وَهُما قالَتا لَوَ اَنَّ جَميلاً

وَهُما قالَتا لَوَ اَنَّ جَميلاً

عَرَضَ اليَومَ نَظرَةً فَرَآنا

عَرَضَ اليَومَ نَظرَةً فَرَآنا

And they both said, “If only Jamil

If only the beautiful Jamīl today would chance to see us

Would appear today, cast a glance, and see us!”

While we two saw him working the text, making it flow smoothly

بَينَما ذاكَ مِنهُما رَأَتاني

بَينَما ذاكَ مِنهُما رَأَتاني

أُعمِلُ النَصَّ سَيرَةً زَفيانا

أُعمِلُ النَصَّ سَيرَةً زَفيانا

While they were saying this, they both saw me

She glanced toward her companion, then said:

Pressing on at full speed in a swift rush.

He has come upon us, and we knew not he was near

نَظَرَت نَحوَ تِربِها ثُمَّ قالَت

نَظَرَت نَحوَ تِربِها ثُمَّ قالَت

قَد أَتانا وَما عَلِمنا مُنانا

قَد أَتانا وَما عَلِمنا مُنانا

She looked toward her companion, then said,

“Our heart’s desire has come to us unawares!”