فإن تنأ عني بالوصال فإنني

فإن تنأ عني بالوصال فإنني

سأرضى بلحظ العين ان لم يكن وصل

سأرضى بلحظ العين ان لم يكن وصل

So if you withhold union from me, then I

If you distance yourself from me in union, then I

If you withhold your union and keep far from me, then I

shall be content with a glance of the eye, if there is no union.

Will be pleased with a glance of the eye, if there is no union

Shall be content with a fleeting glance, if union cannot be;

فحسبي أن القاك اليوم مرة

فحسبي أن القاك اليوم مرة

وما كنت أرضى ضعف ذا منك لي قبل

وما كنت أرضى ضعف ذا منك لي قبل

It is enough for me to meet you once today,

It is enough for me that you met me once today

For it suffices me to meet you just once today,

though before I would not have been content with twice this much from you.

And I would not have accepted such weakness from you before

Though before, I would never have accepted double that from you.

كذا همة الوالي تكون رفيعة

كذا همة الوالي تكون رفيعة

ويرضى خلاص النفس ان وقع العزل

ويرضى خلاص النفس ان وقع العزل

So too, a governor’s ambition is lofty,

So the determination of the governor should be lofty

Thus is a ruler's ambition: exalted and lofty,

yet he is content to escape with his life if dismissal comes.

And he will be pleased with saving his soul, even if he is deposed

Yet he settles for mere survival once he is deposed.