ما على الاحباب اذا ظعنوا

ما على الاحباب اذا ظعنوا

لو رعوا قلب الذي فتنوا

لو رعوا قلب الذي فتنوا

What would it cost the loved ones, when they departed,

The beloveds are blameless when they injure me,

to tend the heart of the one they bewitched?

Had they been dutiful, to the heart they seduced.

احزنوا والقلب يحفزه ال

احزنوا والقلب يحفزه ال

حافزان الشوق والحزن

حافزان الشوق والحزن

They brought grief; the heart is spurred by the

They sadden me, yet my heart is stirred by

two goads: longing and sorrow.

Two incentives: yearning and sorrow.

ليَ في شرع الهوى سنن

ليَ في شرع الهوى سنن

ولهم في شرعهم سنن

ولهم في شرعهم سنن

I have my ways in the law of love,

I have traditions in the law of love,

and they have their ways in their own law.

And they have traditions in their own law.

ابريّا بعد خامسةٍ

ابريّا بعد خامسةٍ

نهل ورد الخمس والعطن

نهل ورد الخمس والعطن

[Unclear opening word], after a fifth [night],

After the fifth cup I attained the gardens

a first draught at the fifth-day watering and the camels’ resting ground.

Of roses and perfumes from the five and the odor.

ولظني قبل ثالثةٍ

ولظني قبل ثالثةٍ

قرَب الانضاء يقترن

قرَب الانضاء يقترن

And before a third [night], my expectation

And before the third cup, unions were close,

is linked with the weary mounts’ night march to water.

As the cups brought the companions nearer.

لا يراح القلب صحوته

لا يراح القلب صحوته

او تراح الاينق البدن

او تراح الاينق البدن

The heart is given no rest in its wakefulness,

My heart knows no rest awake

until the stout she-camels are rested.

Or any rest for my weak body.

واصيحابٍ سروا قضباً

واصيحابٍ سروا قضباً

كلما لان السرى خشنوا

كلما لان السرى خشنوا

And dear little companions journeyed by night, like boughs;

And companions who walked proudly

whenever the night journey grew gentle, they grew rough.

Whenever the walk of the proud was smooth.

وغزال حشو مدرعه

وغزال حشو مدرعه

فتنٌ قامت لها الفتن

فتنٌ قامت لها الفتن

And a gazelle, whose tunic holds

And a gazelle whose coat of mail was adornment

charms before which all charms rise.

Temptations that brought about temptations.

ان رنا لم تُجد سابغةٌ

ان رنا لم تُجد سابغةٌ

نسج داودٍ ولا جنن

نسج داودٍ ولا جنن

If he gazes, no ample coat of mail avails,

If you are not completely clothed in melody,

woven by David, nor do shields.

The melody of David or the madness of Jenin.

كلما يستنُّ في مرح

كلما يستنُّ في مرح

قلت هذا الضامر الارن

قلت هذا الضامر الارن

Whenever he gambolled in delight,

Whenever he was infatuated in joy,

I said, ‘This is the slender, frisky one.’

I said this is the languid doe.

زار في خيط الظلام وقد

زار في خيط الظلام وقد

خاط من اجفانة الوسن

خاط من اجفانة الوسن

He visited in a thread of darkness, while already

He visited in the darkness of night and had

drowsiness had stitched his eyelids shut.

Sewn eyelids of smoothness.

وعذولٍ لجَّ في عذلي

وعذولٍ لجَّ في عذلي

ودَّ لو تصغى له الاذن

ودَّ لو تصغى له الاذن

And a reprover persisted in reproaching me,

And someone flirtatious who was steeped in flirtation

wishing the ear would listen to him.

If only the ear would listen to him.

كم عذول فيك يا زمن

كم عذول فيك يا زمن

راح يبلوني ويمتحن

راح يبلوني ويمتحن

How many a reprover in you, O Time,

How many flirtatious ones are there in you, oh time,

set about trying me and putting me to the test!

Who came to seduce me and test me.

ظلَّ يلحو في هوى رشأ

ظلَّ يلحو في هوى رشأ

قلت دعني فالهوى حسن

قلت دعني فالهوى حسن

He kept rebuking me for loving a gazelle-fawn;

He persisted in courting the young gazelle,

I said, ‘Leave me alone, for love is beautiful.’

I said leave me be, for passion is beautiful.