سأبعد عن دواعي الحب أني

رأيت الحزم من صفة الرشيد

I will distance myself from the causes of love

I shall keep away from the causes of love, for

For I have seen determination as a trait of the righteous

I have seen that prudence is the mark of the wise.

رأيت الحب أوله التصدي

بعينيك في أزاهير الخدود

I have seen that love begins with infatuation

I have seen that love begins with fixing your gaze

With your eyes amidst the flowers of cheeks

With your own eyes upon the blossoms of cheeks.

فبينا أنت مغتبط مخلى

إذا قد صرت في حلق القيود

While you are blissful and unrestrained

And while you are joyful and entirely free,

Like one deceived by a mirage nearby

Suddenly you find yourself caught in the rings of chains;

كمغتر بضحضاح قريب

فزل فغاب في غمر المدود

Who stumbled and was lost in the depths of dunes

Like one deceived by shallow waters near at hand,

Who slips and vanishes beneath the surging depths.