سَأَلتُها قُبلَةً فَفِزتُ بِها

بَعدَ اِمتِناعٍ وَشِدَّةِ التَعَبِ

I asked her for a kiss and succeeded in winning it,

After long refusal and wearying strain.

فَقُلتُ بِاللَهِ يا مُعَذِّبَتي

جودي بِأُخرى أَقضي بِها أَرَبي

So I said, "By God, O my tormentor,

Grant me another to satisfy my need."

فَاِبتَسَمَت ثُمَّ أَرسَلَت مَثَلاً

يَعرِفُهُ العُجمُ لَيسَ بِالكَذِبِ

She smiled, then set forth a proverb,

Known to the foreigners, and it is no lie:

لا تُعطِيَنَّ الصَبِيَّ واحِدَةً

يَطلُبُ أُخرى بِأَعنَفِ الطَلَبِ

"Do not ever give the child a single one,

Lest he demand another with violent force."