أحبَّها وهي تخفي حبَّه أدبا

وظنها جهلت نجواه فانتحبا

She loved him while hiding her love out of propriety

And he thought she was ignorant of his whispers, so they both grieved

يشكو إليها تباريح الغرام فلا

تجيبه فيبيت الليل مكتئبا

He complains to her of the passions of love, but she

Does not answer him, so he spends the night depressed

حتى إذا خاف أن يقضي أسىً وجوىً

أمضى إليها كتاباً فيه قد كتبا

Until, fearing that he will perish from the misery and burning longing,

He sends her a letter in which he had written

حبيبة القلب ما هذا الجفاء وقد

أبكَى أليمُ بكائي الترك والعربا

Beloved of my heart, what is this aloofness when

My bitter tears have made the abandoned and the Arabs weep?

لئن بقيت على الهجران قاسية

أضحى الثرى بدمي يا ميُّ مختضبا

If you remain cruelly estranged

My blood will make the earth crimson, O bending willow

تلت رسالته حرَّى الجوانح لا

ترى إليه لتبدي شجوها سببا

She read his letter which seared her breast

She does not look at him to explain her complaint

وبعدما هجعت هبَّت فأوقدت ال

مصباح مملوءة من وجدها لهبا

And after she had awakened, she rose and lit

A lamp, filled for him with blazing flames

وأبدعته جواباً لا يغادر في

فؤاد مفتونها خوفاً ولا ريبا

And wrote him a peerless reply that left

No fear or doubt in the heart of her lovesick admirer

قلبي بحبك مشغول كحبك لي

فلا تَرُعْنِي بعتب زادني تعبا

My heart is busy with loving you as you love me

So do not disturb me with reproach that increases my weariness

فإن لبثت مسيء الظن متهماً

كدرتَ عيشيَ بل أوردتَني العطبا

For if you remain suspicious and accusing

You will ruin my life, rather you will make me sick

وأودعَتْهُ بريد الليل آمنة

لا تعرف الحذر المعتاد والرهبا

And she entrusted it to the post of the night, feeling safe,

Not knowing the usual caution and fear

واستيقظت وهي لا تدري بما صنعت

ولو درت فضلت من خوفها الهربا

And she awoke not realizing what she had done

And had she known, she would have preferred to flee

تلا الرسالة فاشتدت عزائمه

مستبشراً وتَثَنَّى عطفُهُ طربا

He read the letter and his determination intensified,

Rejoicing, and desire bent his inclination

وظنها جهرت بالسرِّ واعترفت

في يقظة فتمادى يرسل الكتبا

And he thought she had divulged the secret and confessed

In wakefulness, so he persisted in sending letters

ولم تجبه فكاد الغيظ يقتله

وبات بين الهوى والداء منتهبا

And she did not answer, until anger almost killed him

And he spent the night tossed between love and sickness

وعاده والد الحسناء وهو طبي

به فأدرك سر الداء فاضطربا

And her father returned, who was his doctor,

So he realized the cause of his illness and was disturbed

وكان طالَعَ بَيْتَيْ بِنْتِهِ وهما

أمام عاشقها الولهان فانقلبا

Her father happened to come across his daughter’s house

While she was with her swooning lover, so he turned around

وأبلغ الأم هذا الأمر يكبره

فاستعطفته فأخفى الغيظ والغضبا

And reported this matter, magnifying it, to her mother

So she appeased him and he concealed his anger and wrath

وأطلعاها على البيتين فانتفضت

تقول ما ذاك إلا حادثاً عجبا

And they showed her the two verses, so she shuddered,

Saying, “That is nothing but a wondrous event

الخط خطَّي ولا أدري وحقِّكما

متى كتبتُ ولا أدري متى ذهبا

The script is mine, but I do not know, and I swear by you both,

When I wrote or when it was sent”

قالا أتهوينه قالت وقد خجلت

نعم وإن كان هذا عنكما احتجبا

They said, “Do you love him?” She said, embarrassed,

“Yes, even if I have hidden that from you”

فزوجاها بمن تهواه فاتحدا

مُنَعَّمينِ برغدِ العيشِ واصطحبا

So they married her to the one she loved, and so they united,

Prospering, in the pleasure of life and as companions