تَحَمَّلْ إِلَى نَادِي الْحَبِيبِ رِسَالَةً

تَحَمَّلْ إِلَى نَادِي الْحَبِيبِ رِسَالَةً

أَرَقَّ عَلَى الْمَخْمُورِ مِنْ نَفَسِ الصَّبا

أَرَقَّ عَلَى الْمَخْمُورِ مِنْ نَفَسِ الصَّبا

Bear a message to the beloved's gathering place,

Deliver to my beloved's abode a message

Gentler to the wine-dazed than the east wind's breath.

More gentle than the breeze of morn upon one drunken with wine,

وَخَبِّرْهُ عَنِّي أَنَّنِي مُنْذُ بَيْنِهِ

وَخَبِّرْهُ عَنِّي أَنَّنِي مُنْذُ بَيْنِهِ

أُكابِدُ هَوْلاً يَتْرُكُ الطِّفْلَ أَشْيَبَا

أُكابِدُ هَوْلاً يَتْرُكُ الطِّفْلَ أَشْيَبَا

And tell him from me that, since parting from him,

And tell him I have languished since we parted,

I endure a terror that leaves a child gray-haired.

Enduring an affliction that leaves a child gray-haired.

فَإِنْ لانَ فَاشْكُرْهُ عَلَى فَضْل مَا أَتَى

فَإِنْ لانَ فَاشْكُرْهُ عَلَى فَضْل مَا أَتَى

مِنَ الْبِرِّ واعْذِرْهُ إِذَا صَدَّ أَوْ أَبَى

مِنَ الْبِرِّ واعْذِرْهُ إِذَا صَدَّ أَوْ أَبَى

So if he softens, then thank him for the goodness he has shown

If he consents, then thank him for the kindness he has shown,

In kindness, and excuse him if he turns away or refuses.

And for his goodness make allowance if he frown or turn away.

وَلا تُخْجِلَنْهُ بِالْعِتَابِ فَإِنَّنِي

وَلا تُخْجِلَنْهُ بِالْعِتَابِ فَإِنَّنِي

أَخَافُ إِذَا مَا احْمَرَّ أَنْ يَتَلَهَّبَا

أَخَافُ إِذَا مَا احْمَرَّ أَنْ يَتَلَهَّبَا

And do not embarrass him with reproach, for I

Reproach him not, for I fear that if he blushes,

Fear that, if he blushes, he may burst into flame.

The spark may catch fire and into full flame leap.