وَأَدنَيتِني حَتّى إِذا ما فَتَنتِني

وَأَدنَيتِني حَتّى إِذا ما فَتَنتِني

بِقَولٍ يَحِلُّ العَصمَ سَهلَ الأَباطِحِ

بِقَولٍ يَحِلُّ العَصمَ سَهلَ الأَباطِحِ

And you drew me close until, once you had bewitched me

You drew me close until, when you had tempted me

With words that bring mountain ibex onto the flat, gravelly riverbeds,

With words that make virtue easy, smooth the brows,

تَجافَيتِ عَنّي حينَ لا لِيَ حيلَةٌ

تَجافَيتِ عَنّي حينَ لا لِيَ حيلَةٌ

وَغادَرتِ ما غادَرتِ بَينَ الجَوانِحِ

وَغادَرتِ ما غادَرتِ بَينَ الجَوانِحِ

You drew away from me when I had no recourse,

You turned from me, though I had no recourse,

And left what you left between my ribs.

And left what you had left twixt ribs and spine.

فَما حُبُّ لَيلى بِالوَشيكِ اِنقِطاعُهُ

فَما حُبُّ لَيلى بِالوَشيكِ اِنقِطاعُهُ

وَلا بِالمُؤَدّى يَومَ رَدِّ المَنائِحِ

وَلا بِالمُؤَدّى يَومَ رَدِّ المَنائِحِ

So my love for Layla is not soon to end,

So Layla's love is not soon lost, her bond

Nor to be given back on the day the animals lent for milk are returned.

Not snapped when mourners turn their backs and go.