وَنُبّئتُ لَيلى أَرسلَت بِشَفاعَة

وَنُبّئتُ لَيلى أَرسلَت بِشَفاعَة

إِلَيّ فَهلّا نَفسُ لَيلى شَفيعُها

إِلَيّ فَهلّا نَفسُ لَيلى شَفيعُها

And I was told that Layla had sent someone to intercede

I told Layla had sent interceding

with me—why was Layla herself not her own intercessor?

To me, so has Layla's soul been her intercessor?

أَأَكرَمُ من لَيلى عَلَيَّ فَتَبتَغي

أَأَكرَمُ من لَيلى عَلَيَّ فَتَبتَغي

بِه الجاهَ أَم كُنتُ اِمرأً لا أُطيعُها

بِه الجاهَ أَم كُنتُ اِمرأً لا أُطيعُها

Is he dearer to me than Layla, that she should seek

Is one more generous to me than Layla that she

influence through him? Or was I a man who would not obey her?

Seeks through him eminence, or was I a man who won't obey her?