عَصى عاذِليهِ وَاِعتَرَتهُ لجاجَةٌ

عَصى عاذِليهِ وَاِعتَرَتهُ لجاجَةٌ

فَرَتهُ نِزاعاً وَالمُحِبُّ نَزوعُ

فَرَتهُ نِزاعاً وَالمُحِبُّ نَزوعُ

He defied his reproachers, and obstinacy overtook him;

He disobeyed his reproachers, obstinacy overtaking him,

It tore him with yearning, for a lover is ever longing.

So they pushed him into conflict—yet the lover is inclined to passion.

عَرَتهُ خُطوبٌ شَرَّدَت نَومَ عَينِهِ

عَرَتهُ خُطوبٌ شَرَّدَت نَومَ عَينِهِ

وَلَيسَ لِعَينِ المُستَهامِ هُجوعُ

وَلَيسَ لِعَينِ المُستَهامِ هُجوعُ

Calamities befell him, driving sleep from his eye;

Concerns harassed him, scattering the sleep from his eyes,

And there is no slumber for the eye of one distraught with love.

And the eyes of one impassioned have no rest.

عَزاؤُكَ لا تُغلَب عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّهُ

عَزاؤُكَ لا تُغلَب عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّهُ

هُوَ الدَهرُ إِن يُؤمَن فَسَوفَ يَروعُ

هُوَ الدَهرُ إِن يُؤمَن فَسَوفَ يَروعُ

Do not let your fortitude be wrested from you, for this

Your consolation cannot be defeated, for it

Is Time: if trusted, it will yet bring terror.

Is time—believe it, and soon it will terrify.

عَصى عاذِليهِ إِن أَطاعَ حمامَهُ

عَصى عاذِليهِ إِن أَطاعَ حمامَهُ

وَيَعصي الفَتى في حُبِّهِ وَيُطيعُ

وَيَعصي الفَتى في حُبِّهِ وَيُطيعُ

If he obeyed his doom, he defied his reproachers;

He disobeyed his reproachers if he obeyed his passion,

And a young man, in his love, disobeys and obeys.

And the young man in his love disobeys yet obeys.