إِنَّ المَطيَّةَ لا يَلَذُّ رُكوبُها

إِنَّ المَطيَّةَ لا يَلَذُّ رُكوبُها

حَتّى تُذَلَّلَ بِالزِمامِ وَتُركَبا

حَتّى تُذَلَّلَ بِالزِمامِ وَتُركَبا

Indeed, a mount is no pleasure to ride

Verily the unbroken horse's riding

Until it is tamed with the rein and ridden.

Gives no pleasure till with bit restrained and ridden

وَالحِبُّ لَيسَ بِنافِعٍ أَربابَهُ

وَالحِبُّ لَيسَ بِنافِعٍ أَربابَهُ

حَتّى يُفَصَّلَ في النِظامِ وَيُثقَبا

حَتّى يُفَصَّلَ في النِظامِ وَيُثقَبا

And pearls are of no use to their owners

And love brings no joy to its possessor

Until they are spaced along a string and pierced.

Till, well-defined, set loose from order, and made captive