أَلَم تَرَ أَنّي قَد أَخَذتُ جَعيلَةً

أَلَم تَرَ أَنّي قَد أَخَذتُ جَعيلَةً

وَكُنتُ كَمَن قادَ الجَنيبَ فأسمَحا

وَكُنتُ كَمَن قادَ الجَنيبَ فأسمَحا

Have you not seen that I have accepted a reward,

Have you not seen that I have taken a concubine

And was like one leading a spare mount that readily yielded?

And was like one who led the she-camel and let her run loose?

وَأَوقَدَتِ الأَعداءُ يا مَيَّ فاِعلَمي

وَأَوقَدَتِ الأَعداءُ يا مَيَّ فاِعلَمي

بِكُلِّ شَرىً ناراً فَلَم أَرَ مَجمَحا

بِكُلِّ شَرىً ناراً فَلَم أَرَ مَجمَحا

The enemies have kindled—O Mayy, know this—

And the enemies, O Mayya, have kindled a fire. So be aware

A fire in every thicket, and I saw no way of escape.

That with every misfortune they have lit a blaze and I see no refuge.

وَلا يَعدم الداعي إِلى الخَيرِ تابِعاً

وَلا يَعدم الداعي إِلى الخَيرِ تابِعاً

وَلا يَعدَم الداعي إِلى الشَرِّ مَجدَحا

وَلا يَعدَم الداعي إِلى الشَرِّ مَجدَحا

One who calls to goodness never lacks a follower,

The summoner to good is never without a follower,

And one who calls to evil never lacks an abettor to stir it up.

Nor is the summoner to evil ever without one driven by passion.