تمايلت فتناهى الدل والترف

تمايلت فتناهى الدل والترف

ومال تيها بها الاعجاب والصلف

ومال تيها بها الاعجاب والصلف

She swayed, and coquetry and luxury reached their height.

Her charm swayed gently, and desire awoke;

And self-admiration and arrogance swayed proudly with her.

Pride turned to worship at her beauty's yoke.

وأقبلت وهي تزهو في غلائلها

وأقبلت وهي تزهو في غلائلها

تجرّ ذيل الصبا هذا هو الهيف

تجرّ ذيل الصبا هذا هو الهيف

And she approached, moving proudly in her sheer robes,

She came, her hair's dark tresses trailing long,

Trailing youth's hem—this is slender grace.

Youth's morning breeze her mantle's train along.

ربانة العطف ان ميطت براقعها

ربانة العطف ان ميطت براقعها

مذا اقول لعذالي وما اصف

مذا اقول لعذالي وما اصف

Full-flanked, if her veils are drawn aside—

My heart was wrapped in her protecting veil

What shall I tell my reproachers, and what shall I describe?

When she drew near - what can an outcast hail?

ان قلت بدر محياها اقل سفها

ان قلت بدر محياها اقل سفها

فالبدر قد يعتريه النقص والكلف

فالبدر قد يعتريه النقص والكلف

If I say her face is a full moon, I speak foolishly;

I said, "The moon has risen to shame the sun."

For the full moon may suffer waning and dark spots.

But no, the moon may suffer loss and wane.

يريك ماء المحيا ورد وجنتها

يريك ماء المحيا ورد وجنتها

باللثم يجنى وبالالحاظ يقتطف

باللثم يجنى وبالالحاظ يقتطف

Her face's freshness shows you the rose of her cheek,

Her cheek shows roses mixed with lily-white;

Gathered with kisses and plucked with glances.

Her glances steal the very stars of night.

يكاد ضوء ثناياها اذا ابتسمت

يكاد ضوء ثناياها اذا ابتسمت

منا سنا برقه الابصار يختطف

منا سنا برقه الابصار يختطف

The light of her front teeth, when she smiles, almost

Her smiling lips, if they would only speak,

Snatches away our sight with its lightning's radiance.

Would change the lightning's flash to a tender breath.

من نطفة خلقت بدرا ولا عجب

من نطفة خلقت بدرا ولا عجب

قد تخرج الدر من اجوافها الصدف

قد تخرج الدر من اجوافها الصدف

From a drop of seed she was created a full moon—and no wonder:

Strange that from sperm this perfect moon should rise.

Shells may bring forth pearls from their hollows.

Pearls grow not far from shells of little price.

يكفي غراما بها ما ذقت من جرق

يكفي غراما بها ما ذقت من جرق

روح تسيل وطرف ماؤه بكف

روح تسيل وطرف ماؤه بكف

The burning anguish I have tasted is passion enough for her:

It's love alone that she has kindled in me;

A soul flowing away, and an eye whose water drips.

My streaming tears fall down unceasingly.

ان كان في حبها قد سرها تلفي

ان كان في حبها قد سرها تلفي

ها قد رضيت به يا حبذا التلف

ها قد رضيت به يا حبذا التلف

If my ruin in loving her has pleased her,

Enough that she finds joy in what I bear;

Behold, I am content with it—oh, how welcome is ruin!

He is blessed indeed who burns in hellfire.

اما ورشف لماها وهي لي قسم

اما ورشف لماها وهي لي قسم

يحل عندي به الاقسام والحلف

يحل عندي به الاقسام والحلف

Indeed, by sipping her dusky lips—and she is my oath,

She sips, then offers me the cup she sipped-

By which, in my eyes, oath-taking and swearing are lawful—

Can I renounce it? No, though poison tipped.

ما مر ذكر سواها لي بواعيه

ما مر ذكر سواها لي بواعيه

ولا بغير هواها لي حلا الشغف

ولا بغير هواها لي حلا الشغف

No thought of anyone but her has crossed my mind,

Nothing recalls her but my memory;

Nor has passion tasted sweet to me except in loving her.

Naught else inspires me, naught else burns in me.