ وجودي

أفتيتُ فيهِ وجودي

ولستُ أسمعُ ممَّنْ

ولستُ أسمعُ ممَّنْ

For him I have sacrificed my very being,

I gave my being a ruling concerning him,

and I heed no one who—

And I do not listen to anyone who...