قد صبغت بنتُ المدينيّه

للفطرِ يا عبّاس فوهيّه

The girls of Medina have dyed

The daughter of the Medinan dame has dyed,

Their hands for Eid, O Abbas make them shine

Painting her mouth for the Festival, O Abbas.

وسلّفت ماشِطَها أجرةً

واشترطت في المشطِ رازيّة

She paid advance for her comb

She paid her comber his wage in advance,

Stipulating an imported one

And stipulated the Razi style for the comb.

فأسلفوا يا قوم في نيكِها

من نقدِ بيتِ المالِ نجدّيه

So lend her, O people, for her beauty

So pay up front, O people, to swive her,

From the state coffers generously

With Najdi coin from the treasury's store.

فإنّها أعشقُ بغّياةً

لهذه المغصوبةِ النيّهِ

For she is the one I love most

For she is the harlot most deeply enamored

With pure intention and chastity

Of this usurped and uncooked spoil.

يا عمرو ما بالُ المدينيّه

لا تأكل العصبانَ مشويّه

O Amr why do the girls of Medina

O Amr, what ails the Medinan girl,

Not eat grilled chickpeas

That she will not eat the sausages grilled?

فقل لها هل لكِ يا أختنا

في فَيشةٍ حدباء بصريّه

Ask her my sister if she would like

Ask her then: "Is there for you, O sister,

A bag of them from Basra

Any wish for a humped Basran glans?

تصيرُ حولاً لكمُ أكلةً

من دون خلق الله محميّه

To keep as provision without measure

It would become a year's ration for you,

From all people protected and free

Protected from all God's creation beside."

فقل لها مستهزئاً مازحاً

قولَ امرىءٍ في الصدقِ ذي نيّه

So say to her joking and teasing

So speak to her, mocking and in jest,

The words of a man with sincerity

The words of one whose intent is sincere:

قرّب ولا تستقصِ في رأيها

فرأيُها رأيُ الحرويّه

Draw near and do not over analyze her opinion

"Draw near, and do not scrutinize her view,

For her opinion is that of a noble lady

For her view is the view of the Haruriyya."