قَد قُلتُ قَولاً فَاِسمَعي ذاكُمُ

مِنّي وَرُدّي مِثلَهُ يا عَنان

I have spoken words, so listen to them,

I have spoken my piece, so listen to this,

From me, and give me back the like, O Anan!

From me, and answer in kind, O Inan:

إِنّي لَأَهواكِ وَإِنّي جَبان

أَفرَقُ مِن عِلمي بِغَدرِ القِيان

I do indeed love you, though I am a coward,

Truly I desire you, yet truly I am a coward,

Afraid, because of what I know, of the guile of maidens.

Terrified by what I know of the treachery of singing-girls.

يَصِلنَ مَن واصَلنَهُ خُدعَةً

بِكَسرَةِ الأَتفِ وَمَزحِ اللِسان

Whoever hopes for union with one who has tricked him

They grant favors to those they court only as a ruse,

With laughing eyes and teasing tongue,

With languid gestures and the jesting of the tongue.

لَستُ أَرى وَصلَكِ أَو تَحلِفي

أَلّا تَخوني وَتَفي بِالضَمان

I do not expect union with you, or that you swear

I see no way to your love unless you swear an oath

You will not betray me, or keep true to your word,

That you will not betray, but will honor the pledge.

أَو فَذَريني وَصِلي جاهِلاً

يَلقى مِنَ الغَيرَةِ فيكِ الهَوان

Or leave me, and join another in ignorance,

Otherwise, leave me be and unite with a fool,

Who will be disgraced by jealousy for you.

Who will suffer humiliation for your sake through jealousy.