لَبِثتُ عَلى بابِ الأَميرِ مُعَلَّلاً

بِوَعدٍ أَسيرٍ في سَلاسِلِ مَطلِهِ

I lingered at the prince's door, fettered

By a captive promise in the grip of his caprice.

فَيَأَيَّها الكَهفُ الَّذي قَد رَجَوتُهُ

لَقَد نِمتَ عَنّى مِثلَ نَومِ أَهلِهِ

O cave, for which I had such hope,

You have slept away from me like the sleep of its people.