أَيُّ طَبٍّ لِداءِ دارٍ حِماها

وِردُهُ يورِدُ الحِمامَ الطَبيبا

What cure is there for the ills of a house whose guardian

Gives it a potion that makes the curing physician sick?

وَلِذا ذاتُها فَتَيكينُ آلا

مٍ وَلَولا الآلامُ لَم تَلقَ طيبا

And so its mistress remains distressed and moaning,

Were it not for sorrows, she'd have tasted no delight.

وَالَّذي تَقتَنيهِ مِنها وَلَم

تَسلُبُهُ فيها مِنهُ تُرى مَسلوبا

That which you gain from it, if you do not

Lose it through it, you will find yourself despoiled.