أفدي التي لمَّا رأتنيَ مقبلاً

أفدي التي لمَّا رأتنيَ مقبلاً

برزتْ كبدرِ التم بعد سِرار

برزتْ كبدرِ التم بعد سِرار

I would ransom her who, when she saw me approaching,

I would give my life for her who, when she saw me approaching,

appeared like the full moon after its dark concealment.

emerged like the full moon after moonless nights.

أبثثتُها وجدي فلمَّا أزمعتْ

أبثثتُها وجدي فلمَّا أزمعتْ

لتبوحَ لي بكوامنِ الأسرار

لتبوحَ لي بكوامنِ الأسرار

I poured out my passion to her; and when she resolved

I confided my passion to her, and when she resolved

to reveal to me the secrets hidden within,

to reveal to me her innermost secrets,

غلب الحياءُ عَلى الكلامِ فأفصحتْ

غلب الحياءُ عَلى الكلامِ فأفصحتْ

عمَّا تكنُّ بألسن الأوتار

عمَّا تكنُّ بألسن الأوتار

modesty overcame speech, so she expressed

modesty overcame speech, so she gave voice

what she concealed through the tongues of the strings.

to what she held within through the tongues of the strings.