أباح أبو مروان حر نسائه

ليبلغ ما يهوى من الرشأ الفرد

Abu Marwan allowed his women their freedom

Abu Marwan made the honor of his women free for all,

To attain what he desired of intimate joy

To attain the peerless young gazelle his heart desired.

فعاتبته الديوث في قبح فعله

فأنشدني إنشاد مستبصرٍ جلد

So the cuckold chastised him for his ugly deed

So I reproached that cuckold for the ugliness of his deed,

And he recited to me repentantly and wisely:

Yet he recited to me with the poise of an enlightened, steadfast man:

لقد كنت أدركت المنى غير أنني

يعيرني قومي بإدراكها وحدي

I had realized my wish, if not for

"I would have attained my heart's desires, were it not that

My people mocking me for realizing it alone

My kinsmen would shame me for enjoying them all alone!"