تَبيَّنَ لي سَبْقُ الأميرِ إلى العُلى

تَبيَّنَ لي سَبْقُ الأميرِ إلى العُلى

وما زالَ سبّاقاً إلى الفضلِ مُنْعِما

وما زالَ سبّاقاً إلى الفضلِ مُنْعِما

The prince's lead in attaining eminence became clear to me,

The precedence of the prince to the sublime became clear to me

and he has ever been foremost in virtue, bestowing favors.

And he remained foremost in generosity, bestowing favors

فصيَّرني بين القِيانِ إذا شَدَتْ

فصيَّرني بين القِيانِ إذا شَدَتْ

وبين نِداماه حِجاباً مُكرَّما

وبين نِداماه حِجاباً مُكرَّما

So he made me, between the singing girls when they sing

So he made me, among the singing girls when they pulled close,

and his boon companions, an honored screen,

And their flirtations, an honored screen

لأُظْهِرَ من حُسنِ الغِناءِ مُحَلَّلاً

لأُظْهِرَ من حُسنِ الغِناءِ مُحَلَّلاً

وأستُرَ من حُسنِ الوجوهِ مُحرَّما

وأستُرَ من حُسنِ الوجوهِ مُحرَّما

to reveal what is permitted of the beauty of song,

In order to display, in the beauty of song, that which is permitted

and conceal what is forbidden of the beauty of faces.

And conceal, of the beauty of faces, that which is forbidden