أَتَتني تُؤَنِّبُني في البُكاءِ

فاهِلاً بِها وَبَتَأنيبِها

She came to me, reproaching me for weeping

She came to me, reproaching me for my weeping,

Heedless of her and her reproach was I

So welcome to her, and to her reproach!

تَقولُ وَفي قَولِها حِشمَةٌ

أَتَبكي بِعَينٍ تَراني بِها

She said, and in her saying was modesty

She says, and in her words lies modesty:

Do you weep with eyes that see me therewith?

"Do you weep with the eye that beholds me?"

فَقُلتُ إِذا اِستَحسَنَت غَيرَكُم

أَمَرتُ الدُموعَ بِتَأديبِها

I said: when others please you

I replied, "If it ever admired other than you,

I order tears for their chastising

I ordered the tears to discipline it."