يودّ من الأرواح ما لا تودّه

ويفتك فيها مسرفا وهي جنده

He seeks from souls what they do not seek,

And wrongs them excessively though they are his soldiers.

نمير تواليه المحاسن ورَّدا

وتنهل منه النفس لو راق وِرده

The succession of his virtues is endless,

And the self drinks from him were his river sweet.

خذوه بنفسي إنه هو قاتلي

ولا تقتلوه إنني أنا عبده

Take me in my soul's place, for he is my killer,

And do not kill him, for I am his servant.

ولا تسألوه ما ذنوبي واسألوا

قبول متابي قبل ذنب أعدّه

Do not ask him my sins, but ask

For acceptance of my repentance before the sin he prepares.

ولا تذكروني عنده بشفاعة

فإن شفيع الواجد الصب وجده

Do not mention me to him with intercession,

For the intercessor of the lover is his passion and fervor.

لحاني الذي لم يعرف السهد جفنه

ولم تدر تقليب المضاجع كبده

My eyelids were deprived of sleep by the one who knew no rest,

And my liver did not know the tossing of beds.

وقاطعني من كنت أرجو وفاءه

وأين أخو الود الذي دام وده

He cut me off, though I hoped for his loyalty,

And where is the brotherly love that lasted his amity?

فيا مدنيَ العذال ماشاء عِطفه

ويا مقصى العشاق ما شاء صده

O you who reproached me, whatever your compassion dictates,

And O you who ignored my passion, whatever your rejection dictates.

أيُمنح منك القرب من سار ذمه

ويمنع منك اللفظ من سار حمده

Is intimacy granted to one of blemished reputation,

And is conversation denied to one of praised repute?

ويأوي لظل من سواك رجاؤه

ويعتنق الحرمان من أنت قصده

Does he seek the shade of others though you are his hope,

And embrace deprivation though you are his quest?

أعوذ بعيد الملك من أن يمرّ بي

فلا يلتقي بي في غرامك سعده

I seek refuge in the Master, far exalted, that he pass me by

And not meet me in my love for you and your good fortunes.

فتى تشرق الدنيا إذا ذكر اسمه

ويهتز اشياخ الزمان ومرده

A youth whose name illuminates the world when spoken

And time's elders tremble and quake.

إذا ما الليالي نمن لم يغف حزمه

وفوق سهاد الدهر في الخطب سهده

When the nights sleep, his resolve does not rest,

And above the cushions of fate, wakeful is his cushion.

وإن يرتجل وعدا وفي الليل هجعه

تجلى على الصدق الصباح ووعده

If he pledges a promise in the night, in his bedclothes,

Truth's morning shone, fulfilling his pledge.

فتى النيل أضحى عصمة بك ملكه

وكان سلاما في يمينك عهده

A youth by whom your kingdom became protected, Nile,

And well-being was in your hand, his covenant.

وشعب أطاش الدهر ثابت جأشه

فخار فلما جئته جاء رشده

A people whom fate made waver, their valor broken,

Became honorable when you came, following your guidance.

فلو أن حالا دام لم ينقض الأسى

ولكنها الأيام حال وضده

If only a condition remained without changing, and grief concluded,

But conditions change, as do their opposites.