ضاءَ ليلُ الخطوبِ منكَ بفَجْرِهْ

ووصالُ السّرورِ صاحَ بَهجْرهْ

The night's sorrows shone with your dawn,

And the joy of union cried at its separation.

فاحتكِمْ في النَّعيم فالبؤسُ قَدْ ما

تَ على رَغْمِ أَنْفِهِ تَحْتَ حِجْرِهْ

So take pleasure in bliss - for misery, though

It chafe, is under your control.

ودّ جسمِي لو كانَ حُمِّلَ منهُ

ثِقْلَ آلامِهِ وفُزْتُ بأَجْرهْ

If my body were laden with all its pains,

I would still profit from its reward.

إِنما السعدُ خادِمٌ لك يجري

بين إِغرَاءِ لفظِ فِيك وزَجْرهْ

For fortune but serves you, running

Between the pull of your words and their restraint.

والزمانُ المسيءُ عبدُكَ فاغفِرْ

وعلى رَسْمِهِ الجميلِ فأَجْرِهْ

Time, though cruel, is your slave - so forgive it,

And reward it for its beautiful design.

فالسّقامُ الذي أَنالَكَ ظِلُّ

سُجِّرَتْ نارُهُ بجاحِمِ جَمْرِهْ

The sickness that struck you is but

A fire whose embers your forbearance has banked.

فاحَوِ طِيبَ القريضِ يا حافِظَ الدّي

نِ بمُقْذِعِ هُجْرهْ

So perfume the ode, O Keeper of the Faith,

With your graceful acceptance, not crude rejection.