ملكتُ من أصبحَ لي مالكاً

ملكتُ من أصبحَ لي مالكاً

لكنّهُ في ملكِهِ ظالمُ

لكنّهُ في ملكِهِ ظالمُ

I possessed the one who became my master.

I own whoever becomes mine

But he is unjust in his rule.

But he is unjust in his rule

لو شئتُ لاستاقَتْهُ لي قُدرةٌ

لو شئتُ لاستاقَتْهُ لي قُدرةٌ

لكنَّ حكمَ الحُبِّ لي لازمُ

لكنَّ حكمَ الحُبِّ لي لازمُ

Had I wished, power would have driven him to me.

If I wished, power could compel him to me

But love’s rule is binding on me.

But the law of love binds me

أحببتُهُ من بينِ هذا الورى

أحببتُهُ من بينِ هذا الورى

وَهْوَ بحبّي خَبِرٌ عالِمُ

وَهْوَ بحبّي خَبِرٌ عالِمُ

Among all these people, I loved him.

I loved him among all people

And he is well acquainted with my love, fully aware of it.

While he knows well of my love

قَبيحُ فِعلٍ حَسَنٌ وجهُهُ

قَبيحُ فِعلٍ حَسَنٌ وجهُهُ

يُعذَر في أمثالِهِ اللائمُ

يُعذَر في أمثالِهِ اللائمُ

His conduct is ugly; his face is beautiful.

An ugly deed with a beautiful face

The reproacher is excused where his like is concerned.

Is excused by the blamer in the likes of him

أحسنُ مَن أَبصَرَهُ مُبصرٌ

أحسنُ مَن أَبصَرَهُ مُبصرٌ

لو أنّه في حُسنِهِ راحمُ

لو أنّه في حُسنِهِ راحمُ

The fairest person a beholder has seen—

Better seen by one who sees well

If only he were merciful in his beauty!

If only he were merciful in his beauty