قل للملِيحةِ ما لحسنِكِ جائلاً

في الخَلْق منك وليس في الأخلاق

Say to the beautiful one, what good is your beauty,

When your character is unlike your appearance?

لو كان خُلْقِك مثل خَلْقِك لم تكن

في الحكم جائرة على العشاق

If your character was like your appearance, you would not

Be unjust in your judgements against lovers.

صيَّرتِ صدغَكِ عقرباً لدّاغةً

يا ليت رِيقَكِ موضع الدِّرْياق

You have made your cheek a stinging scorpion,

If only your saliva were an antidote.

يا من يلاقي خَصرُه مِن رِدفه

أضعافَ ما أنا في هواه ألاقي

O you whose waist compared to your hips

Increased what I have suffered from loving you.