ناشدتِك اللهَ في ظُلْمي فما قَتلتْ

عيناك أَنصفَ مِنّي في المحِبِّينَا

I adjure you by God concerning your wronging me—for never have

your eyes slain a lover more just than I among lovers.

سَلي صمِيمَ فؤادي هل شَرَعْتُ له

سِوى هَواكِ وإنْ عَدَّيتني دِينا

Ask the very core of my heart whether I have ordained for it

anything but your love—even though you reckon me a creed.

إنْ لم أفزْ منكِ يا من حبُّها تَلفي

بما أُريد فعِندي ما تريدينا

If I do not attain from you, O you whose love is my ruin,

what I desire, then I still possess what you desire.

فاستوهبي لي مِن عينيكِ مرحمةً

ومِن قَساوةِ ما أَوليتِني لِينا

So beg from your eyes the gift of mercy for me,

and from the cruelty you have shown me, some gentleness.

وإن لَحَوْكِ فقولي إنّه رجل

وجدتُه فاتكَ الأَلحاظِ عِنِّينا

And if they reproach you, say: “He is a man

whom I found murderous in his glances—and impotent.”

لا تطلبوا بِدمي مِن قاتِلٍ قَوَداً

ودونكْم فاطلبوه الخرَّدَ العِينا

Do not seek blood-requital for my blood from a killer;

here before you are the shy, wide-eyed maidens—seek it from them.