هل كانَ طرفُكَ يعرفُ الخُيَلا

هل كانَ طرفُكَ يعرفُ الخُيَلا

أو كانَ لحظُكَ مُلِّكَ الأجَلا

أو كانَ لحظُكَ مُلِّكَ الأجَلا

Did your eye know haughtiness,

Did your glance know horses

Or was your glance given mastery over death?

Or did your gaze rule fate

الناظريكَ فداكَ مُذ رميَا

الناظريكَ فداكَ مُذ رميَا

سَوداءَ مهجتهِ ومَن قَتَلا

سَوداءَ مهجتهِ ومَن قَتَلا

Is it for your two eyes—may I be your ransom—since they struck

Whoever looks upon you, since he threw

The black core of his heart—and whom did they kill?—

His soul into darkness and was slain

أن يأخذا قيساً بلحظهِما

أن يأخذا قيساً بلحظهِما

من ليسَ يقبلُ في الهَوى عَذلا

من ليسَ يقبلُ في الهَوى عَذلا

To capture Qays with their glance,

That they should take Qays with their glances

One who accepts no reproach in love?

One who accepts no excuse in passion

ما كان ضرَّهما وَقد ملكا

ما كان ضرَّهما وَقد ملكا

أن يَنعَما بالعطفِ أو يصِلا

أن يَنعَما بالعطفِ أو يصِلا

What harm would it have done them, once they held sway,

It was no harm to them, since they possessed

To bestow tenderness, or grant union?

To be gentle or join those they've killed