إِذا سَلَقَت عِرسُ الفَتى في كَلامِها

فَما هِيَ إِلّا سِلقَةٌ عارَضَت سِلقا

When the youth's slip of the tongue flays in her words,

It is but a slip that happened to touch a slip.

وَأَحسَنُ أَثوابِ الأَوانِسِ بُردَةٌ

مِنَ الحُسنِ لا تُنضى لِغَسلٍ وَلا تُلقى

And the finest garb for the fair maidens is a gown

Of beauty that needs no washing or casting off.

وَيَفعَلُ فِعلاً سَيِّئاً رَبُّ مَنظَرٍ

جَميلٍ وَيَأتي الخَيرَ مَن لَم يَرُق خَلقا

And the Lord of handsome visage may do an ugly deed,

While goodness may come from one who lacks grace.

وَما أُمُّ غَيلانٍ مُحَرَّمَةَ الصَلى

وَلا أُمُّ لَيلى في مَحابِسِها طِلقا

Neither is Ghaylan's mother forbidden to greetings,

Nor is Layla's mother loose in her morals.