في الأصدقاء خليل

في الأصدقاء خليل

تجسم اللطف فيه

تجسم اللطف فيه

Among friends there is a dear companion,

A bosom friend, so kind and true

in whom grace has taken bodily form.

The soul of kindness I saw in you

فقلت من فرط وجدي

فقلت من فرط وجدي

ولم أكن بالسفيه

ولم أكن بالسفيه

So I said, from the intensity of my longing—

In raptures lost, to friendship new

and I was no fool—

I wished you were a maiden fair

يا ليته كان أنثى

يا ليته كان أنثى

ولم أكن بأخيه

ولم أكن بأخيه

“Oh, if only he were a woman,

And I your brother, free from care

and I were not his brother!”